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I ended the last blog with a picture caption saying something about hoping for no more weather drama after the hurricane came and went. Oh, the irony. The very next day the floods began, and they were fierce. The road north is still closed due to extensive damage caused by the initial hit of the hurricane and the buckets that came after. I’ve never seen so much water in the wrong place. It was magnificent in its raw, natural power, but deeply unnerving. The floods receded and were quickly replaced by an unrelenting heatwave and a mess. Brian joined the church in helping clean up damaged homes, but all in all the whole thing felt at arms distance to us. We watched as our steep street turned into a waterfall… all of it flowing down and away from us. Our ceiling started to bubble up, but there were no leaks in the roof and the bubbles shrank back down once the sun came out. Our cinderblock house on a rock stood firm.

We followed up all that drama with a peaceful flood of books; our annual observance of Jolabokaflod on Christmas Eve where we “shopped our shelves” this year gifting each other books we already own. Christmas Day itself was full! Full of joy, full of energy, full of people! We hosted two teams from Ukarumpa who were in town for the holidays. They loved on our kids and gave our Christmas the “big family” feel we were definitely going to miss this year. Backyard cricket was played, an official Aussie Christmas swim enjoyed, a viewing of Elf, and, of course, a barbie (but no shrimp).

We rang in the New Year with an early fireworks show in the main part of town, and Gemma was not keen. Later she did say she enjoyed it, but you couldn’t tell by looking at her that night! We’ve now tucked all the Christmas decorations away and I’m beginning to prep for school. We’ll start on January 22 to follow the school schedule here, and I’m busy overhauling our curriculum. Brian starts the travel side of his work with a trip to Vanuatu this Sunday. My book is still in the final editing stages and I’m very hopeful it will be out in 2-3 weeks, in plenty of time for Lent! Continued prayers very much appreciated for that.

2023 was a year of answered prayers and provision and unexpected delights. We have no idea what 2024 will be, but we’re excited to be starting it here in Cairns finally feeling settled in work and school and living.