Well, my "update soon to follow" didn't happen very soon. So now when we're about to fly back to Australia in a week's time, I guess I'd better let you all know what's been happening here and in Townsville.
The opportunity to go to Alotau in Papua New Guinea came as a bit of a surprise to us, but I'm so glad that we said yes to going here. It hasn't been easy at all times, definitely not, but it's been so good.
Other days we've had time to just explore. The importance of just stopping to take in the beauty around us can never be underestimated. Those days when I've taken the time to just go for a walk after dinner or climb a mountain are some of the best I've had here.
In case you're interested, you can follow the cyclone on this website, where they update the forecast every hour.
http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml
We have been helping to set up a new YWAM training campus in town and have been working on the house, with the seminars running and just trying to get our heads around the billions of things that always seem to need to get done. Planting a veggie garden, going through 100 application forms, figuring out where to place 40 people, making friends and lots of driving around.
(Just for your information, the fire fighters are putting out a fire in the grass field next to our house. It wasn't doing any damage to where we live :) )Meanwhile, in Townsville.
A cyclone category 4/5 is about to hit the coast tonight and tomorrow morning. It has moved further south than it was originally predicted, so it looks like the worst part of it will miss Townsville. Isaac and I won't be there for it, so no need to worry about us. Our friends should be safe and so should the YWAM campus be, but since cyclones are quite unpredictable, you never really know until afterwards. At the moment, it seems like Townsville shouldn't get much more than a windy and rainy night. Keep praying for the city and the surrounding areas though, it is a quite severe cyclone and it can cause a lot of damage. In case you're interested, you can follow the cyclone on this website, where they update the forecast every hour.
http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml
"When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." - Genesis 9:16
/Emilie
/Emilie
