We have certainly found true Family here. The fellowship we’ve received from South Cairns and Cairns Community Churches has been incredible. The Body has loved and accepted us as one of their own, and has extended their hand of hospitality on more than one occasion. From game nights and personal dinners to many ministry opportunities, our time here has been incredibly fulfilling.
At the same time, we’ve been able to make Veritas look spic and span outside while working on her running smoothly inside. Thanks to the Stockdale family (Lloyd and Josh, South Cairns Community Church), for their incredible and continued work on our boom and engine. You are priceless. May the Lord bless you abundantly. Also, Paul Steward (aviation mechanic for JAARS based in Papua New Guinea) and his wife Kelly and daughter Piper. They have been great friends to us. Paul has come out to Veritas several times to help us with varnishing, resetting the sails, and manual labor. Again, for his help, we are so thankful. And for their friendship, we are even more blessed. Please be praying for them. Kelly had a baby boy two days ago (William Paul), and are looking forward to life with their new addition as they return to serving in PNG in Jan (see pic below).
Recently, we took some time off and traveled to what’s called The Tablelands with Larry and Anne Hamilton (Wycliffe Associates, USA, Sailing Vessel Bitter Sweet), and visited Coffee World (Happy Boodi), as well as fed the wallabies in Granite Gorge (Happy Karyn!) See video below. We had a wonderful day of sightseeing, and I actually saw a PLATAPUS! They come out to feed at dusk and are greatly timid, so I was the only one who saw it for a matter of a second, but it was there! What creativity the Lord has in fashioning His creatures :)
We were able to spend some great time getting to see a bit outside of Cairns by test-sailing Veritas to Michaelmas Cay, a National Park reserve island for birds, smack in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef. Because of the crocs and “stingers” (small jelly-fish that with one sting can be lethal), we are unable to do any kind of in the water activities within 5 miles of the shore, so our time out at this island was a great opportunity to have some fun. It was peaceful, full of sun and plenty of snorkeling and diving. Actually, once a year on the Reef, the coral spawn, and it is one of Australia’s attractions. We were able to witness this event during a night dive/snorkel…interesting. We were snorkeling and saw a nurse shark, within about 10 feet of us, about 7-8 feet long, looking like it was trying to sleep under some coral. I snapped a picture with my instant underwater camera, but the picture certainly doesn’t do any justice to this animal. The sea turtle and jelly fish were captivating to watch from onboard (see pic).
With a lovely sendoff and prayer from our Family here at CCC, we will move the boat to a local marina this week, and head home on Friday, Nov 28th (Lord willing). Please pray for the following:
*We desire to be His witnesses wherever we go. Please pray we take the things the Lord has taught us while we’ve been gone, to our home, and our family, friends, and even those we have yet to meet. We desire to be a light in the nation’s capital.
*We will be traveling quite a bit.
*We are hoping to meet with some different mission organizations and gain information about overseas missionaries that we may be able to visit and encourage. Pray these connections take place.
*We need to get approved to sail through Indonesia. Pray the Lord makes His plans known to us, and that all the paperwork is filed and accepted accordingly.
We both are SO looking forward to catching up and reuniting with many friends and family while we’re home, as well as keeping in contact with our friends and family all around the globe.
Blessings and love,
Karyn and Boodi
The Wallaby Video
Piper and Paul Stewart (JAARS); Anne and Larry Hamilton (Wycliffe Assoc)
Boodi jackhammering deck (CCC) ; sea turtle at Michaelmas Cay
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