ENTRE LEGACY OF A PIONEER PLUS PARTNERSHIP CONFERENCE: STAND BY ME IN GOD S SAFE HAND THE ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY

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1 OP issue ENTRE THE ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY 18.3 LEGACY OF A PIONEER PLUS PARTNERSHIP CONFERENCE: STAND BY ME IN GOD S SAFE HAND

2 c contents 3 bishop writes 4 partnership conference: stand by me 5 in god s safe hand 6 legacy of a pioneer 9 encouraging prayer for the church A LETTER TO FRIENDS 10 family fun day 10 revive beauty and angst 12 mongolia taught me a lot about family 14 generations at work e b l e r a TOP CENTRE Published by the Diocese of the Northern Territory Edited by Kirsten Hart PO Box 2950 Darwin, NT 0801 Phone: Fax: admin@ntanglican.org.au Front cover: Revd Gumbuli Back Cover: Mandy Manggurra, Numbulwar t i n Our thanks to all photographers featured in this edition. g YEARS Dear Friends in the Diocese, I would first begin these few words with a huge thank you to Bishop Greg for welcoming me to visit the Diocese and Dean Keith, for putting up with me in his home, and the generous welcome I have received from everyone. Having a sabbatical is a privilege and I have been fortunate to have time out of parochial ministry and learn about the church in a very different part of the Anglican Communion. For me, this has been the key part of my time here: to spend time together in the fellowship of worship, mission and prayer with all of you. What has also been a key interest of mine has been the challenge here and in many parts of the world - for the Christian faith to take root and flourish in diverse cultural contexts. I have experienced this in Southern Africa and in New Zealand over the past years, but it is also a key concern here in Arnhem Land. How do the Aboriginal Christian communities who have lost much of their culture, society and customs over the past 100 years, recover these and bring them into their identity as Christians and as Aboriginal people? It is complex and a long journey that is already well underway, especially with bible translation. I shall keep this journey in my prayers. As someone who is passing through, it has been wonderful to share in the work of the Diocese in all its aspects. The Clergy Conference was hugely encouraging for all with a great opportunity for me to get to know so many, especially those ministers on Groote Eylandt and the more remote areas. The 50th Anniversary of the Diocese was also fortuitous as I had not known about this when I planned to be here. It was great to see so many from the past: people, missioners, clergy and bishops come to celebrate, but also to see some of the younger generation who will be the future in the years to come. What I truly rejoice in, in my time here is we are all bound together in Christ. That bond with him in our baptism for all time and eternity and from whom we shall never be separated. Be assured of my love and prayers for all the work of the Diocese. If in Bristol, please come look me up. Rev d Andre Hart

3 BISHOP GREG WRITES... One of the things I like doing at home is looking after the garden. I am so happy that my three pineapples (all grown from pineapple tops stuck in the ground) are now fruiting. I love the waxy flowers which have just recently started coming out on my hanging hoya (grown from cuttings from Earl and Wendy James). I love the different colours of bougainvillea, and the new growth on the lime and lemon trees. It is a combination of the work that I do in watering, pruning, fertilising, pest control, and of what happens through natural processes; God using me and nature to bring growth. I am also very aware of what limits growth. I have too many Carpentaria palms that soak up water and nutrients, and have impenetrable root systems making it hard for just about everything else to flourish. The Bible describes a lot of our Christian ministry in gardening or farming terms. Paul says that he planted gospel seeds, and Apollos watered them, but God made them grow (1 Corinthians 3:6). Jesus says that he is the true vine and we are branches that need to stay connected to him (John 15:5), and that pruning the branches leads to more growth (15:2b). There are many ways gardening is like Christian ministry. It takes time and we have to be patient. It is nearly three years since I planted the pineapple tops (they might have fruited faster without the Carpentaria palms). We might have conversations over a long period with someone before we see a new stage of Christian growth or a big step forward in understanding what it means to follow Jesus. Garden growth requires ongoing input, whether it is water or fertiliser. It helps our own spiritual growth and the growth of others if we receive regular input, by reading our Bibles, going to church, reflecting on what God is doing, sharing testimonies with one another, listening to Christian podcasts, singing Christian songs and so on. In the garden, I have to keep a constant watch on my Cat s Whiskers plant (Orthosiphon aristatus) because the mealybugs love it. We need to keep watch over our own lives as disciples because it is so easy for bad patterns to set in, which distract us and weaken our spiritual lives. At the same time, we need to be aware of big things that stand against us (like my palms versus everything else in the garden) the forces of our cultures and societies that gobble up our attention and potentially choke our growth. At the same time, God is at work. He will achieve his purposes and we are privileged when he achieves them through us. Even when we fail, God remains faithful (Romans 3:3-4). It brings such joy when we see the fruit of God s kindness, in and through our own patient hard work (as well as without it), and in people really growing in their commitment to knowing God s way and living it out. We give joy to others as they see us flowering and fruiting because of their work and God s work in us. The growth that comes from God is worth celebrating! The Anglican Diocese of the Northern Territory issue

