It's now been almost two months since I started my job as a mental health recovery Support Worker, and let me just say that this position comes with it's challenges, but they are nicely balanced by clients who only want a bit of company and a friendly chat over a cuppa or game of checkers.
It's certainly been an eye-opener with some clients currently in Toowoomba Base Hospital's Acute Mental Health Unit or Baillie Henderson Hospital, Toowoomba's specialist psychiatric hospital. God is helping me to grow in compassion and empathy towards others and the hardships that they face, and I'm praying that He will use me to help see their greatest needs being met.
I'm reminded daily that we are all broken people in a broken world. We're all in need of God's grace and we, His people, are called to show His love and share His truth with those around us who need to see His love in action and hear His message of the hope that He gives through Christ.
While school is winding down for the year, and Hannah and Joshua are looking forward to 8 weeks of holidays ("looking forward to" might be putting it a little too strongly, hey Hannah?), Rayleen is getting started in her new job at Toowoomba Base Hospital. As she said in her previous blog, God has continued to be faithful in providing for all our needs, and we praise Him for His ongoing goodness to us.
Since my last blog, it's become clearer that while we appreciated the teaching and worship at Toowoomba Community Baptist Church, it was not the local body that God wanted us to call home. Hannah is still enjoying being part of the youth group there, and Josh is going to join her next year; but we've found our new church home at Eastgate Bible Church and have been enjoying the services and fellowship with this smaller, but growing, body of believers, with the likes of Robbie Skillington and Derek Long.
I'm nearing the end of ThePath training to become a recognised Access The Story, "Story-teller;" and this will culminate in the inaugural Story-teller's Summit in Perth at the end of next week.
This training has been an amazing experience and I think I've grown quite a bit through the lessons and practical activities. I look forward to being able to put this training into practice as ministry opportunities arise.
We are also really excited about seeing Verge come to Queensland and are making plans to see this happen starting in Hervey Bay next year. Dates and other details are to be confirmed, but we're most likely looking at June/July holidays. Please continue to pray with us for God's wisdom, guidance and blessing on this event and others to follow. Pray that we'll be sensitive to His leading, so His will is accomplished in our lives. And be praying that, even now, God will be stirring the hearts of those that He wants there.
Our family is about to go through another change as we take in our neice who wants to move to Toowoomba so that she can study at TAFE. This will be an adjustment for all of us, so again, please be praying for us and her as this transition unfolds.
As always, let me take this opportunity to thank you all again for your ongoing support, encouragement and prayers. So many of you have been a such great blessing to us in so many different ways throughout this whole process of moving and settling in Toowoomba. Above all else, we pray that we continue to follow God's call on our lives and to live lives that honour His name and bring Him glory.
Blessings in Christ,
Mike
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