The first night we were honored with a traditional Aboriginal feast.  We had such things like Kangaroo Tail and steaks, and bush turkey which is not a turkey but this wild bird that grows between three and four feet tall.  Tough meat but delicious eating. They were such a blessing and we were welcomed like brothers.  Sometimes when they were talking to me I would close my eyes and ignore their accent and I would swear that I was hearing Apache people or any other tribe telling our stories of abuse and massacres and loss of the land and so forth.  We gave them hope by sharing the Gospel, and freedom by telling them It was all right to use their God-given culture to honor and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ.

We saw about 20 Aboriginals ( that we know of) came to Christ.  The people there are so beautiful and full of life.  When we got there, they were so serious and suspicious of us.  The day before we left, one of the Aboriginal familles and their friends asked us to stop by their home.  When we arrived, there were about 15 people waiting for us.  The next hour was nothing but tears of goodbyes and gifts and thanks for coming and spending our time with them.  They kept thanking us for sharing the freedom they had in Christ to express themselves and worship and honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through their God-given culture.  

Never have I fallen in love with a group of people so fast as I did them.  They were wonderful but at the same time they need so much.  They are so eager to use the little the Lord has given them and are excited about the possibilities He has for them in the future.  I am already missing them.  

About 25 of them came to see us off at the airport.  What a difference it was in character from the first day they came to greet us.  This time they were joking around.  The kids were wresting with us and hugging us.  The adults were laughing and crying and hugging us and some of the single women were giving me orders for dark handsome tall men to bring back the next time.  It was so cool.  Our departure was one of those bittersweet times.  Bitter because I will truly miss my new found family.  Sweet because I was coming home after being gone 30 of 32 days (including my last trip).

Keep us in prayer as we are planning a follow-up visit in August of 2006.  They got so excited that they want us to come back next year for bigger and greater things.  Thank you for your prayers and your financial support.