Novice Campers Travelling Oz

Brad?s had a bit of a cough this week, first time any of us has been sick since we left Sydney.  We invited Leah and Montana over for tea.  Natalia?s challenge this week is to shop on a budget and buy enough food for the whole family, plus be chef for the whole week.  I expected to see Coco Pops, Nutella and junk food but she shopped very responsibly.  She spent an hour planning the week?s menu and we spent 1 hour shopping.  Tonight was her first night of cooking and she chose to cook Haystacks (Corn chips topped with beans, guacamole and salad).  Her desert was Marshmallow Delight (Thanks Trish in Kariong; marshmallows, crushed pineapple, shredded coconut, sour cream).

R

Elwyn took our family and Keith to do a few activities today, Reverse Bungy was first.  Brad and I hadn?t done it before but the kids had.  One by one we were all catapulted into the tree tops; feels very strange but fun.  The harness takes all the weight so it soon pulls at the waist and thighs ?  wouldn?t want to do it for too long.  ?Sky Walk? was next; it looks like a long swing bridge with the rungs spread far apart with no hand rail, complete with tracer wire above you to harness into ? so when you fall off the bridge you don?t fall more than half a metre.  Brad harnessed up and zoomed across easily (fell off once).  Sam had to be really encouraged but he eventually did it.  Shay cried all the way across, while Elwyn was walking along behind her.  She was pretty angry when she finished even after lots of hugs and reassurance; she has a very stubborn streak!  Then it was my go.  I started off on the opposite side to the others and the rungs were spaced further apart.  It was a bit challenging to stay balanced but I got across without falling; it wasn?t scary, more challenging than anything.  Nat stepped confidently then Brad wanted to have another go.  He wanted to try and cross without holding onto the top safety wire for balance.  He only got about ¼ of the way before he fell.  I can see in his face that he wants to conquer it and in the words of the Terminator ?I?ll be back!?

We?ve all been rock climbing heaps of times but this 12 metre rock wall was challenging with an overhang platform to scramble onto about ½ way up, then an overhang climb to finish.  The first part of the wall has rectangular wood holds, not rock climbing holds, so that made it challenging too.  Nat, Sam then Shay really battled to get up.  Shay was the shortest and least confident (usually the most confident on an indoor rock wall) but with a bit of help from the belayer, she stood on the top, hands raised up in a victory salute.  The hardest part for her was to abseil down, she was really scared.  Keith was an amazing encourager and soon she was on the ground saying that she would do it again.  I looked at the wall and knowing my own strength, or lack of it, seriously wondered how I would get up it.  Still I gave it my best and couldn?t believe that I got over the overhang platform, then pulling out some determination I made it to the top, I don?t know how.  I was so exhausted I could hardly stand up.

Brad?s task was to get the red climb.  It consisted of 4 rectangular wooden holds then the overhang platform, then sparse moulded holds to the top.  Twice brad failed to get to the middle platform; twice he got down and said ?I can?t do it!?  He said that he was just physically too short... still he wanted another go, so got serious and took off his shoes.  Third go he hauled himself all the way up.  Interesting psychology, because with shoes off he was even shorter, yet made it!

Had ?The bachelor boys? over for tea; Keith, James and Neil.  It was BYO plates, utensils and chair.  It?s the first time we?ve entertained in our tent.  It was a little cosy but we pushed the table to one side, and sat on each other?s laps (nearly).  Just had pasta, Ratatouille (thanks Charlie in Sydney for the recipe) stacks of Turkish bread and homemade Rocky Road.  About 9:15 Leah arrived with her parents playing chauffer (tree branch fell on her car) and Montana came over too when she heard our kids screaming at the top of their lungs and her dogs barking.  (No one was bitten but one of the dogs ?Jackal? needs to learn to trust and not bite people when they run).  We shooed the kids off chairs and onto laps and put on the kettle (saucepan) for hot drinks.

