On
Patrol Outback with Daniel Nixon, October 1995—One
week after graduation at ASU Taking Dad's place, who was recovering
from surgery:
You
will read of their travels and the functions. What you won't
read is the result tally. Here they are: They flew 4000 kilometres
in seven days; to twelve remote towns in three states; conducted
eighteen different meetings, to audiences that totaled 1550
school children and 235 adults.
They
placed dozens of Testaments and distributed hundreds of copies
of the monthly Explorers Magazine. The plane share cost was
$453 each and they said it was an economical trip to reach
so many people who rarely hear a Gospel team, and who are
still hungry to hear of Jesus Christ and His love for them.
Also, what you won't read are the endless comments made by
locals about the team and the blessings they brought with
them. You will only hear of souls won and lives changed when
you go there yourself, and see what God is doing in the lives
of people separated from the cities by distance, and from
the Church by a thousand years.
What
you can do is pray for these people often, and be ready to
hear of answers to your prayers. God sifts the population
to send the best seed into the wilderness. You may be one
of the seeds.
Read Four Men on
Patrol in the 24-page diary booklet by Daniel
Nixon with sketches by Brett Cardwell.
What happens on Patrol?
THE
DIARY:
Four
men on an Australian Outback Patrol. What can be achieved
in just one short week!
Plane:
Piper Saratoga VH-JNV
Pilot:
Mr. Phillip Lamb – Music & teaching
Team:
Mr. Brett Cardwell – Sketching & music
Mr.
Daniel Nixon – Guitar & singing
Mr.
Larry Boggs – Youth worker
Diary
– Daniel Nixon
Day
One (Sunday, October 15th)
Departed
Bankstown airport at about 1.45 pm, Sunday October 13th, 1995.
There are 4 of us, Phil the pilot, Brett, Larry (an American
friend of Phil's), and myself. Two cars were needed to transport
us to the airport where we loaded up, and took-off. The spirit
amongst the group seems good, and I am looking forward to
a great trip.
Plans
had been made; towns contacted, meetings and school confirmed.
We were in for a wonderful week. The prayer time at the office
was very special, as we were set apart for this mission. Martha
Nixon especially noted being called together, as in Acts 13.
We carried that all the way. And it's quite unique how the
team came together in the first place. It really began with
Donald Prout, Les Nixon and Brett Cardwell, way back in August.
Dates changed, and Donald dropped out. Then I came home from
College and Canada Teen Ranch and joined in. Then it became
Brett, Dan and Les. We prayed over it again.
Then
Les suddenly went to hospital for hernia surgery. Phillip
Lamb stepped in to fly and suggested that his Minister of
Youth at church might come too. We prayed over it again on
the basis that we attempt nothing that's not saturated in
prayer.
So,
Oct. 15th, the day we left, we all prayed again. Those going,
and those not. And in prayer, we felt that the Holy Spirit
descended in a special way, setting us all apart for the work
before us we knew not of. That is, Brett, Dan, Phil and Larry.
Nothing like it was three months ago. And that's just how
it was, Martha reminded us, on the first missionary endeavour
in Acts 13. While Barnabus, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen and Saul
were in prayer at Antioch, "fasting and praying and worshiping
God, the Holy Spirit said; Set Barnabus and Paul apart for
me, to do the work to which I have called them. Then, after
further fasting and prayer, they laid their hands on them
and let them go ..."
So,
with such an auspicious beginning, like Paul and Barnabus,
we are optimistic that we are set to do the work God has for
us. We know we are going to remote places where the Christian
gospel is frail and the church weak. We know that there is
no mighty presence there, little God-awareness, and much suspicion
about Christian people; and that we will turn over old ground,
and break new. We know that we will be dealing with non-Christian
people most of the time. But we know there are a few lonely
true believers are there too, and we want to encourage them,
and build them up in the faith. First leg was Bankstown to
Wee Waa. On the tarmac at Bankstown Phil had some troubles
with the radio which were thought to be serious. After sweating
about it for a minute or two he changed headsets and resolved
the problem. The day has been beautiful, blue skies with scattered
clouds at 6,000 feet. I dozed for most of the hour-and-fifty
minute trip to Wee Waa. Descent into Wee Waa we picked up
a bit of turbulence, but nothing that was not to be expected.
It feels good to be out in the bush again. Landing is about
five minutes away, and once on the ground we will prepare
for a home meeting tonight. Well, when we landed we taxied
to the wrong end of the air strip and waited there for about
15 minutes until we realised that we were maybe in the wrong
place. Piled back in the plane and taxied to the other end,
made it to the phone booth, and called for a pick-up. After
calling it didn't solve our problem immediately, as the people
at the first number didn't answer, and the people who were
supposed to be at the second number were not even in the country.
