Elijah makes the back page of the Centralian Advocate.

Crows star Rhett Biglands with William Kelaart, Tom Kelaart, Coby Reynolds, Lang Hayes, Elijah Modlin, ex-Essendon player Dean Rioli and Hawthorn star Cyril Rioli at the Auskickin’ Around Australia Tour on Sat at Albrecht Oval. Picture: HANNAH MILLERICK

Family Shots

The highlight for the boys each week is going to soccer. Elijah plays first (usually in his Israeli soccer gear) and Kurtis plays after. Elijah scored 9 goals on the weekend...he is becoming quite the dominant force in the Under 5 age group. Ok, there are some 3 year olds who play as well, but they should toughen up and not cry when he scores!
Kurtis plays Under 9s and loves it. He scores nearly each week and this year has been good for his development playing in an age group where he is the youngest.





The Living Waters Typhoons. They wore black armbands in honour of Kurtis' grandfather (Belinda's Dad) who died early June. His coaches are Coach Chris and Coach Paul. Yes, they are American. Belinda's comment "Why do Kurtis' coaches sound like they know what they are doing?...Is it because they are American?" This is probably not the time to make any political statements about the war in Iraq or the presence of Pine Gap here in Australia.



Can you find Elijah? Can you find the ball?





The boys love to ride the streets. A safe place to play and ride.

Yirara

The band. Very talented. Most play multiple instruments.






Adam, Alex and Michael









Clinton and Nico

Nicholas and Shamus









Sammy and Martin


Life at Yirara continues for me and I am beginning to feel very comfortable in my decision to come, but uncomfortable in the challenges I face every day. This is exactly what I need, rather than what I want. I have loved getting to know the kids and I am constantly working at ways to connect to the fellas. I am beginning to be taught some words in language and still have enough of the fellas stroking my hair on my arms, hold my hand, wear my hat or sunglasses, swear at me, bump me as I work past to see if they can hurt me, challenge me to arm wrestles, want me to kick the footy to them in packs for “speccy” practice, be a commentator and make a footy siren noise to indicate the end of the footy game and then commentate them coming into to shoot at the goal to win the game and summaries on Monday describing every kick, mark or hand pass I made on the weekend’s game to feel like I am slowly being accepted. (A slight side issue. Apparently my fondness for the handball can be seen as me being “scared” according to some of the fellas. “Why don’t you kick it Mister...You scared.” Might need more time out here playing footy to work that one out....Sorry to my family, I might not retire this year.)
(Me with Vernon...an angry young boy at the start of the term. A good little mate by the end...A Lions supporter!!)


The 4 week holiday I have just had has sold me as well. Plenty of time to explore this great country and get back home for awhile. I recommend not banking on your third child to be born on its due date!! I have forgotten most of the bad times and now am looking forward to the new term. I am now Health and PE coordinator and have had another 4 lessons taken from my timetable, so I will have more opportunities to try and make an impact out here and work with the Footy Academy at the school to mentor the fellas a bit more. I should be able to go on some footy trips as well. I have had some initial talks on trying to organise a trip to Brisbane and bring a team over to explore the Great South East and play some good footy as well.



I am looking forward to my family (and adopted family) coming out here and people visiting just so I can show people what things are like, rather than trying to explain it.





My faith is strengthening as a result. Yirara is not necessarily on the frontlines, but it is pretty close. These can often be the kids who have nowhere else to go to feel safe and accepted. We feed and clothe them and allow them the chance to get some sort of literacy and numeracy to be able to survive in our world that we have created and expect just to slot in and have the same worldview as we do. We also give them God. It is not necessarily the style of “church” that I have come to accept or would like to promote and maybe some of the staff perhaps may not be too concerned with the things of God, but there is definitely a ministry here, whether you like it or not. The older I get, the more I teach, the more I feel I must really frustrate God the same way the kids I teach, or my own kids treat me sometimes. And yet, I come back trying to understand forgiveness, reconciliation, grace and my faith. And then I look at these unloved kids in my care, and they have taught me more about these things than many of the churches I have been a part of. They might not know it, but these kids can bring you closer to God. You either have to pray that you don’t kill them, or ask Him to help you move on just as quickly as they seem to do when an incident is dealt with. I have loved reading Philip Yancey and I do read him more than I read the Bible at times. I have just finishing a second read of “Soul Survivor- How my faith survived the church” and “Prayer- Does it make any difference?” and both books sum up where I am at. My faith is surviving the church and my I do feel at times I can sense God more without having to pray it into existence- I hope that people see this in me.