R

Brad met the local SDA minister on Thursday and casually said ?If I can do anything to help while I am here then please let me know?...SO, Brad preached at Moe church today.  There were lots of hymns (traditional church songs) sung, but we?ve never heard hymns sung like Moe church sang them: the piano was almost smoking and I thought the roof might lift off!  It was fabulous and I actually enjoyed singing the hymns which isn?t something I would normally say as sometime hymns tend to be a bit of a dirge.  Brad preached with great passion and enthusiasm about living life in a revolutionary way and like a radical as that was what Jesus was.  Went for lunch at a friend?s place and had lots of interesting conversation.  It seems that Brad?s dress code (long t-shirt and no tie) and the song by Stephen Curtis Chapman (?Dive?) challenged some of the locals.  Seems they missed the whole point of the sermon: getting out of your comfort zone!  Went for a walk around the local countryside and ½ km from the house it began to rain.  It was freezing rain and the wind picked up so we were miserable.  Shay got pretty cold hands so I gave her my scarf.  Nat spent most of the time carrying Ben?s red Kelpie pup ?Wretch? who looked so forlorn and shivering, she carried him home.  Sam was off with Andy and the other boys catching frogs, slaters and fighting with sticks.

Every single day we have been in Vic it has rained!  The Delhuntie guys keep telling us ?If you don?t like the weather, wait 5 minutes.?  Our camping site was so muddy and miserable we packed up the trailer and turned it around to move a few metres out from under the trees and to get the morning sun into our eating area.  It has made a big difference.  Elwyn and James also fixed an old combustion heater and adapted a chimney for us, so we now have a fire place in our tent!!!  It is heavenly!  Nights are still freezing but warmer than Alice Springs.  Most nights I get kids waking me whose doonas have slipped off or they wriggle out of their sleeping bags and end up curled up in just PJ?s.  We are all sleeping in thermals plus a layer or 2 but mostly we?re warm in bed (thanks for the borrow of the sleeping bag Maureen).  After roughing it with all this camping I will be able to live in the simplest house and be grateful, that is a blessing I think.

The shower was are using in the toilet block is gas heated and is having problems, so every couple of days some of us get a cold shower.  The kids are treating it all as an adventure without too many complaints.  Their only complaint is now that we are settled they do some school work most days.

R

Del went to hospital because she is in increasing pain.  Scans show that the cancer is progressing and they have given her a time line of 6 weeks!  I still don?t fully understand why God-fearing people get sick but, I am watching a beautiful God-fearing woman have hope that there is more to this life than just living ? there is something beyond this life; a peaceful place where there is no death or sorrow.  Knowing that we will see her again if this is her time to go, gives the family reassurance.  A friend is with her 10 hours a day for company and help and some of the nurses are great.  She is having radiation to try and shrink the tumour on her hip so she can have some quality of life.  Her room is covered with a huge smiley face poster and lots of positive verses.  Shay and Nat made her pictures and we dropped in to see her today.  Some days she has 16 visitors arrive at once!

R

The staff had such a full weekend so Elwyn had the staff do some activities together today.  They did a Flying Fox Superman style, (Brad helped facilitate) having written down thoughts and feelings they wanted to get rid of, then as they flew over the dam they ripped up their papers and hurled them into the water.  Yelling or whooping is strongly encouraged when doing any of the Delhuntie activities as it seems to release something within.  Don?t take my word for it, try yelling on top of a mountain; bet it feels great.  They also climbed a large lighthouse shaped steel thingy hanging out of a tree - named Mr Squiggle.  There are steel handholds outside and inside.  It is difficult climbing so really allowed some steam to be let off.