The
contact at the house however, promised to try and call the
first number for us until he got an answer. So we were back
in the same situation as we were before the call, on the ground
in Wee Waa with no one to pick us up. After 20 minutes or
so longer a pick-up approached and drove in the airport gate.
As the vehicle came closer, we realised it was a police paddy-wagon.
When the van got to the gate of the strip, the officer got
out and started walking toward us. It was at this stage that
Phil (the pilot) realised that until a few moments before
the police officer got here that Brisbane FSS (search and
rescue) had not closed our plan, necessary to avoid searches.
After
telling the police officer that he had indeed called cancelled,
the officer thanked us very much, got back in his van and
drove off. So still we were on the ground in Wee Waa with
no-one to pick us up. After another 20 minutes or so Ed (the
gentleman we were to be staying with) drove up and greeted
us and told us that we did not have the right number and that
he didn't know that we were on the ground yet. So finally,
we were on the ground in Wee Waa and somebody there to pick
us up. We piled all our luggage and all four of us into Ed's
rather small car and headed into town for the official Wee
Waa town tour. Two minutes later the tour was completed and
we headed toward Ed and Heather's place to settle in for the
rest of the day.
As
the plan went, we were to have dinner, conduct the evening
home meeting, and sleep at Ed and Heather's place. Dinner
was great, and the meeting started at 7.30 with 15 or 16 people
present (including the 4 of us on the team).
Phil
started us off and the 4 on the team introduced ourselves
and gave a brief testimony. After this we sang for 20-minutes
(Brett played my guitar as accompaniment), followed by Brett
singing a solo and then presenting his white board cartoon.
He spoke and sketched about Zaccheus. Following his presentation
we all prayed for the remaining 30 minutes.
This
gave us a deep sense of being, and knowing we were encouraging
the believers here. The meeting concluded at about 9.20. After
this we broke for supper and sat around and talked over weighty
matters, until people started leaving for home at 10.15 or
thereabouts. "We have our own Church here", a man
said, "but you've come as a breath of fresh air. Thanks
for thinking of us. When can you return?" was his last
question. As I write this sitting in my room, Phil, Brett,
Ed, and Heather are still talking.
Day
Two (Monday) I woke about 5.30
this morning to a beautiful sunrise out the eastern windows
at May's house. Indeed, the Lord is in this place and it's
easy to worship Him. And what a delight it is to be back in
Australia again, and what a blessing to be out of the city.
God is so good! This morning after 6am breakfast I stepped
outside for a walk along Ed's airstrip. I think it must be
the longest private strip I've seen. Ed said at one time when
he was test flying his Veri-Easi home built his strip was
1 nautical mile long. That's nothing to sneeze at!
Ed
drove up and offered a guided tour. I was happy to find that
the tour was a little more substantial than yesterday's tour
of Wee Waa. When we arrived back at the house I found Phil,
Brett, and Larry were up and moving around (Phil was only
barely moving around, but he was up). Showered, packed, cleaned-up,
and prepared for the meetings during the morning, and the
last thing we did before we left at 8.30 was go out and look
at Ed's home built aircraft. This morning we had three engagements
in the space of 45 minutes, with Larry and myself at the Christian
school, Brett at the state primary school, and Phil at the
high school. Boy, did we pray hard.
Everything
worked out well, and by 10.30 we were all done. Praise God
for a good start to the meetings! After spending some time
in town we all met back up at the high school and headed back
to the airport. The wind was from the north, and we wheeled
out to the tarmac at about 10 past 11 in the am. Well, our
Brewarrina class has now finished too, and we are back in
the air headed north-west to Cunnamulla, Queensland, about
150 miles away. Flight time should be very similar to the
Wee Waa to Brewarrina run earlier today. We arrived Bre' at
a little before 12 noon and were picked up by the acting deputy
head of the state school. As we were not to go on with the
kids until 2pm, we had about an hour free time after we arrived
at the school and set up, so the four of us decided to trek
around Bre' and see what there was to see. The class at 2
at Bre' school was quite interesting, with about 40 grade
K-4 kids sitting on the carpeted floor in a double class room.
Along with them, we also had 6 teachers sitting in on the
hour they gave us. I started off and taught them 3 songs,
and then Larry took over and talked for about 15 minutes.
When he was done we sang another song, and then I threw it
to Brett who gave them the story of the good Samaritan with
the white board.
As
usual both Larry and Brett were very good.
At
the conclusion we sang one more song, talked about Explorers
Magazine, and then we closed in prayer. The kids were a little
rowdy, but for the most part they listened and took part in
everything. It's the Gospel that gets them.
We
don't offer ideas or a philosophy. We are able to simply say,
You are special to Jesus, and He loves you. Sometimes, it's
easy to reach them for Christ - sometimes hard. This was easy.
