Out Bush

That's what the Aboriginals say when they leave city life for the country and just disappear. I'm out bush. On Sunday we went out bush.

My parents mission covers Alice Springs and the outback country surrounding it. There are several Aboriginal groups out bush that they have missionaries working with. Some, like Lisa's parents are doing literacy programs, and others are doing service with the aboriginals and teaching them about our church. We decided to go and see what church was like out bush and to witness the baptism of a recent convert out there named Daisy.

It was a very humbling experience to see the way these people live and they way they have been treated by the white man and the government in Australia. In the efforts to "help make it up" they have introduced some of the same problems we introduced to our American Indians--alcohol(ism), gambling (addiction) and possessions that are of little consequence to them.



The missionaries out bush work with a tiny congregation which on Sunday we counted out to be about 27 people and 17 dogs. Dogs are quickly gaining too. It was a great experience to have church scraped down to the bare minimum--to it's essence and share it with people who care only about that essence - God and a spirit of Love. We had church under their "family tree" in about 110 degree weather on little wooden benches.

There was one moment during the service when Garrett and I had to nudge each other a little and that was as the missionaries passed the sacrament and we heard playing across the street from someone's car, Girls just wanna have fun! I swear that song has been part of every single trip I've taken since 1994, and since I doubt that I will ever hear it during church again, I kinda soaked it in.


The girl who was baptized did it in a metal tub in the open air garage. As you can see, the kids were enjoying the "font" quite a bit before the baptism took place.


The children were a bit wild, but adorable and really enjoyed swinging on the tree behind my dad, running in and out of the meeting, laughing and singing.



This little girl's shirt says it all I think. She was priceless.


Everyone fought to hold the newest little baby.



And before we left, Clifford who was sort of the head of the group asked our family to take a picture with his family under their family tree "since we were now part of their family." He really took a shine to Garrett too and kept sitting next to him and talking to him and asking him what his favorite Hymn was. He stumped Garrett on that one! (I think one of the best parts of this picture were the life sized toys and Santa the kids insisted on bringing out of the house to include in the picture.)



We were boiling hot, covered in flies, but not ready to leave. As hard as some of the smells were to stomach and the quality of life that we witnessed (including lots of basics like wiping kids eyes and runny noses and not all dipping dirty fingers in to one can of yogurt and eating it) it was a place filled with love and a reminder to think about all we've been blessed with, and what's really important.