Confirmation class at Alcoota. Often I announce it in the church services. The parents, especially the mothers, ask me to write down the names of their daughters and sons to be confirmed this year.

The Finke River Mission (FRM) bush course took place from 14 to 17 April. It was held at Areyonga next to a dry riverbed in an area frequented by horses, donkeys, flies, black cockatoos and the occasional aeroplane (it was close to the local airstrip).

Art conservator Eric Archer is working on a project to unframe, photograph, document and prepare 18 watercolour paintings for new museum-standard mounts and frames.

Pastor Rodney and I visited for Pepa (devotions) only late yesterday, but the lady asked, ‘Can you come again tomorrow afternoon?’

On 5 April, Pantjiti Unkari McKenzie from Docker River was presented with the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) by the Administrator of the Northern Territory, Her Honour the Honourable Vicki O’Halloran AM.

Living Waters (Kwatja Etatha) Lutheran School has strong Christian values, supports students to learn, and acknowledges and understands students’ connections. The school has a great tradition of supporting not only the Indigenous students but also the Indigenous people who are employed at the school

Psalm 133, which has been translated into Pitjantjatjara, had a big impact on people when it was preached on in 2018.

Every Thursday the Aboriginal ladies from the Alice Springs Lutheran Congregation meet at the church for Bible study and choir practice. They are known as the Mission Block Choir (or Kwatja Etatha).

On 23 December 2018, Janie and Margaret Campbell were installed as church workers by Pastor Phillip Wilyuka and Malcolm Willcocks.

Since Alice Springs Lutheran Church founded Living Waters School over 30 years ago, the school has seen a steady increase in Aboriginal student numbers, now at 16% of the school’s total enrolment.