As we drove out along a new bit of road,
heading to the Pilliga and Beyond, that was also the head line for the Country
Hour on ABC radio. It was talking about the very places we were heading too, I
say ‘we’ because Lyn was with me on this sortie, looking for a place to run an
event but most of all to see where God was leading.
I wondered what the fuss was about. |
I drive through the Walget
shire on the way to many of our places. This year I’m looking at making some
connections. ( No- the new coffee shop in Walget is not the reason - but it is
a good one. ) As we passed by the water holes and green stock root I wondered
what the fuss was… BUT “Hey, rain and green grass does not mean it is over- the
drought that is!”
We came through the
Pilliga township with its healing spa, vans and buses. RV’s of every kind
filled the paddock. The village itself has a hotel, a café and community centre,
a house and a Police station on a nice sealed road.
Where too next?
Out to the Junction? Or a
place I had trouble saying, let alone adding it to this blog ? *
So I took a
chance and drove straight up the unsealed road.
The tar was gone. It was
red dirt and gravel but as we got further it was black soil with old gullies in
it. The country changed too - dry, a lot
less feed, flat and open for miles. As we rounded the bend we thought of cold
drinks.
We missed the first turn
in, took the second, passed a construction site (I’ll get back to that.) We
were in the main street of “Come By Chance"
A single pump stood frozen
it time. In faded paint the sign said “ICE. “
We both went in,
”Hi.”
There was a welcome from
behind the fixtures. We had a good yarn and ice cold beer (ginger)
“How’s things?”
“We need rain “
“Yes, I see that.”
I asked about what happened here for fun.
The big screen TV. People
come down to watch the footy and big events. It was new. Ann had only been
running the store / pub for 8 months but what went on was- and this is where
the construction comes in - the young fellas collected batteries from around
the district, cashed them in to put down a slab, or should I say a pitch, in
the middle of a manicured oval. (See the picture. Close one eye- now you see.)
Now you see it - now you don't |
I love the fact that these small villages or locations,
only 5 houses in town but a good few on the properties, come together and make
things happen. I have been thinking of
doing a drought event in conjunction with a few good folk. (More about that
when we make it happen.)
People ask-“How do you work out where you do
these events, programs etc.?
It is not by chance. God leads us. We may do some research or get a call for help, but for me, how it
ends is from God.
There was no sign
telling us.
I had heard the name at a drought event in Walget a few weeks
before but was led to stop and go into the pub. Connection made. Stories shared.
It all felt right. The need is there in this small location on a dirt road.
Not by chance. |
Friends, remember these
folk in your prayers. I worry when we all see rain and green grass and we are
lulled into thinking it is all OK. But some
will not get income till next year and got very little, if any, this year. They are resilient. They go and collect batteries
and build a cricket pitch. They make fun for their kids and get together to
watch the footy on a big screen TV!
Community!
For as
much as you do this for the least, you do it for me. Matthew 25:40
The last blog I wrote was about the Murray Darling Basin Bus Tour 1 September to the 7th. To get more information or leave an expression of interest or Register enter this link to your search line ucansw.goregister.com.au/mdbtours2014 and follow the prompts.
* Gwabegar (Pronounced Wa-bee-garr)
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