4 PARTNERSHIP CONFERENCE: STAND BY ME The Diocese is very blessed to have partnerships with many different churches and mission agencies. We rely on their generosity and support for a lot of what we do in our churches and the diocese as a whole. Partners might send money or people. They might visit or pray. And they might target particular projects or support us more generally. For example, CMS send the Beers, the McCoys, the Pearsons and the Snibsons (as well as Wayne Oldfield and Mandy Jones at Nungalinya and other Nungalinya teaching staff). BCA help support the Chapmans and the Slacks. Society of the Sacred Mission contribute to Fred s Pass parish. For three days from 12th September, the Diocese held a Mission Partners Conference. Representatives from ten agencies came to hear the Diocese share what is happening in our ministries and our strategic thinking. In turn, we were was able to hear what the agencies are looking for in order to harmonise with their strategic visions. Partner agencies were able to meet each other and think about what collaboration and cooperation might be possible for the benefit of Christian work in the Territory. There was a stimulating discussion about what we would all like the Diocese to look like in 30 years, and what steps are needed to get there. It was encouraging to see the amount of agreement about how we can all work together arising from the conference. Pray that God will continue to supply all we need in the Diocese for our ministries to be fruitful and effective in celebrating, talking about and demonstrating God s saving work through Jesus Christ. 4 issue 18.3 The Anglican Diocese of the Northern Territory

5 in god s safe hand The Diocese s new Safe Ministry processes are rolling out. Do we really need them or are they just a bureaucratic burden? The Safe Ministry processes are best understood as an expression of love; our commitment to the best outcome for those in our churches and those we interact within the wider community. Love for God and our neighbour is the bedrock expression of Christian faith. The whole Australian community is very aware of thousands of people who have been hurt in churches and who are still deeply affected by past abuse. Our new systems are designed to minimise that possibility, through screening and training church workers and volunteers. It might seem strange that you need to fill in a Category B form and go to a Safe Ministry awareness workshop when you have been on the morning tea roster at church, or taught Sunday School, or some other way of serving for many years. Why now when you haven t changed? It is because our Diocese is small. We can t invent best practice ourselves, and we need to be in step with others. So, we are following the systems set up under advice from the company Safe Ministry Resources (SMR). They are active in nine other Anglican dioceses, as well as other denominations. Their track record means they are a reliable system to follow. Part of the SMR approach is that people who have visible ministries (such as serving morning tea, reading the Bible in church, leading music or helping with communion) are likely to be seen by church attenders as having a position of trustworthiness; they are a public face of the church. For this reason, we need to be able to demonstrate as much as we possibly can, that they are the appropriate people to be given trust. The same is true of parish councillors and others who have positions of responsibility behind the scenes. A special thank you to the cathedral for hosting the Safe Ministry Awareness Workshop on September 16th. It was great to see 57 people from the Greater Darwin parishes attend. The next awareness workshop is on November 17th at Fred s Pass, 9am-2pm. This is the last chance this year for those in the Darwin area who have not yet attended a workshop. Thanks to the Safe Ministry team for all their work: our Diocesan Safe Ministry Officer, Kerith Donnan, the trainers, the Safe Ministry Reference Group that oversees policy direction, fine-tuning and development, and the Parish Safe Ministry Administrators across the Diocese. The Anglican Diocese of the Northern Territory issue 18.3 Safe Ministry Awareness Workshop Fred s Pass Saturday 17th November 9am to 2pm The Church of the Good Shepherd 30 Bees Creek Road Fred s Pass NT 0836 For more information: Kerith Donnan Diocesan Safe Ministry Officer dsmo@ntanglican.org.au RSVP by Tuesday 13 November Please include any dietary requirements. $5 donation for lunch and snacks. 5

