Story by Roshni Ahimaz. Photos by Divyan and Roshni Ahimaz.
Divyan and Roshni Ahimaz are based out of MAF's Arnhem Land programme in Australia. Read more updates from their website – www.thegoodworksjournal.com
We arrived in Cairns, Australia, on the 16th of February this year. Divyan had joined MAF as the Area Communications Officer and we were soon to be moving to Nhulunbuy in Arnhem Land, a small town in Northern Territory, Australia.
As our maxi-taxi climbed the small hill to get to ‘Tree Tops’, our temporary accommodation, I was both nervous and excited about the new experiences that lay ahead. The much-anticipated move was coming up in just three months and that was all I could think of.
Tree Tops is co-owned by MAF and the Wycliffe Bible Translators. Being located in Cairns, the lodge is an ideal place of rest and respite for missionary families from Papua New Guinea and Arnhem Land.
When we first got to our little unit at the lodge, it did not mean much to me. It was just a temporary place of stay before moving onto more important things. However, our travel plans to Arnhem Land were soon delayed and I reacted with disappointment. I wanted to get out of limbo and onto the real deal. I wrestled with God and grumbled about having to live out of a suitcase. But God had another agenda. What we did not realise at the time was that this so- called ‘delay’ of two months was exactly what we needed to adapt and gear up for our mission!
Tree Tops soon turned into ‘home’. It became a place of rejuvenation, learning and fellowship with God. The missionary staff here have impacted us significantly through their attitude of service. Always being thoughtful and making us feel welcome. We now realise that we are physically refreshed and more spiritually prepared than before. God intended Cairns and Tree Tops to be a launchpad for the things to come and these extra months were a part of that intended time.
Life often brings us instances where we don’t feel in control of our circumstances throwing us into a mode of confusion. However, it is in these vulnerable times that God really gets to mould us. Looking back, we can’t help but thank God for this delay. I now treasure my little unit at Tree Tops and we can’t wait to see what God has in store.
