We have internet!!!

April 25th 2008

We now have internet on campus! It’s a temporary wireless router in the main office until the college infrastructure is finalized but we are thankful we now have means in which to access!! I think the next step will be a wireless router that will transmit 2 miles and then a fiber optics network to the homes. We are glad to see step one at the moment!
It’s a public holiday here called “Anzac Day” so we have a 3 day weekend. Anzac day is similar to Veterans Day in the States. We will be going to an Anzac day party on campus this evening to eat some traditional Aussie holiday treats.
Week two with the boys has been very good. We had 7 boys in the house. Most of them are 12 and 13 with a 14, 16 and 17 year old. We are very encouraged how the boys are settling in and it has surpassed our initial expectations. One of the boys who lives with his grandparents and doesn’t have a father and his mother has serious issues, expressed to us that “he feels like we are family here”. That was very encouraging to us!
The teachers have expressed to us that the boys are participating in class like never before. This kind of life is all new to the students and of course has it’s challenges as we work to play our part with the boys to build a campus culture. We are thankful we haven’t had any acting out as of yet with no escalation of anger. It’s not a matter of “if” this will happen, but when, but we are working to minimize any incident. Even though these boys are not in custody, the vast majority come from “families in crisis”.
Before the boys were in the house here at the College, they lived in very small portable houses during the first term. There were often fights, rock throwing and serious temper tantrums. Actually, the only rock throwing we have seen this term was when we were walking back from the river where we swim with the students after school. They spotted a snake and immediately opened fire with rapid rock fire! It was amazing to see the accuracy of their shooting as stones bounced off the 2 or 3 foot black colored snake as it screamed off across the road for cover!
It’s amazing to us as we get to know the boys concerning the potential in their lives. We’ve been instructed to teach and guide the boys through a teaching philosophy known as “RAP” (Response Ability Pathways). RAP works by encouragement/ positive reinforcement rather than using a string of consequences to deal with bad behavior. “RAP” works to promote changed lifestyle from the inside-out rather than an external system which only “Band-Aids”. If anyone is interested in the book that teaches this its called” Response Ability Pathways (restoring bonds of respect)” authored by Larry Brendtro & Lesley du Toit. As we apply this with other Biblical principle, we believe will see the Tiwi youth of Bathurst and Melville Island rise up and take their place to be everything God has created them to be.
We thank those of you who have been praying for the Tiwi people. Transformation needs to happen here and we are literally on the front lines. Please pray for us as well for strength and wisdom.