6 LEGACY OF A PIONEER MURRAY SEIFFERT 6 6 The Reverend Canon Michael Gumbuli Wurramara, AM, one of Australia s most significant Aboriginal church leaders passed away on July 28th. He was born on Bickerton Island, in the Gulf of Carpentaria in 1935, but soon moved to Groote Eylandt. Living near the mission, his father helped supply them with seafood. Few Europeans ventured that way. For some time he lived in the Mission boarding house and visited his parents every afternoon. At the age of nine, he decided to follow the ways of Jesus and never wavered from that course. When he was 14 years old, Gumbuli and his brother travelled 300km to Roper River Mission (now known as Ngukurr) paddling a dug-out canoe. There, Gumbuli learnt motor mechanics from the missionaries, a skill he practised throughout his life. He became involved in local issues, such as housing and the community shop. This was at a time when the government took control of the mission and made many detrimental mistakes including disempowering local leaders. Gumbuli soon learnt how decisions were made and was able to argue a cause in debate. His involvement in the life of the Church increased and he was tutored by some of the older Aboriginal Christians in the community, such as Barnabas Roberts. The missionaries also assisted with Bible teaching. In 1972, the community was without a priest. Some of the faithful old ladies of the church prevailed upon their bishop. What about Gumbuli? He could be our leader. Gumbuli explained it in this way. I was chosen by the old people to be the leader and later their minister. I was not chosen by the white people. In November 1973, Gumbuli was ordained Deacon, and then Priest. He was the second Aboriginal person to be made a priest within the Anglican Church. As the first man died in 1974, this made Gumbuli Australia s senior Aboriginal priest for over 40 years. There were no role models for him. Nobody experienced the worlds he faced, especially as he lived in Arnhem Land where traditional culture was still alive. He was determined that the local response to the Gospel should be authentically Aboriginal. One hundred percent Aboriginal and one hundred percent Christian. issue 18.2 The Anglican Diocese of the Northern Territory

7 Gumbuli pioneered an approach to funerals honouring the traditional ways, as well as Christian commitment. The ceremony men would dance the coffin to near the church. From there, Christ was honoured and Gumbuli took control of the service in the church until the coffin was returned to the same spot, where the same men took over once again. At the ceremony, Gumbuli would undertake the committal. This resolution allowed Aboriginal traditions to co-exist with dignity and did not require any compromise of the Gospel. It allowed for flexibility, depending upon the family s wishes. One anthropologist concluded. It looks... as though Aborigines [at Ngukurr] want to live in accord with two laws kept apart in thought and action. There were many issues needing resolution, some arising from Christianity, some from Australian law, such as polygamy, choice of marriage partner, attitudes to women and violence. Even today, belief in an active spirit world influences much thinking in Arnhem Land. Gumbuli often reminded people at funerals, This death was a natural event; it was not the result of evil spirits and does not generate any need for payback. For him, spirits were not to be feared; the Holy Spirit was the strongest spirit, and could defeat any threat. Gumbuli and his fellow leaders often faced questions of the relationship between traditional ceremonies and Christian theology. He would say that Christians needed to be suspicious of anything which challenged God s role as Creator. It is a very useful principle to apply in many situations. Gumbuli was an independent thinker. He had to be and he challenged others to be the same. He wanted everyone in his community to read the Bible and make up their own mind about it. As Kriol is the first language of Ngukurr, and widely used elsewhere, he thought the whole Bible should be available in Kriol. This led Gumbuli to propose a novel way of translating the Bible. He suggested that the native Kriol-speakers should translate an English text themselves, rather than professional linguists. Then theologians and linguists should check the translation, returning it to ensure meaning, and so on. This resulted in the launch of the complete Kriol Baibul in From very early on in his ministry, Gumbuli encouraged the participation of women. Curiously, at one stage, Gumbuli supported the ordination of women, while at least one missionary declared that traditional Aboriginal men would not accept women as leaders. Gumbuli recognised that it was women who gathered at the foot of the Cross. Gumbuli s influence extended well beyond his community; he was seen as the leader of all Aboriginal Anglicans across the Territory, and beyond. He was a warmhearted pastor and was frequently sought out to act as a mediator and peacemaker. This was recognised when he was awarded the honour of Member of the Order of Australia in I think it is a sign of a saint when they have a vision of Christ that brings humility, and a sense of unworthiness in the face of God. This was certainly the case with Gumbuli. An inevitable consequence is caring for people with genuine warmth and compassion. In this, he was supported by his wife, Dixie who passed away in Whatever else might be said about Gumbuli, the authenticity of his personal life and faith stands out. His willingness to minister in the most frustrating circumstances reaches back to times when the community was first crippled by alcohol. At the time, the radical union leader Dexter Daniels said that it was only Gumbuli and the Senior Nurse, Sister Edna Brooker, who held the community together. This article was originally published in Eternity news. The Anglican Diocese of the Northern Territory issue 18.3 If you want to be a leader you must do your actions the right way, and through love. People are watching you and looking at the way you love them and support them. Your actions must come from deep in your heart. Rev d Michael Gumbuli Wurramara 7

