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571 Goodbye, Lonnie! Hello Again, Bass Strait. Oct 27, 2024



KEY SCRIPTURE:  Matthew 25: 34-36

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.


RELEVANCE—The last farewell

On Sunday morning, 20.10.24, our team was invited to witness at the Georgetown Baptist Church, and the congregants were lovely. 

Georgetown is idyllically located on the Tamar River. It's on the opposite side to Beauty Point and closer to the heads, but just as beautiful. 


Nick introduced the team and explained the reason for our visit: to uplift Christ, sing some songs, and provide a testimony to the goodness of God. Barry and Bill sang while I played the bongos.


This time, it was my turn to testify. Due to the powerful closeness of Jesus Christ during my prison term, the audience listened without a sound. I sold some books, and people stayed and talked after the service. They run a children’s program with plenty of kids—the future of the Church. It was a delight to attend. 


We left just before lunch and visited the Low Head Lighthouse and Keeper's Cottage. Low Head is at the farthest tip on the edge of the northern coast and Tamar River mouth. It was beautiful weather—the sun shone bright, and a cool breeze blew over the cliff tops. Heather and I fell in love with it years ago on a motorhome holiday, and I had hoped to revisit it someday. 


Hunger hit us around 1 p.m., so we went to the Pier Hotel in Georgetown for a counter lunch. Situated very close to the water, our bellies slowly filled as we relaxed over a few non-alcoholic drinks, healthy banter and reflection, and great views of the yachts on the Tamar. 


Looking for dessert on our way back to Blackstone Heights, we visited the Swiss tourist village of Grindelwald. Ice-creams allround. Bruce bought some vanilla slices to share over a Greek coffee back at the house.


I began conversing with an elderly lady, Margaret, who was buying ice cream for herself and her demented husband, Alex, who was a nice guy. I was courteous to her, and she asked what I was doing there. I told her of our mission of speaking at some local churches. She asked if I was a Christian, to which I answered yes. She said she was also a Christian and attended Legana Christian Church. In fact, her former Pastor was present with his family at my testimony.


However, there was a touch of sadness in our meeting as she quietly shared with me about her emotional difficulties in dealing with Alex's dementia, "Alex and I have been married for 63 years, and he's been taken away from me."


Nevertheless, it was a blessed moment, and her spirits picked up as I introduced them to some of the team. I gave her a signed copy of my book, Finding Myself Inside, as a memory of our God-inspired chance meeting. Margaret was overjoyed. 


THE FINAL DAY 

We were up early as a team to continue packing, cleaning, and squeezing everything into the vehicles to meet the 10 am exit. We left at 9:57 am. 

On our way to the dock at Devonport, We stopped for lunch at the busy little tourist town of Deloraine. As I was sipping on a drink, I spotted a vehicle with a surfboard on it and a child wearing a tee-shirt that said, “A life without Jesus is like a donut!”


I suspected they were Christians and approached the parents. They were Christians. Tim and I talked surf and Jesus and what we’ve been doing. Then, I mentioned my back issues. When they found that I no longer surfed due to sciatica, Sarah prayed for me and for fruit from our mission right there in the middle of the street. 

We slowly made our way through the tourist towns to our final destination, the Spirit of Tasmania. After we boarded and found our infamous recliners, we hit the café for dinner and drinks as the ship did a U-turn on the river.


Some of us ventured up to Level 9 for an evening view of the swiftly disappearing town of Devonport and a sizeable dose of chimney stack diesel fumes before hitting the sit-up sacks.


Now for more fantastic news.

As we disembarked, we heard that two more people had given their hearts to Christ. That makes three people we know of as a result of our trip. This may not sound like much when pitched against a Billy Graham crusade, but as the only lady on our team, Sue, said, "If one person comes to Christ, the trip would have been worth it."


We, humans, have not yet experienced the sound of trumpets and the abundance of hallelujahs in Heaven when a new name is written into the Book of Life. We may seem jubilant here, but the inhabitants of Heaven know the difficulties we face and rejoice accordingly with a loud and joyful sound we simply cannot imagine. Let's join them in a great Hallelujah!!!!! 


PRAYER

Wonderful Lord, preaching and witnessing of your goodness, mercy, and grace is a privilege beyond many. May those who heard our testimonies and exhortations be blessed beyond measure, as we were blessed by You and them. Praise Your infinite majesty.  

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