Sitting and Waiting

Winter Update 2026

Although Arnhem Land isn't MAF's most remote program, there are certainly aspects of life here that make it feel that way. Hours without phone reception, no general practitioners, potholes that can take months to fill, mail that takes weeks to come and power outages (though thankfully these are less frequent in the dry season). And that's just in town! The Laynhapuy Homelands are even more removed from our populated area and so go without the many luxuries we take for granted. Mostly though, our time here has reminded us of just how needed the gospel is. In witnessing funeral ceremonies, talking to local Yolŋu people about their origins and even hearing about all the dark spirits around where we live from local children, we can see that Arnhem Land craves the Good News.

Occasionally this has driven me to a feeling of desperation and a want to act swiftly. Yet, Naomi and I have been decidedly intentional about how we go about setting up our ministry here. Building friendships with Yolŋu people can take years. This isn't to say that they aren't friendly - but their trust of Balanda (white people) has been broken one too many times. So, to gain it takes time. It is one thing for someone to know you by name and have a pleasant conversation when they see you, and another entirely for them to let you in on their culture and way of life.

This season is about being present, sitting, listening and waiting. How long will it last? Well, that remains to be seen. We plan to be here to let you know! For now, prepare yourselves for perhaps the most pictures we've ever had in one update.

Out and About

The local schools all had sports week in June, so we did a lot of flying them into and out of Galiwin'ku.

We flew hundreds of sleeping mats over a few weeks for them all to sleep on!

A student of the Laynhapuy Homelands School.

The dry hasn't quite been as dry as usual.

Waiting for a shower to pass in Gan Gan.

Often we fly "sit and waits". In this case, I flew some nurses into the Gurrumuru Homeland to do checkups.

While waiting for the nurses, I wandered in and found Yitjidi - one of the elders I'd previously met in Gurrumuru. We chatted about his struggle to get his young people to live in the homelands, rather than out in the populated areas where they struggle with worldly vices. I assured him that it isn't just his people struggling with these things...

A friendly dingo keeping me company on another sit and wait.

Gan Gan again, this time with less weather.

Closer to Home

We thought we'd show you a around the community we call home!

Our street consists mainly of MAF housing and a few semi-destroyed speed bumps.

Our regular walking track

On the way to Shady Beach, you pass Yirrkala Farm. This was a banana plantation when I was a kid, but it was destroyed in a cyclone. It now grows fresh produce that is sold at the local store.

Atop the hill at Shady Beach... I remember swimming here when I was younger, but the crocodile population has been steadily growing since then!

The local school

Coming down the hill into the centre of the community

Our church, right on the beach. It has undergone quite a facelift in recent weeks.

A few Sundays ago, there was an ordination service held for the local Yolŋu pastor. Most of these people came from Darwin or the Homelands - usually our congregation consists of around 10 people.

Local footy

Naomi's World

And just like that, Arnhem Land has been our home for 3 months! While we miss our community and connections in Atherton, we are incredibly thankful for the new relationships we're building here. Life in Yirrkala has a slower pace and my days look quite different to what they used to. I've enjoyed getting to know fellow MAF ladies over cups of tea and have met other mothers (and babies) through weekly visits to the local library. Some of our favourite weekend activities include sitting around the campfire in our backyard, visiting nearby creeks to swim and going to 'Beach Church' - a combined churches gathering held once a month. Since our last update, I've seen a buffalo twice (with one of those times being too close for comfort)!

Flossie's Forays

I'm now 11 months old! I'm crawling and can get onto the couch by myself. I have five teeth and my favourite thing to say is 'Teh' (when I see my blue bear called Ted and any dog). If you ask me where the ceiling fan is, I'll look up and point to it! I also like waving when people come and go. I love crawling towards Papa's guitar and shaking my head when he says 'yaka' (that means 'no' in Yolŋu Matha, the local language here). When I'm older, my parents will let me watch the five Bluey episodes which have recently been translated in Yolŋu Matha. Maybe you would like to watch them too!

Here I am with Mocha, a local dog who has adopted us.

I love giggling when I see Mocha (who is cheeky and took one of Mama's shoes down the road)!

I love spending my days exploring with Mama.

I'm all ready to go camping.

When I wake up, I like to play with my friend "Teh".

Reading with my friend Neria

I love to feed myself all kinds of snacks!

Mama and Papa take me walking around the community most days.

Prayer Points

Please be praying with us in the following ways:

• Continue to pray for opportunities to build relationships in the local community.

• Give thanks that our car and other belongings arrived sooner than expected!

• Pray for our time with family in Alice Springs over the next month, as we celebrate and remember Wayne (Michael's dad who passed away last week, after over a decade of being unwell). Give thanks that Wayne is now in the arms of our Heavenly Father.

• Praise God for the safe arrival of a new MAF family to Yirrkala, with six children for Flossie to play with!

That's it for now...

'Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.' - Psalm 107:1

Until next time,

Michael, Naomi and Florence

*Our new postal address is: PO Box 1342, Nhulunbuy NT 0881.