8 Memories of a great man Reverend Gayangwa Lalara is Reverend Michael Gumbuli Wurramara s sister-in-law and has served with him in the Diocese for years. She recounts her favourite memories of this godly man. I didn t know Gumbuli when he was young and went to Ngukurr, but I remember hearing him preach. He used to come to Angurugu and Umbakumba to take funeral services and just for holidays and he preached God s word when he was here on Sundays. When my husband was still here, Gumbuli asked at church if I could read and preach God s word when we went to Bible Camp. I told him. No, I m not good at teaching or preaching. He spoke to me three times about this and at last I said I could try and I did. I remember when he told me about the time he accepted Christ as his Saviour. He was standing inside St Andrew s church and the minister asked him and his friend, M Wurramarrba. It was there, in the front of the church they accepted Christ Jesus as Lord. gumbuli of ngukurr: aboriginal elder in arnhem land Two stories overlap and interweave in this biography of Gumbuli of Ngukurr. One is of a remarkable Aboriginal elder, Michael Gumbuli Wurramara, whose early life was spent on remote islands in the Gulf of Carpentaria. As a teenager, he moved to the historic Roper River Mission, which became known as Ngukurr when the government took over its control. Gumbuli was one of the community leaders who fought hard to achieve local decision-making at this time of dramatic change. The second story describes the Ngukurr community in the second half of the twentieth century, as it seeks to achieve a mix of ancient and modern cultures. Along the way, issues arise such as health, employment, economics, welfare, Stolen Generation, polygamy, alcohol and Aboriginal spirituality. The plea of Why don t you ask us? seems to fall on deaf ears in each generation. Dr Murray Seiffert s biography, Gumbuli of Ngukurr: Aboriginal Elder in Arnhem Land [Acorn Press] was awarded the 2012 Australian Christian Book of the Year, and is available through Koorong. 8 issue 18.3 The Anglican Diocese of the Northern Territory