As a side note, the teachers were right into all we did, including
the singing. All in all it was a good hour. After we had finished
and the kids lined up for the busses, we stood around and
talked to the teachers and the assistant principal (Larry)
for 15 minutes.
They
seemed to really enjoy it, and were very happy with both the
content and presentation of Outback Patrol's message. Larry
then drove us back to the airport and after a little prep
time we headed off toward Cunnamulla at around 4 pm. Phil
noted that Larry, a teacher said: "Glad you came. Our
town doesn't have Scripture in the schools any more."
That makes it worth it, but who'll carry it on? Praying in
the air is unique. Only the sound of the engine purring away,
and each of us lifting our voices to God who seems to be closer
than when we're on the ground. Jim Irwin called it "High
Flight", remember? It's now 5.50 pm and we have been
on the ground now for over an hour. Brett, Larry, and myself
are resting at a lovely "Queenslander" homestead
in Cunnamulla, owned by a lovely lady by the name of Jenny.
She and Rick have Patrol teams here often, and they really
get into the excitement.
I
wished I could answer all their questions about Col and Steve
and Garry and Annette. I don't know these Outback Patrol people,
but they do. The house is exquisite, with wide sweeping breezeways
on the side and running through the middle. it really is a
pleasure to be here. Tonight we have a fellowship tea followed
by an evening meeting, planned to start at 6.30, so I am lying
down to grab a bit of quiet before things start again tonight.
Well it is 10 pm, the meeting is finished, and I am so tired
I feel like sleeping for days. I guess I have got out of the
habit of travelling like this. Anyhow, the meeting did go
pretty well, and it definitely went long: we started at 6.30
and we didn't get out of the hall until after 9.30. Tea went
until 7.45 and the meeting from then until 9.30. Phil gave
intros, Brett played the guitar and accompanied everybody
singing for 20 minutes, Phil gave a real nice devotional on
delighting yourself in the Lord, I taught the 20 or so 50+
year-olds the John 3:16 rap, then Brett was asked to take
10 minutes and do a sketch, which turned into a 30 minute
call to faith.
It
was quite a time. He was guided of the Lord to specially speak
to one person, call on them to respond to the Lord. It was
very personal. I am not sure how the people there took it
all, but I am sure we will hear about it soon enough.
The
Minister commended Brett that he could not do that as he lives
here, but Brett did a good thing, and it was most appreciated.
Praise God for whatever He was able to use tonight. I am just
kind of glad I'm here, and I can get to sleep in a few moments.
Day
Three (Tuesday) Well it's 7.40
am and we are in front of the Avgas pumps at Cunnamulla airport.
We were due to take off by 7.30 this morning but Phil's ride
(Brian) was a bit late getting Phil here to the airport.
Oh
well, we'll get to Thargomindah in time for the 9 am class.
It's only an hour flight. Last night was a good night for
sleeping, and I awoke this morning at 6 quite refreshed. Best
time of the day to meditate and worship the Lord, whose work
we are doing, and whose power we depend upon. We are taxiing
now and should be in the air in a few minutes. By the way,
just to remind me, Les Wall and said to say hello to you,
Dad; he has known you for quite a while and was looking forward
to meeting him.
Every
one I meet seems to know Dad and it would take a wad to write
them all down. I think it was a teacher at Thargo who was
so speechless with our program, he almost whispered his words.
Phil wrote them down; "Students love to come to all your
meetings. Such a lift. Love it when God comes to town!"
Well today Brett is in the front seat and Larry and I are
in the back. I'll write more when we finish at Thargmindah.
I'm sorry, I couldn't wait to write some more. This mornings
flight to Thargo' is just beautiful. Taking-off at 7.45 we
have slowly climbed into the smoothest air I have flown in,
in years. It is as smooth as silk. This is the kind of flying
I remembered with Dad twenty years ago, that I missed over
the years that I have been away.
Looking
out the rear right window the red, orange, brown, green, blue,
and yellow hues of the outback are so amazingly beautiful.
It looks like an impressionist painting of what serenity would
look like. I know how people could fall in love with this
seemingly desolate place. It is beautiful out here. Departed
Thargomindah Qld. at 10.30 en-route to Tibooburra NSW. We
had the whole of the Thargomindah state school, with about
50 kids from K-7th grade. We were given an hour first thing
in the morning in the lunch enclosure under the class rooms.
The
teachers were real encouraging, and the kids were pretty good
too. As it turned out, they had been off from school Thursday,
Friday, and Monday, so it could have been a lot worse considering
the amount of time they had spent away. Praise the Lord for
provision!
