College Display| Karalundi WA

Monday-Wednesday: 3-5 August

Hearts and Handshakes at the Gate
Following a relatively small four and a half hour trip down from Newman the team arrived at Karalundi Aboriginal College and from the very first moment it felt like more than just a stop on the journey. Right at the gate they were greeted by a cheerful bunch of gold prospectors and fellow travellers camping on the property and each one warmly welcomed a copy of the Overlander. Soon after the team met Principal John Corcoran whose kindness and warmth were evident from the very first handshake as he showed them around the grounds with obvious pride and love for the place. Once settled into their accommodation they brought Essie out to display in an undercover area on the school grounds, a timely little blessing as it turned out since the very first rainfall of the whole journey chose that exact moment to arrive! After class the students came spilling out to gather round with faces bright with curiosity and the team’s hearts were full as they shared the story of Bubsie and Essie together sending each child off with their very own copy of the Overlander and as a lovely little bonus a TIJ water bottle too.

Sharing Life, Faith, and Hope
With warm hearts toward these dear children and that feeling only deepened as the team sat down to share a simple meal with them in the cafeteria that evening surrounded by laughter chatter and the easy warmth of new friendship. On Tuesday morning the team joined the staff for worship at 8 a.m. Treasuring the quiet privilege of starting the day side by side with this caring community before heading over to the church where a spontaneous worship program was shared with all the students. Afterwards the school extended a heartfelt invitation: would the team present a health program tailored just for the children? Having seen firsthand the communities these children call home, the team felt the weight of it deeply – the health and spiritual struggles so many of these families quietly carry. And so with tenderness and hope in their hearts the children were gently encouraged to carry a little of that same light back to their own communities, the light of the gospel and the light of better health. Grounded in a solid Biblical education these precious children hold within them something truly special: the chance to break the mould and build a brighter richer future for themselves and for everyone they love.

Essie Needing Some TLC
In a moment of gentle irony that brought a few smiles just after encouraging the students not to drink anything they shouldn’t the team turned their attention to Essie tending to her spark plugs and checking her over with the same care they’d give an old dear friend, only to discover she’d been sipping on something she shouldn’t have too! It seemed she had taken on a little water in the carburetor, a small hiccup to be lovingly sorted out once the team reached Perth. For now she was managing to start and move just enough to keep the adventure alive.

The next morning brought another sweet privilege: leading the staff worship program at the college, soaking up some rich unhurried time with the staff family there – the kind of warm connection that lingers long after the goodbyes are said. Then after gently coaxing a reluctant Essie into her trailer with a bit of patience and affection the team pointed themselves coastward once more settling in for an overnighter at a caravan park in Geraldton with hearts still full from everything shared at Karalundi.

Desert, Wildflowers, and the Road to Geraldton
The journey itself was a quiet feast for the eyes with the scenery shifting and softening again and again along the way especially after turning off at Mount Magnet to head west. The endless desert gently gave way to a stunning carpet of wildflowers like nature’s own gentle welcome before opening out into sweeping fields of crops stretching all the way to the horizon as Geraldton came softly into view.

What a wonderful few day it has been.