Hey there friends, family, and faithful supporters! The last three months have been incredibly busy yet joyous for us here in Mareeba. We've had safaris, book weeks, flight tests, bush dances and managed to sleep somewhere in between it all too.
Arnhem Land Safari
"Thank you, Wawa (brother)!" exclaimed the young Yolngu boy as I (Michael) opened the back door of the GA8 to allow him to disembark into the arms of his waiting parents. We had just arrived back in Gove from Galiwinku, an island in the beautiful north-eastern corner of Arnhem Land. I was halfway through my four-day stay in Gove, doing some operational flying with Anton, a MAF pilot who had been based there for the last three years. We had brought the boy into Gove because his family were there for medical reasons and he had been left in Galiwinku with extended family. I put my hand up to sit next to him in the back as there was no one to accompany him on the flight.

My vantage point behind Anton on the way back to Gove.
Fearful tears ran down his face as we started up and taxied onto the runway, and I prepared myself for a long 25 minute flight. To my surprise, as Anton added full power, my little friend began to calm down and even looked out the window as we flew low over his community on our way to his family. His happiness only increased as we got closer, even though we hit some bumps on the way in to land. I was reminded of how God can use seemingly insignificant people like a regular MAF pilot to achieve his purposes. Whether it be a small Yolngu boy reunited with his earthly family, or a lost soul reunited to the Heavenly Father, God is faithful in equipping his workers to spread his love.
This little story comes from a slither of my ten-day safari flight to Arnhem Land. What follows are some pictures of the rest of the trip, a right of passage for any aspiring MAF pilot.

The boys embark. Left to right: Gavin, Bubba, me, Andy (our instructor) and his son Theo (our extra baggage).

Our 2500 nautical mile route.

Gavin on short final into Burketown, our first stopover.

The good thing about tuna is you can eat it anywhere!

I grew up in Numbulwar as a MAF kid, so it was awesome to visit on the way up to Gove.

Bubba and I loving life at 9,500 feet.

Made it safely to Arnhem Land. Our chariots felt right at home among the rest of the MAF fleet.
Out and about with Anton.
Flight Test
My commercial licence has been four years in the making. You can imagine my excitement and relief when Sally, my testing examiner, reached her hand over the desk to congratulate me on passing my test and achieving just that. Praise God! The plan now is to spend the rest of the year completing my multi-engine instrument rating, a pre-requisite for flying as a pilot with MAF. It feels sensational to be one step closer to serving God with the gifts I've been given. Thank you to all who prayed, the test could not have gone any better.

An elated, freshly decorated commercial pilot posing with Andy Little, our head of training and the instructor who has flown with me most.
Naomi's World
I (Naomi) have had another busy term teaching at Jubilee Christian College. Book Week was by far the highlight, and definitely worth all the hours of preparation. For those who don’t know, Book Week is celebrated by many schools each year and is organised by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. Myself and a few other colleagues decorate our school library, and organised story time for recess and lunch each day. On the Thursday of Book Week, we had a whole school book character dress up day and parade, with small group activities to follow (including a ‘Where’s Wally?’ scavenger hunt). One of the boys in my class dressed up as Pinocchio… it was hard to keep a straight face while teaching as his incredibly long, adjustable cardboard nose made me want to laugh every time I looked at him!
Michael and I have continued serving as youth leaders at church on Friday nights. We’ve been going through the Alpha Youth course, discussing topics such as the Bible, sin and telling others about Jesus. Even as an adult, I’ve been challenged and encouraged in my faith.

A taste of book week! (5 points awarded to whoever guesses who Naomi is dressed as)
Support

We'd love to thank everyone that has come on board to support us financially and prayerfully as we take small steps closer to serving remote communities with MAF. Because of your generosity and faithfulness, we are excited to say that we are at 25% of our funding target! MAF can only provide the service they do with support from selfless people like you so again, thank you. We're excited to see how and where God leads us!
Prayer Points
As we head into the rest of this year, we would love it if you could be in prayer in the following ways:
Join us in thanking God for a safe and enjoyable safari for Michael, and a successful flight test.
Praise to God for his provision in the form of a quarter of our funding.
Prayer for patience and energy as Naomi finishes the year teaching at Jubilee Christian College.
Prayer for Michael's upcoming instrument rating, and that he will continue to learn skills that will come in handy in future.
That's it from us this quarter, we'll leave you with a few verses from Psalm 121. We would love to hear back from you all!
With love,
Michael & Naomi
"I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep."
Psalm 121:1
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