Kindness in the Desert 

During the visit by 9 folk from our church to Alice Springs and Yuendumu in July this year, we were impressed by the kindness shown to us by many. 

The kindness and hospitality of Colin and Kahlin Mathews
(Jeanette's parents) in Alice Springs, the offer from the Alice Springs Baptist Church for some of our folk to camp in the church grounds, the kindness and hospitality of Ivan and Verl Jordan to make their home at Yuendumu so openly available to us and the thoughtfulness of the folk of the church at Yuendumu contributed much to our visit. One event amongst many is worth recounting.

On Friday 12 July, Ivan had arranged for Neville Poulson and his wife and family to take us "out bush" to see some of their country and to dig for yams. Neville is one of the church and community leaders. We set out with three vehicles well loaded up for the day. There was Neville and his wife Freda, two grandchildren Venetta and little Illy, Neville's mother and several of her friends and our party of nine. 

About 50 km south of Yuendumu on the road heading towards Papunya, we turned off into the bush along a track that led to Neville's country and outstation.  Unloading our gear later, it wasn't long before the places to dig had been identified by those who knew where to look, the red sand was flying and the pile of juicy yams began to grow. We were amazed at the amount of dirt that could be moved with a digging stick and a powdered milk tin! 

The yams were deliciously fresh and juicy when eaten raw and are also cooked. We also learned about and then tasted bush tomatoes and bush bananas. All around us were the tracks of camels, kangaroos, dingos and other wildlife. The country was beautiful and the temperature was a lovely warm 20 degrees. 

About 3 o'clock in the afternoon, we lit a fire under a shady tree and boiled the billy, while Freda expertly made and cooked damper that was delicious eaten with golden syrup or jam. The children played around, we talked, drank tea and ate damper in a magical time in one of Australia's remote places where we felt entirely safe and comfortable with our new friends in country that they knew and loved and which was theirs again. 

Neville told us of an adventure which he had whilst only a boy and how his knowledge of his country and the help of a missionary saved him and some older men from perishing through lack of water in summer. 

As the sun began to go down on a glorious warm and sunny winter's day, we drove back to Yuendumu thankful for all that we had seen and heard. The kindness of our Wailpiri friends in sharing their country with us had given us an unforgettable day with experiences that we will all treasure. We understood a little more of the importance of "country" to these Wailpiri people who were our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Grahame Lindsay

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