Adventures in Alice while you are waiting for your third child to be born

It is amazing what you can find to do with your time when you are waiting for a baby to be born. Alice comes alive in May, June and July. I am now becoming more like my father and often complain about tourists taking the best parking spots and getting in the way of me going about my day to day business like going to the post box, getting a coffee (I have become addicted to Paul’s Territory’s Own Ice Coffee and the incredibly strong Farmer’s Union Double Strength Ice Coffee and visiting Gloria Jeans (mainly to try and win a free coffee from their question board) and expecting Belinda to come home with a coffee from somewhere when she goes out), and walking around to see if I know anybody and can seem like a true local in front of the tourists.

The Finke Desert Race is a hotly anticipated event in Alice. Over the Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend, I was a bit ho hum about it all initially, but my excitement was ignited by the Centralian Advocate’s front page story on the fact that Tony “Plugger” Lockett was going to ride in the race. It is a 500km round trip from Alice to Finke and back over three days. I decided to take the boys to the finish of the race on the Monday and had an absolute ball watching the desert buggies come in. We arrived to find the commentator going wild and building the anticipation. “Look on the horizon” “I think the first helicopters will come into view very soon” “Keep watch. Keep watch.” By this time, we had only been there 10 minutes; the boys were bored and had had enough. The crowd were very subdued and I did not know why we even bothered. Then…the helicopters could be heard (TV crews), the crowds in the stands stood up, all the kids bolt down to the fence, including Kurtis and Elijah, and the binoculars and cameras come out. The roar of the lead desert buggy comes in, throws dust and mud into the air and the crowds cheer. My two boys awoke from their apathetic slumber and were hooked. This was also evidenced by the tears that flowed when I said we had to go some four hours later. They ran up and down the fence line as each new buggy came in. They ran from the entry point to thefinishing line as each racer came in. They were hooked and I have to say, so was I. Plans have already been made to view the time trial, the start, and the coming in of the motorbikes next year. I have even planned to get my motorbike licence…just to feel part of the action.

The International Beanie Festival. Maybe you have never heard of it? Handmade beanies as far as the eye can see, from all around the world, all unique in their own special way. This is serious business. You have to see it to believe it. Try before you buy, but you are also supporting a large group of indigenous women who sell these around the world for an income- once you see the prices you can understand why you could live off these!!

The Alice Springs Show. Just like any other country show. After 9 days of waiting for something to come out of Belinda’s stomach (ok, womb), she had to go to the hospital to be induced. What to do with Kurtis and Elijah? Belinda has made some fantastic friends through church and play groups and people actually offered to take the boys off our hands while we went to the hospital. The show only goes for 2 days and 2 different families looked after them, and the boys experienced 2 full days at the show. We were in a bit of a rush and I thrust $60 into Kurtis’ hand and they were off. Elijah and Kurtis had about 6 goes on the dodgems, whiplash injuries and the show bags don’t get any better out here. Am I a good father who allows his sons to buy one show bag each and then tells them off once they have bought the dodgiest show bags worth fifteen to twenty dollars each? Someone encourage me please!

Missing Torres Strait Trip

I missed the trip due to Joseph’s birth. Very mixed emotions when you miss going to a place that has become somewhat of a spiritual home. By all reports it was a great trip and it is pleasing to know that I can really classify it as God’s trip and not mine. As I said to a number of people, I can die knowing the trip can go on without me. Having said that, we are planning as a family to go again next year and look forward to catching up with the Horn Island mob again and our family in the Torres Strait. We would love to have Northside do the trip again and for us to be a part of it. Looking for people to join us!!

Joseph Christopher Modlin born 5th July 2008

The trip home from Hospital. A very long 5 minutes.



































The Modlin Boys. We will cause much havoc for years to come!









See, he does sleep peacefully.










First bath.