9 Colossians 1 Prayer Dear heavenly Father, I give thanks for my friend s faith in you, love of your people and hope in Christ (v.1-5) and because your love makes a difference, (v.6) I pray that they might have... a day by day encounter with You that leads to deep faith and trust in You (v 10) a powerful, patient, steadfast faith drawing on Your goodness (v 12) an understanding of Your will in their lives (v 9) a heart of joyful thanks; to you their Father for Your love (v 12) and to Jesus for new life, redemption and forgiveness (v 13-14) a life that honours You in what they think, do and say (v 9) a life that draws others to You and Your love (v 10) encouraging prayer for the church Newly retired from St Paul s Anglican Church, Temora in the Canberra/Goulburn Diocese after 40 years of parish ministry, school chaplaincy and BCA, John and Carol Jenner had the privilege of being invited to care for St James, Sanderson while Jenni and Rob Weekes were on Long Service Leave. Four weeks and five Sundays gave them the opportunity and space to care for the church and to explore some of the exciting things that Darwin has to offer. We met with the clergy and church workers each week at the Wednesday breakfast for fellowship, worship and prayer for the diocese family. This is a unique gathering unlike any we ve experienced in other dioceses, and we re grateful to have had the chance to be involved. In the past, John worked as a school chaplain in Tamworth (NSW) and had the opportunity to meet with Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr at the Nauiyu Community, Daly River. Students from his school spent time at Daly River learning about a culture very different to their own. It was a thrill to visit there again and for Carol to meet Miriam. This Godly lady has done such wonderful work over many years. We visited Thursday Island and saw the importance of language and culture, the benefits in building identity and resilience in people s lives, and the legacy of the mission work. We learnt about the culture and language from Valarie who shared with us her work at AuSIL. It was also a great joy to catch up with friends at Nungalinya and hear of the life-giving work being done by the staff and students. Some time was spent with Josephine Timothy, a wonderful saint who was enduring being away from home (Borroloola) and regular dialysis with strength, grace and good humour. She has sadly gone to be with her Maker, but taught us much. For us, the number of people sleeping in the vicinity of the church was a daily challenge. As visitors, we felt a deep sadness as we watched and heard of difficult and insurmountable family issues, the breakdown of culture and the loss of hope. We are conscious that we retreat to our comforts back east and leave the ongoing care and ministry to others. We were however overjoyed in joining with the African congregation at St James for worship. The language was different, but the joy of knowing Jesus was obvious. Most of all, we were blessed in time spent with the wonderful people of St James. We felt at home, welcomed and cared for. This is a unique church made up of special people caring deeply for one another, in a unique place and a unique time as they prepare to farewell Jenni and Rob this year. There is so much to celebrate and there are so many opportunities ahead in this time of transition for St James. We came with a message of encouragement based on Colossians 2:9; For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. In Christ we see the fullness of God, and this fullness is the wellspring of life by which we draw strength to care for one another and build up the church. We appropriate this fullness by treasuring Jesus (Colossians 1), by trusting in the promises of what he has done and seeking to behave in ways pleasing to Him (Colossians 2), and by participating in worship together (Colossians 3). To this end we encouraged the congregation to use Paul s prayer (Colossians 1:9ff) as a way of praying for one another. And in doing so being assured that these prayers are the Father s will for his people and can be prayed with confidence. May it be a blessing to you as well. The Anglican Diocese of the Northern Territory issue

10 munt family fun day On the morning of July 19th, Mothers Union NT invited Darwin and Palmerston families with young children to a Family Fun Day full of crafts and friendship. The children enjoyed many paper craft activities. Some created dinosaurs and other animals from paper plates, while others made and decorated a tricky wallet. We had kites, bracelets, folded hearts to make picture frames. The kids even decorated egg cartons and filled them with soil and seeds to make their own mini garden. REVIVE 2018 On the 17th August, around 130 people from St Peter s headed down to Riyala Camp Ground for our annual camp. During the year we have occasional events where our two congregations join together, but it never seems enough. Even within our own congregation, it is hard to catch up with everyone we want to. Our Revive camp gives us the opportunity to catch up with friends, meet new people and deepen relationships around God s word. We headed down the Stuart Highway and pitched our tents or parked our camper trailers on the lush grass amongst the beautifully kept rainforest gardens. Some even had the luxury of bedding down in cabins. Our fellowship and celebration revolved around four talks given 10 by Rory Shiner, from Perth. We looked at the cross and Christian community (Gal.3), our fears (Col.2) the Lord s Supper (Matt. 26) and shame (Heb.10). Jesus has dealt with all of these though his death in our place, and Rory unpacked the implications of this in our lives in a way that was thought provoking and challenging. He spoke of the power of the cross to plug into our problems, to change us and the universe in a radical way. Some of the highlights included fabulous food (thanks Margot and Tania), campfire with singing and toasting marshmallows, nature walks, games and handicrafts and boot camp. A large number of children and babies meant that groups of kids were enjoying tag, slip and slide, board games, the playground, and table tennis. Saturday afternoon saw us treated to a Talent Quest. It was a flight into the unknown, hosted by our terrific attendant Amanda and pilot Brad, and included breakdancing, ballet, several bouts of poetry from AB Patterson, a retelling of Cinderella, several solo songs accompanied by guitar, a magic duo, a handstand competition, and a really funny joke about a 3 legged chicken! Lots of laughs were shared and new talents discovered. The camp committee and volunteers ran the weekend, which gave our staff opportunity to relax and enjoy the fellowship. Thanks to all who contributed and participated. On our return, exhaustion from the retreat hit us all. We didn t feel rested, we felt revived. issue 18.3 The Anglican Diocese of the Northern Territory