R

We spent the weekend at a Family Retreat held here at Delhuntie.  Saturday was a day of talks such as A Child?s Development; Foods and Moods Link (very interesting, taken by Dr Robert Ghan); Where?s Dad? Step-parenting; Managing large families (the speaker and his spouse have 7 kids).  Took lots of notes and really enjoyed the learning time.  We also spent time participating in several family building activities and got out of our comfort zone by walking on a bed of nail, literally!  Brad went first (Shay and Sam were both teary when it was Brad?s go, they were so fearful for him!) then Nat went without hesitation.  We all gathered around them checking their feet for blood but apart from lots of indent marks from the nail points, their feet were fine.  I sat staring at the board for quite a while and watched dozen of people go across; kids as young as 6 and a couple of the staff piggy backed someone across.  Then Brad said ?Do you want a go??  So I stood up and made him hold my hand.  I stood at the starting point and eyed off the bed of nails, I knew I had to do 4 steps in order to make it to the other side.  Why was I so scared of the perceived pain, when Nat and Brad had gone across without tears or blood?  I worried that my feet would be more sensitive than theirs.  I knew that once I started I was committed.  I was told ?flat feet and keep moving!?  I reasoned with myself if I can birth 3 kids without any pain medication I can walk across nails.  With a couple of breaths and my heart beating wildly I stepped onto the bed of really sharp looking nails.  Did it hurt?  Well it wasn?t comfortable but I wouldn?t describe it as painful, just a strong sensation.  I had a bit of adrenaline running around in my body when I finished, I felt like a winner.  Not only had I done a physical feat, I had walked a mental path I had never walked before.  I had also repeated to myself ?A new life, a new life,? because that?s what it?s all about, leaving behind the things that hold us back and continually experiencing the new blessings.

As the kids had had a late-ish night I let them all sleep in a little and we arrived late to an activity named ?God?s Window.?  What happens is this: you climb up several staircases inside a tower until you reach an enclosed platform 20m from the ground.  From this platform you can usually abseil, ?Angel Rush? or finish a rock climb.  Then you walk out onto a small gang plank and climb further 3m up a pole with foot pegs until you stand on a top platform just big enough to rest both feet at once.  Not only that, when you get there you let go of your hands and lean back 45 degrees while the rope and harness takes all your weight.  There was no way I was doing that; I am not an adrenaline junkie.  But we climbed up the tower to have a look and cheer other brave ones on.  Then Elwyn said Nat then Rochelle are next.  I knew that if I thought about it I would not do it (in fact I determined to be late this morning on purpose so I didn?t have to do it) but in fact there was this part of me that desperately needed to do it, so I quickly put on the harness and watched Nat climb up and hang out.  She looked incredible when she came down, so excited about what she had accomplished.  When it was my turn I stood out on the little gang plank and looked up at the pole I was to climb, it looked so tall, it looked so flimsy (but in terms of engineering my brain knew it was able to hold much, much more than my weight).  I felt ill as I began to climb, hand over hand up the pole.  The morning was freezing and my hands hurt due to the cold.  As I neared the top I felt like I was stepping into the very presence of God.  I was so close to the clouds; there was no tree or manmade structure higher than where I was standing; I had tears streaming down my face.  It was absolutely the most terrifying thing I have ever done.  I was standing on the tiny foot platform, the pole was swaying and every time I looked at the ground I got dizzy and thought I was going to pass out.  My breathing was in big gulps and the tears were torrents by now; I had to keep looking up to cope and stop myself from fainting.  My brain knew I could not fall far even if I did faint, due to the harness and rope, but the thought was terrifying.  I was clinging to the pole with both hands, determined not to let go, there was no way I was going to lean back into a rope... In fact I was yelling ?I can?t do it, I can?t do it.?  I heard no reply from Elwyn; it was just me and God.  Every breath of wind was like being breathed on by the breath of God Himself.  Why didn?t Elwyn say ?OK you can come down now, you have pushed yourself far enough, well done.?  It was like ?Doesn?t anyone care what I am going through??  I was seriously scared.  I barely heard the periodic encouraging shouts as I was concentrating so hard and my breathing felt so loud.  I still could not look down.  I had to keep looking up, what a great symbolism I was experiencing.  I knew I don?t solve my problems by looking down or within, I would be stronger if I kept looking up to The Man Upstairs.  I felt somewhat resigned to finishing the task and literally one by one I remove each finger off the pole, until finally I was clinging to the pole by one finger on my left hand.  My right arm was thrown out into the wind yet I had my strongest finger (pointer) on the pole.  It occurs to me how ridiculous it is, I had one finger wrapped around the pole yet was I supporting my weight?  No! I really had to reach inside myself to peel that final finger off the pole; yet when I did I was still terrified.  Both arms were back and I lean out on my harness, throwing my head back, face to face with the God of the universe.  How sweet it was to be in the presence of God!  I had climbed up there to leave some things from my past, to give some pains and some baggage that still tries to hold me back in life, to God.  In the Bible it says ?Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about what happens to you.?  Well I thought, ?You asked for it God, so I?ll  give it to you, please take my baggage as I no longer want any of it to hold me back.  I want to be a new person!?  I stayed in that posture for about a minute and then began the climb back down.  The tears had dried, and I stepped onto the platform and looked around to see the faces of my family and I felt great.  I felt lighter, freer; I really left something up there with God, something in the arms of the angels.  I felt like my life had turned a corner.  I got the biggest, longest hug from Leah and it was so good.  Then I got to hug Brad, the kids and Elwyn.  Felt so good to be down, the adrenaline slowly went and I felt exhausted and had a great need to be alone, but that wasn?t possible with the day of talks and activities planned.

