Tears have been flowing on Groote Eylandt for Julie Waddy, who has flown out into retirement after 30 years of ministry in the Northern Territory.
"It was very special," says Julie of a special fellowship time on the church sand hill in honour of her farewell.
"There was an unexpected depth of affirmation. They cried with me until they were satisfied. They were very much aware of the breaking of our relationship."
The appreciation for Julie's ministry was just as heartfelt at Katoomba this week, as thousands of delegates at the annual CMS Summer School praised God for her 30 years as a missionary on Groote, which lies off the east coast of Arnhem Land in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
The Rev John Bales, CMS NSW's incoming General Secretary, paid tribute to Julie's extraordinary commitment to the Aboriginal people of Groote.
"We honour her for her commitment, even in really difficult times," he says.
Julie has spent the past 22 years mentoring a team of Bible translators. However, she says it was the first eight years spending time with the old people documenting Aboriginal bush knowledge and medicines that built up the credibility that helped local people value her later work.
The significance of Julie's commitment to building up relationships became very clear in the tributes from Aboriginal people as she was leaving.
"You spent time going out bush, learning from our old people. Most white people just stay together. They don't sit with us like you did," said Paul Lalara at Julie's farewell on Groote.
As Julie leaves, her team has completed a mini-Bible of six books translated into the local Anindilyakwa language in addition to John's gospel, Acts and half of Revelation. She is confident the current team of 10 Aboriginal translators can continue the work, although they will still need some outside mentoring.
What has been translated is so important to local people that many have worn out their copies.
"They kept pestering me for a new copy " and for more translation," she says.
Aboriginal people have also told Julie that it wasn't until they read it in their own "heart language' that God's word made sense to them.
"They have a much deeper understanding of their faith. It's no longer a surface thing," she says.
Julie will spend the next six months visiting her link churches, before looking for a new job in Sydney, where she hopes to work as a counsellor.
John Bales says CMS will continue supporting the Aboriginal churches in the Northern Territory, but says needs are changing.
"While Julie has handed her work onto the group of Aboriginal translators, there remains a need for literacy training," he says.
"Pray that people will be called up for missionary service in the Northern Territory. People can also go in partnership with CMS, using their professional skills in an Aboriginal community " teachers, nurses, mechanics, carpenters and many others."
John points out that the salaries of such professionals are covered by the Government.
There is also a need for people to coordinate youth work amongst the Aboriginal communities as young people become disconnected from their families.
Visit [url=http://www.cms.org.au]http://www.cms.org.au[/url] for more information.