The
time we had with them was split between myself, Larry, and
Brett. I started with songs and forgot either the chords or
the words to two of the three songs(yes I have had better
sessions). I was done at 12 minutes past the hour and then
Larry took over. He had trouble getting the kids involved
(as I did with the singing) until he broke out the packet
of Minties (what a great thing a bribe is). After Larry was
done Brett took over and used up the rest of the 45 minutes
. Brett did an entertaining sketch of the story of David and
Goliath, moved into Jesus in our lives to conquer our goliaths—and
ended with a Christian version of Hokey-Pokey.
I
explained about Outback Patrol and Explorers and gave out
almost all of our extra copies of the July '95 Magazines.
Overall it was another good class, with plenty of support
from the principal, and simple responses from the children.
Phil was working on his flight plan upstairs, heard every
word echo through the building, to every adult within earshot.
After the class Larry and I headed into town on foot to pick
up post cards, stickers, hat pins, and more Minties. Once
these essential provisions had been acquired we headed back
to school where we were driven back to the plane.
Well,
Tibooburra is next so I will write a bit more after we have
our 1 pm class. Tibooburra school is already a fading memory
as we are looking forward to a bumpy flight into Leigh Creek
now, and that takes over. We had the whole school there for
40 minutes at 1 pm in one of the larger class rooms. As well
as the 25 students we also had all the teachers. It was a
good class, with plenty of participation from the kids. They
take Explorers Club from OP HQ each Wed. afternoon, but these
personal visits put flesh to the bones. We tried Jesus Loves
Me Rap at the end of the session and it went well, as did
Larry and Brett's presentation. We are about to take off to
Leigh Creek now, it is 2.30 and our flight time should be
about 1 hour 50 minutes. Now 9.10 pm South Australia time
(30 minutes behind NSW time) and I am sitting in bed ready
to crash. I have been such a wimp this week, feeling dead
tired at 9 every night. Oh well, enough of this complaining
stuff. The flight from Tibooburra took far less time than
first anticipated and we landed at the Leigh Creek strip an
hour and a half after we departed Tibooburra.
As
anticipated, the flight was pretty bumpy, especially when
we hit the Flinders Ranges. However, considering we were flying
during the heat of the day, when thermal updrafts are at their
peak, it could have been a lot bumpier than it turned out.
Praise God for big and small mercies. When we were picked
up from Leigh Creek airport, Judy Thompson took us straight
to the state school to meet the principal and talk about tomorrow.
He seemed very interested in what we were doing and what we
had to offer.
As
it turns out, SA legislation limits religious education in
school, the people responsible have not been here consistently,
and for the past 6 months very little has been done for the
kids in this regard.
After
talking to his teachers, the school agreed to let us into
4 classes (about 35 kids), having up to an hour with the 2nd,
3rd, 6th, and 7th grade classes starting at 8.55 am.
Additionally,
since the Marree class has fallen through, Brett will draw
cartoons in the schoolyard during recess (10.40 am) to see
if he can attract a crowd for the fifteen minutes free time.
Hopefully the morning will be successful. Speaking of successes,
tonight's meeting went real well, with over 40 people showing
up for the tea and meeting put on by the Christian fellowship.
It started out pretty small at 5.30 when the meal was due,
but by the time we started singing at 7 pm the crowd was swelling.
It exploded to a mighty 40. A few more people arrived at 7.30
when Brett was drawing his cartoons, and we finished with
Larry telling the story of Gideon to encourage the dwindling
Christians in the town.
I
believe God used us mightily tonight, with the people being
entertained, encouraged, and challenged to live their lives
for God as Gideon did. Praise the Lord. The evening ended
at 8.50 local time after a time of useful conversation.
Day
Four (Wednesday) I slept in this
morning and didn't get out of bed until 8 am, what a lazy
mutt? It wasn't that I was tired; I just didn't have anything
to wake up for. Our school meeting was at 8.55, so it was
a bit of a late start by comparison to yesterday morning.
When we got to the school we were told that there was a little
more interest than anticipated, and instead of thirty kids
in a class room we would have 150 in the theatre, for 50 minutes.
Praise God! I must admit I was a bit hesitant at first, but
Brett's enthusiasm took care of that. The kids came in a 8.55
and were seated in the 250-seat auditorium by the teachers.
Then Barry the vice-principal introduced us.
We
started with 3 songs, then Larry talked to them, followed
by Brett giving the story of David, and then I told them about
Explorers Magazine, Brett came back and led a song and prayed.
It really all went like clock work. Praise God. They showed
it with big open eyes, and I know many hearts were touched
in the right sort of way. After this Brett was asked to speak
to a year 12 student interested in cartooning, and then he
drew a story during recess in the quadrangle. By 11 am we
were all finished. Barry really thanked us for coming, and
he said to us "you can come back anytime!"
Opportunity down under
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