We attended a talk by Counsellor Ray Slade on identity, uniqueness and self esteem.  Very interesting, was great to learn something new; probably the most interesting lecture this weekend.  Lots of hands on activities and team building stuff happened.  Then we went outside and were divided up into two teams.  Some of us as a team had to collect a ?treasure box and key from out of a ?toxic waste pit? using only a rope and a tree in the middle of the circle.  It was fascinating.  I honestly didn?t have a clue how to do it but somehow our team achieved the task.  Interesting for me, my strength of organizing came out in the activity.

Next, Nat and I with our team harnessed up to experience a Flying Fox (there are about 6 here).  Leah told me that Brad had gone upside down so I thought I?d do that too.  It was a long way down when you look at the world from amongst the tree tops, but it wasn?t scary; it was fun even in the light rain.  Because of the rain, more outdoor activities were impossible so we went indoors to do some communication activities using rope and a blind fold.  Great Family Retreat; we walked away feeling that this sort of Retreat is something that we want to help put together.  Seriously thinking about doing my Masters in Family now.

R

Brad did his first Delhuntie Iceberger two mornings ago jumping off Bomb Pole (telegraph pole going out over the lake at a 45 degree angle, with the jump off point 4 metres above the water). It is so cold he gets an immediate burning sensation to the degree of pain over his whole body and then proceeds to get out as fast as possible.  The water is 10 degrees and often rainy.  This morning Neil and James joined him going off Haaman?s Plunge (a T-bar rope swing, where you climb up a 2m tower and swing out).  Why would anyone do this you ask?  As I haven?t manufactured up enough courage/insanity to join Brad yet, I?ll let a qualified professional answer the question.

R

I never feel like going.  The thought of getting out of my warm bed and into my cold swimmers and plunging into icy water is detestable. I do it because I don?t want to live my life controlled by my feelings; they are not always a reliable guide.  I do it to increase my will power and as I jump I yell out ?Good morning Jesus? or say positive affirmations.  The experience/shock is one way for me to push positive thoughts into my subconscious.  I am reprogramming myself to change past negative thoughts/emotions that still hinder my personal and professional development, by putting in more positive than there is negative.  There is no way I can have a negative thought/emotion after the experience, it is so exhilarating!  If you still don?t understand this concept you will just have to come to Delhuntie for a workshop or do an Iceberger with me sometime.

B

We had lunch out on a pontoon in the middle of the dam today.  We made sandwiches and paddled the canoes out and then came the tricky bit- getting 5 bottoms to balance on a small pontoon without tipping it.  The 3 kids clambered on no worries then I made moves to join them, the pontoon rocked crazily and I thought I was about to do my first Iceberger.  Then as I stabilized, Brad made moves to join us all.  With our combined weights the pontoon dipped precariously to just floating above the waterline.  We ate lunch with nobody allowed to move anything except their mouth!  Another great memory.

The kids attended Andy?s party (who we first met at Alice Springs) here at Delhuntie.  He had a nature/adventure Party, so the kids did a treasure hunt, bungy swing, rode behind the quad bike (Brad drove.  He?d never driven a quad bike before) in a little cart, went 4wding in a revved up Jeep painted green and bright yellow.  The kids hung out the windows as they went around the 4WD course, sloshing through the mud...