11 Devil s Peak, Cape Town BEAUTY AND ANGST ANNETTE ANDERSON On June 16, Greg and I embarked on our first trip abroad together. We were away for nearly six weeks, the first week being for work. Interestingly, most of the countries we visited shared two characteristics, their extraordinary beauty and the extraordinarily complex and difficult problems they deal with. For the first two weeks, we were in Israel. The first week we stayed in Jerusalem for GAFCON (Global Anglican Future Conference) and the second we were tourists. It is special to become familiar with parts of Jerusalem and see so many Biblical places. The sheer contrast between the colour of the mountains and the blue of the sky is magnificent. While I was in Israel, I grappled with some of the big questions you hear on the news such as: do the Israelis have a right to be on this land? And what of the plight of the Palestinians? I was impressed with what the Israelis have made of their tiny piece of land (Tasmania is 3.3 times larger than Israel), turning desert into lush food-growing fields, world-class communication, transport and infrastructure. I was distressed to see the wall, the high military presence and disparity of wealth between Israel and the Palestinian occupied territories. Sea of Galilee

12 An entertaining sight for us in Israel was seeing Bedouin people in traditional dress, watching sheep and talking on their mobile phones. After Israel, we visited Jordan, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. We stayed in South Africa for 12 days and spent them all in Cape Town with friends of mine from my Rotary Exchange gap year in The beauty of Cape Town is a striking combination of mountains and oceans. Both Israel and South Africa have an unstable future ahead of them. On reflection, this is more often the case for the majority of countries in the world. God s character and promises are all our world has to hope in. I am thankful for God s unchanging love for all he has created and his promises to care for his people, build his church and create a new heaven and new earth. Left: Bishop Greg and Elijah on Mt Carmel Below: The Wailing Wall in Israel Having lived in Cape Town during the apartheid period, I was curious to experience the Cape post-apartheid and I was delighted to see Africans working in jobs previously reserved for whites, like the post office. I was saddened by the introduction of barbed wire and electric fencing on so many homes and reports of incredibly high rates of violence, especially rape for African women; an alarming 50 percent of African women are raped every year. mongolia taught me a lot about family For many years, Jenni Weekes said, One day I would love to ride on the steppes of Mongolia, compare how they care for their stock with Australia, ride those little ponies, and visit a ger. Flash back to 2016 Jenni: I am going to Mongolia. Rob: I m coming too. Jenni: You can t come. You can t ride. Rob: You better teach me then. Madi eventually discovered this plan and promptly stated she also, would be joining me. Mid-June, 2018 With our helmets in hand and borrowed boots, Madi, Rob and I were off; all three of us joining six other tourists with a Mongolian Team. Only one of them spoke English! We are told by our guides that at the age of three, boys work with animals and they do that their whole life. The girls from age six have to help with the cooking and occasional animal care, but from age twelve they only work domestic chores. 12 issue 18.3 The Anglican Diocese of the Northern Territory

13 I can remember my parents working hard on our property and I contributed to our family workforce. They gave me a similar work experience to Mongolian children, but they also encouraged me to go and do other things, in order to experience what life has to offer. Mongolian children are not. On one rainy day of our trip, a member of our group is sick, another was having an allergic reaction and all we could see were hills, mountains, gers and sheep. Our Mongolian guides didn t know any of the farmers on this route. As we rode past one of the gers, an old lady stepped out and ushered all thirteen of us inside. She helped our sick tourist friend to a bed, started a fire, made some milk tea, cooked us lunch, offered us dehydrated yoghurt and borrowed bowls and spoons from the other families nearby. She shared photos of her family while some of our group plaited her children s hair. One night, our Mongolian guides sat around a big pot with all the innards of sheep, each with a knife. They proceeded to scoop out and share with us what they found. It took me back to my youth. We had a lot of fun practising their language and the other tourists were soon asking us how to say different words. Our pronunciation wasn t the best and we were a little hesitant to help the others. The Mongolian people are very aware of their history, their physical position and the demands of their lives as herdsmen and women. Their lives are tough. They graze sheep and goats for their wool and meat, herd yaks for milk and move their homes between summer and winter camps; surviving in -40ºC winters. This life routine has gone on for many years and while it may look idyllic, it is monotonous, repetitive and full of challenges. And yet, they have a great sense of humour. We are the most protected country in the world. China and Russia are on either side. As I reflect on our trip to Mongolia, I am very much aware of the privileges we have here in Australia: We have the opportunity to travel and participate for such a short period of time with a small group of people from another country. We have the opportunity to leave our place of ministry and rest. We have the opportunity to laugh at our mistakes we make when we try to pick up the basics of another language. We have the privilege to hear of how another group of people survive and move forward with their lives after being overpowered by another generation. Amidst all the experiences of our trip, reflecting on my own family s origin, my love for my immediate family and the importance of family itself, were the most valuable. As a family, we experienced love and acceptance which is far richer than riding the steppes and learning about animal care.

