There is a famous Australian poem, written by Dorothea Mackellar, entitled:  'My Country'.

Part of one verse reads:

I love a sunburnt country,

A land of sweeping plains

of ragged mountain ranges,

of droughts and pouring rains.....

Well, it certainly is!  All of this year, we have prayed desperately for rain - there have been prayer meetings in our community like never before;  and it has been a trying time, and yet, a time where our small community seemed somehow joined in our prayers.

On Monday and Tuesday of this week, the heavens opened - and did it pour!   We received in one hour several months worth of water for our property - and as we run  ONLY on rainwater tanks - it was a welcome relief!  The creeks in our area came down like nothing I have ever seen - the local natural springs completely overflowed, covering not only the roadway in the picnic grounds, but went right up into the picnic grounds as well - it was incredible!

Amazingly, though - just two days later, we were able to drive down to the springs, and only stare in wonderment at the altered landscape - and stand next to the trees along the banks:  when the flood came, if I had stood in the same spot, the water would have covered my head!  The water came, and left just as fast - and today, as I drove along our road, a cloud of dust sprang up behind me - the road is THAT dry, after only a couple of days!

Still, the tanks have water, and many of the surrounding dams are full and overflowing, and we are very, very thankful.

Sadly, many farmers in the area has just begun reaping, so there was much crop damage;  we continue to pray for those farmers who are really having a tough year all round.  One local farmer had just finished putting up new fences - and they were completely swept away.

I'm still in awe at the power and suddeness of the downpour, and we continue to hear amazing stories - caravan parks that had to be evacuated, flooded houses, and so forth.

Amazing times we live in, eh?