“You shall cross the barren desert
But you shall not die of thirst
You shall wander far in safety
Though you do not know the way
You shall speak your words in foreign lands
And all will understand
You shall see the face of God and live.
Be not afraid
I go before you always
Come follow me
And I will give you rest
– Be not afraid by John Michael Talbot –

It is the hymn in our heart in mission in the periphery. The place named Bourke, New South Wales, that is 850 km far from Sydney. The place which is “well-known” by drugs and thief issues. The place seems to be abandoned and full of the poor-in-spirit. It can be seen that Bourke is not the place which people would like to live permanently because of its un-safety and boredom. Many young people just come here for a better chance for Australian Visa. They will leave immediately after required time in this remote area.

WHERE IS GOD HERE?

It is the question we need to find out for this mission!
God goes before us always. We do not bring Good News to the land, but the seed of the Good News is already here. God is here before us. Our job is to find the seed of faith, hope, love, and joy here. The recent Sunday Masses in the Holy Spirit Church in Bourke had around 25 people, and in St. Patrick’s Church in Brewarrina, 100km afar from Bourke, 16 people. They are faithful, they are the Good News. They still come to the Church on Sunday because they need God, they need a community of faith, and they support and be supported by other people. They bring joy, hope, and love for others and for the land.

God is here in the land, in the people, and in ourselves, the missionaries who “speak our words in foreign lands and all will understand.”
We are seeing the face of God in people and in the land.
Please pray for us and mission here.

With love,

Little-pencil