14 GENERATIONS AT WORK JOHNATHAN HARRIS, BIBLE SOCIETY It is an amazing era in which we live - language is now transforming our relationships and culture especially when the Word of God can be heard in the heart language of local people. I started working for the Bible Society Australia at the beginning of 2017, our Bicentenary year. It was wonderful to join in a 200-year-old story with organisations such as the Centre for Public Christianity, Eternity News, Koorong bookshops, and Acorn Publishing all under our umbrella. I was caught up in the hub of activity in our Church relations area when I heard from our remote and Indigenous Ministry team that a new Indigenous Bible translation was arriving in Sydney from the Amity Printing Press in China. I learned that this translation had been started by my grandmother Nell Harris with her friends Hannah Mangiru and Rachel Guril Naboronggelmak in The British and Foreign Bible Society published the complete translation of the Gospel of Mark, the first Gospel the three women completed. This began the 82 year journey of the Kunwinjku translation. FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE Since the dedication service in Gunbalanya on 1st August, Reverend Lois Nadjamerrek has begun adult literacy classes with the help of visiting linguists, and is running bible study groups, using portions from the new Kunwinjku Shorter Bible. There continues to be much thankfulness for God s word in Kunwinjku. The Kunwinjku church is being strengthened and enriched by hearing God speak Kunwok (language). Please continue to pray for more people to know and follow Jesus, and that more leaders will be equipped for this mission. Left: Hagar holding the complete New Testament Bible in her own language. 14 issue 18.3 The Anglican Diocese of the Northern Territory

15 Imagine my excitement when I asked my father if there were any remnants of Grandma s translation work. His response. It s all in the shed. I located the stored, first handwritten Gospel of St Mark in an exercise book along with all of my grandparents letters from their 30 years in the Northern Territory. Earlier this year I was able to open the shipment of Kunwinjku shorter bibles at Bible Society s Koorong Warehouse. I helped to deliver this shipment to the people of Gunbalanya at their dedication ceremony on the 1st August. In the words of Bishop Greg Anderson, God was very kind to me. Kind to me by allowing me to re-join the story of the Bible translation initiated by my family. To visit the mission where I too had grown up during the years of My first childhood memories are of Gunbalanya, Arnhem Land. I played with the Aboriginal kids, swam in the billabong, ate the water lillies and the bush food and hunted wild buffalo with my father Wilfred Harris. To return to the beautiful stone floor of the Emmanuel Church where I played, to meet some of the families that I had grown up with and to hand over the result of all their hard work wow, God is so kind. The image of locals physically embracing the Word of God in their own language God is so kind. The welcome by the locals adopting me back in to my skin family Nabulanj after 43 years... God is so kind. The Bible Society has commissioned a minidocumentary film to be made of my grandmother s story. It is currently being edited and will be ready for release before the end of this year. Gran would just chuckle to herself to hear about us driving four-wheel drives over the East Alligator river taking drone footage of her beloved billabongs and talking to the new CMS Missionaries Matt and Lisa Pearson over this Facebook thing. I hope she would be proud of me helping in my small way to support the ongoing work of her beloved Kunwinjku language Bible. Gran loved the Aboriginal people. I can deeply resonate with her own words from her Journal, I felt at home with them. The Anglican Diocese of the Northern Territory issue

16 UPCOMING EVENTS AROUND THE DIOCESE Safe Ministry Awareness Workshop Saturday, 17th November, 9:00am - Fred s Pass RSVP Tuesday, 13th November $5 donation for lunch & snacks The Waterpark Saturday, 15th December, 6:30-7:30pm with a picnic starting at Leanyer Recreation Park, 215 Vanderlin Dr, Leanyer Organised by St James, St Peter s, Casuarina Uniting & Top End Lutherans May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests. Psalm 20:5 NIV