Pett Family
  • Home
    • About Us
  • Cairns
  • Elcho Island
    • Map
    • Galiwin'ku Community
    • Experiencing Elcho
    • Weather and climate
  • MAF
  • Resources
    • Multimedia
    • Photo galleries
    • Downloads
  • Journal
  • News
    • Latest Newsletter
    • Previous Newsletters >
      • Top End Tales 16
      • Top End Tales 15
      • Top End Tales 14
      • Top End Tales 13
      • Top End Tales 12
      • Even Older?
    • Newsletter Sign-up
  • Pray for us
  • Support us
  • Contact us
  • Links
    • Mission Aviation Fellowship >
      • MAF Arnhem Land
      • MAF Australia
      • MAF UK
    • Coordinate (Indigenous Scriptures)
    • Djuki Mala
    • Gawa Christian School
    • Gurrumul Yunupingu >
      • Gurrumul & Delta Goodrem
      • Gurrumul on BBC Breakfast
    • Galiwin'kupuy Dhäwu (Local News)
Latest news from the Pett Family
Top End Tales
May 2013
News from the Pett Family serving in Arnhem Land

North Australia with
MAF International
Graham, David, Jen and Jonathan
Welcome to our first newsletter of the new year and a new format for our email newsletter.  We hope you find it easy to read.  Look out for the links which will take you to pages our recently-developed website.

For a print version,
please click here.

Thank you for your continued interest and support for us as a family - we really value your partnership with us as we serve in this challenging, needy and isolated place.
What happened to the rain?
Christmas passed and we have experienced the hottest, dryest period for many years with very little rainfall, so we wondered “where is the wet season?”.  It finally arrived in late March and lasted a only a week, but it still caused lots of disruption!
Highs and tropical lows
The church here at Galiwin'ku has had many ‘highs’ over the years, including a revival in 1979 which transformed the community from the inside out.  Each year the church remembers this spiritual awakening in March with a Thanksgiving weekend.  Over recent months a new local gospel band has been leading worship and evenings events around the community, and there has been a swelling of the Sunday congregation with younger people and more men. It is exciting to be part of this renewal.

A tropical low formed in the Gulf bringing wild winds.  The church roof was holed by a falling tree, several houses were damaged, and an empty minibus was crushed.  The low became tropical cyclone Oswald, which then continued down the eastern side of Australia bringing major flooding to Queensland and New South Wales.  So that is where our rain went...

The Elcho Staff
We are fully staffed again at Elcho Island with four pilots Arjan, Matt, Des  and David (flying part-time). 
The Paas family - Arjan, Aartje, Rachel (5), Thamar (3) and Ethan (1) - are continuing to settle in.  Arjan took over as the Elcho Base Manager in January.
Paas Family
Vautier Family
We welcomed the Vautier family - Des, Emily, Jack (7), Dominic (6) and Nevaeh (5) - in January, recently arrived from New Zealand.  The family spent three months in nearby Yirrkala receiving technical and local orientation.
Matt Alcorn has been part of the Elcho team for the last four years.  He will be leaving us soon to join the MAF team in Gove.  He is restoring a classic Holden Ute (pickup) and needs to repaint and assemble it by July!
Matt Alcorn
David is now able to concentrate on his Operations role, working from the home office, and to conduct check and training flights on behalf of the Chief Pilot.  All MAF pilots undergo regular checks on meeting flight standards, and training to widen their skills.

The Arnhem Land program is understaffed at present in both pilot and engineering roles.  This is putting a strain on the remaining staff and requires flexibility and wisdom to enable us to sustain our current services throughout the rest of this year.
Sunday School Restarts
It is exciting to see the Sunday School activities restart this year.  Ngandama, a very faithful lady, who has run Sunday School for years and years asked some of the younger ladies from the weekly Bible Study to take up the leadership.  With support from Graham and Jen they are leading a group of 20-50 children each week.
Jonathan provides valuable technical support from home for the Sunday School, and all the family are still involved with the weekly market stall which provides resources for local Christians and funds towards specific needs such as an LCD projector for Wangarr (teaching and discipling) and a replacement 4WD vehicle for Margaret (Facilitator), both involved in the Co-ordinate program in East Arnhem Land.
 
Praying through the week.
Sunday

That the Galiwin'ku Sunday School team who provide activities and teaching during the church service will be encouraged.

Monday

For protection and stamina for those MAF staff who work outside in the heat.

Tuesday

Ladies' Bible Study meets at our house each Tuesday from 4.30-6pm
.  Give thanks for this time of fellowship, study and challenge which has had such an impact on the ladies and also on their families.
Wednesday

The Yolngu mens' fellowship group which aims to meet weekly on Wednesday evening for talking, encouragement, prayer and Bible reading.
  Commitment and communication are proving to be difficult at present.
Thursday

For effective outreach and teaching to the youth of Galiwin’ku to help them find real hope for the future.

Friday

That the Christian resources sold at the weekly market - books, CDs and DVDs - will inspire, challenge and teach the Yolngu about the love and grace found in Jesus.

Saturday

For more mission staff, especially engineers, to join the MAF programs in the coming year.

Galatians 6:9

So let us not become tired of doing good;
for if we do not give up, the time will come when we will reap the harvest.
((GNT))
Partner Churches

Capel Community

St John's Newland
St Mark's Kempshott
St Michael's Brantham
Lower Earley Baptist
St Mary's Dunsfold

Lilydale Baptist, VIC
Do you want to become a partner with us? Find out more here.
David & Jen Pett
PMB 285
Winnellie
NT 0822
Australia

Tel +61 8 8970 5052
Supporter Relations
MAF UK
Castle Hill Avenue
Folkestone
CT20 2TN

Tel 0845 8509505
Unsubscribe | Forward to a friend | Subscribe to our newsletter
MAF International (ACN 004 260 860)

A registered charity limited by guarantee

Registered office:
166 Mulgrave Road, Cairns
Queensland 4870, Australia

A subsidiary of
Mission Aviation Fellowship International
registered in England and Wales
as company 3144199

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.