Today I met Helen who is the co-founder of Delhuntie Park and wife of Elwyn.  It is always an honour to meet a woman who stands alongside a man who has done /is doing amazing things.  It reminds me of the song ?Wind Beneath my Wings? from the movie Beaches.  I also got to meet Del who is their beloved daughter.  Currently Del is fighting a battle for her life as she is not even 30, yet cancer is trying to kill her.  Brad first met Del at University in Cooranbong and he used to think ?She?s the most positive person I?ve ever met.?  Then when we met her brother Roo in Alice Brad thought ?He?s just the most positive man I?ve ever met.?  Now that we have met Elwyn (father of them both), Elwyn is by far the most amazingly positive person we?ve ever met.  Del and Roo are only a chip off the block!!!  Now I?m not a morning person but every morning without fail Elwyn calls out ?Good morning? or ?What a beautiful morning? at the top of his voice as he walks past our tent.  He is training the other staff in this positivity too as often there are 4 or 5 cheery morning calls to us.  I?m desperately trying to be a lot more positive, and it definitely is contagious.  I can be walking to take my wake-up shower, bleary eyed and cotton wool headed when the beautiful people here just walk up and hug you.  They then affirm the beautiful morning, even when it?s raining or the fog is so great I can?t see the path to the loo... I have to admit it feels good to be around people who look for the best in everything.  With Del so sick and mostly bed-bound it is sobering.  Watching the wattle bloom and the ducks swim on the lake or feeling rain on our faces are little things that Del doesn?t get to experience at present.

R

Brad got up early and wandered around the Park, saw things suspended from trees everywhere.  It seemed that with every turn of the corner, there was something new! After Breakfast Brad and I got to sit down with Elwyn and talk.  We sat down near the dam and the kids got into the canoes and had a great time paddling around and clambering out onto the Island (which they named Melly Island).  It was hilarious watching them try to figure out how to steer their canoe.  After about 45 minutes each child was in their own canoe and navigating it enough to get from A to B (albeit the long way) and have fun.

R

We got an early start to the day, headed at last to Delhuntie Park.  We were all feeling excited and a bit apprehensive.  As soon as we got into mobile phone reception, Brad?s phone began to beep and tell him he had 6 messages.  This seemed highly unusual and we jokingly said ?Hope nobody?s died.?  Then our faces went from dread to embarrassment and sorrow when we heard message after message from Nina (Friday) and then Elwyn (Saturday night); ?Where are you guys, hope to see you soon, we?re all at Delhuntie Park having an Outback Safari Reunion!?  Oops!  Seems Brad didn?t make it clear when we were arriving to Elwyn and I had it in my head that we were arriving on Monday... communication breakdown.  Then Brad rang Elwyn and the team were only 10 minutes from us, heading out to pick up Keith (a guy who we met on the Outback Safari) who is trying to get his life together.  He had been out on a ?Solo? in the bush for 12 days alone, with no one to talk to but God and nature.  We met up with lots of the Pinnacle Family in the car park, hugged everyone (even some people we didn?t know), crazy but great to be back with this Family.  We all drove near to the spot where Keith was set up, and Leah (mentor/buddy) went into camp to find him.  Now he had no idea we were coming, so we set up an ambush of James (in full Gilly Suit) Brad and Braeden (wearing black garbage bags with eye and nose holes cut out, manning camera and video camera), to capture his ?rescue? and celebration.  After we sighted Keith and Leah and he had some time to debrief, about 12 of us all leapt out of the bush, blowing party horns and exploding party poppers.  So many hugs for him, he was grinning but looked a little overwhelmed.  He wasn?t expecting us today or so many of us.  We cooked breakfast over his campfire and he shared his experiences with us.  Keith is on an amazing restoration journey away from drugs and we are so proud of him!  Our highlights were: talking with Nina and Leah in our car as we travelled, watching Neel, Deano and James Iceberger in the river, Elwyn?s enthusiastic hugs, celebrating with Keith.  We arrived home to Delhuntie and set up in the dark, in a light shower of rain.  A couple of the youth wanted to do some night Slingshot Bungy where you get harnessed onto a thick elastic cord, pulled back and released.  Looked so fun, Nat had a go and let free some screams of enjoyment, she will sleep well!

R