Day 2

Day 2 Everyday has been like 3 days, with the amount we have managed to experience! Today after a beautiful breaks to fuel us we were lucky enough to have the local markets in the Todd Mall which is just outside our hotel. They are only fortnightly, so that was great timing. There is a huge range of market stalls, from food, clothing, second hand wares, oxfam, most importantly Many locals bring their paintings to the market and sell them. The authentic ones are usually spread on the ground in front of the Aboriginal person who is the artist. They will tell you the story about the singing, what it means and will sign the back. you can ask them to have their photo with it for authenticity. These artists are so very talented! They each have their own style. You know that the. Only goes to them rather than being paid a pittance and on sold Ina gallery. When walking the mall, we found the lane way in the scene from Samson and Delilah where Delilah is trying to sell her paintings to people outside a cafe. We were speaking to another local artist/stall owner about her art and then she shared part of he story with us. She was part of the stolen generation and discussed her past and the effects that the current intervention is having.  We then Went to the Amoongunga community to share in their Palm Sunday Church service. We were overcome watching the Aboriginal community Processing to the church with palms in hands following the Priest. The crowd coming down the dirt road as they were with children, dogs, elderly people in wheelchairs singing along as others played guitars, headed by the Priest in his robes. Like the joining of two cultures.  We were welcomed and felt welcome throughout but it was also an uncomfortable feeling that stirred emotions as we followed readings and songs that most of the community would be unable to understand due to their lack of knowledge of the English language. It would have been far more appropriate to in some way have something more influenced by the culture and language with which they live. The congregation are collected from the different town camps by mini buses and returned again after the service and morning tea. We were then invited to a BBQ at " Campfire of the Heart" hosted by David and Sue to cook damper and kangaroo tail and listen to and talk with local Aboriginal people about the intervention, their life stories and living in Alice Springs. We met some of the most incredible and inspirational Aboriginal women. These women have written books, taught in schools, started programs to reintroduce their culture to the younger generations and have a huge impact on the religious education in the local area. They are influential women in their culture in that they are strong and committed to making their cultural connections strong again. The Spirit was at work today! Beth, our tour organizer met Theresa one of the women I'm talking about at the service this morning....what's so s Racial about that? She went to boarding school with her and worked with her in NT and then lost contact with her. After seeing her again, Theresa and her daughter spent the day with us and shared much wisdom about her 'Country" , culture and the work she is doing in Alice Springs. After the BBQ we were going to visit Emily and Jesse Gaps and it turns out that this was Theresa's Grandfather country. She shared the dreAming stories for these areas. Such a richness! Both areas were again breathtaking and we got to share in the sight of Aboriginal rock art at Emily Gap. Theresa had a spiritual insight into me that was a very emotional Experience, which I can share with you another time. I,m not able to post photos from here because it uses up too much Internet usage very slow and costly- that's IT in