doing liFe
together
Lulu (recently retired cross-cultural worker) and Joyce
have shared a friendship that has spanned decades and
continents. Their time together has blessed both women in
countless ways as comfort and trust resides peacefully in
their friendship. A beautiful thing!
Lulu
I met Joyce when we were both leaders on a Girl’s Brigade
camp. We took a large group of teenage girls from Perth over
to Queensland about forty years ago. It was a lovely time that
sparked an amazing friendship.
Joyce has provided me with many years of prayer, plus
financial and emotional support that have helped me to
continue my mission work with steadfast faith and energy.
Joyce’s understanding of mission and her belief that our
differences don’t matter has created a strong friendship over
the past four decades.
I am a fan of the handwritten letter, old-fashioned I know,
and have written hundreds of letters to my family, friends and
church congregation. This is how I have been able to keep
Joyce up to date with the goings-on in Central Asia. I have
been able to let her know about the answered prayers that
God has blessed so many with. She is a dedicated prayer
warrior and has prayed for many of the students I served
among over the years.
Joyce has been a huge blessing in my life and has provided
me with endless love, support and guidance. As she is a little
older than me, she has been able to help me settle back into
Australian life. She has assisted me to get my banking and
pension organised much like the students in Central Asia
helped me when I first arrived there. It is a blessing to live
closer to her again.
Joyce
I spent some time on mission in Africa many years ago so I
know what Lulu went through, to a certain degree.
Whenever she returned to Australia Lulu would speak at
church gatherings and I made sure I was there to say hello.
Afterwards we would have a bite to eat and a chat. It was at
one of our reunion lunches that Lulu approached me with the
idea of a getaway around Western Australia. We hopped on
a coach and headed to Albany, onto Esperance, Kalgoorlie
and back to Perth eight days later. This trip allowed me a little
respite from caring for my mother and the two of us a chance
to catch up properly.
When we went on holidays Lulu would go out walking first
thing in the mornings while I’d be slowly getting myself up
and about. More often than not, she would return dragging
timber home which she would chop ready for the fire later in
the evening.
Lulu is a compulsive bargain hunter. She drags me into every
single shop bearing signs of ‘cheap’ or ‘sale’. Rummaging
through boxes in a discount store, she found paper patty pans
and bought the lot – all 2000! Plenty of muffins and cakes for
her students in Central Asia!
When she was in Central Asia I sent regular emails to Lulu
and let her know what was happening in my church back
home so that she could stay connected to Australia and our
community as well. During each of her home assignment
periods I was always happy to be some company for Lulu on
her holidays and this allowed us to build our friendship.
It's lovely to have her back in Australia. Our next holiday is to
York and I am greatly looking forward to it!
resonate · issue 28 · page 10