Signs of Hope

Hi all so sorry for the gap in your blogs, Russell it was great to hear from you and your concern . I been on leave but before that we had to do a lot of work for Synod both before then attend the Synod (which was a great time) . But I hope to get back on track.

Lyn and I flying back home  from Queensland

The road to Winton from Longreach 

Well as I drove back from Longreach Lyn and I saw the drought in Queensland was as dire as the Walgett Lightning Ridge area of NSW.  But as we Left Bourke the Outback Radio was forecasting high rain fall over the weekend. Up beat phone calls came in with high hope's . The rain came BUT not every were plus not in the amount forecast for many but it did fall in some hi need areas which was great news for many. But as the calls came in on Local ABC 54 here 80  there then a call from Walgett 2 mls. no change in last 3 years.

Cotton Bales at the Gin in Warren below too

But yes some have seen hope for the coming season other like Cotton farmers round the area  got a good crop off over March April the bails in paddocks still waiting to go to the Gin (Gin is the place like silos the crop goes too)  .


Other good sign was farmer with big rigs planting or working the ground up spray rigs killing of the weeds . Green pick coming up in paddocks plus along the road side Long paddock so those with stock had it on the road drovers on back Warren road I think it was 3 mobs cattle plus a mob of sheep.

Signs of new life but not for everyone 

I have also done a few events that where booked in it was interesting so much more upbeat but as many say it's not $10 notes but it is a start for some a good start . Water is a very important part of our life to much and we complain not enough we blame

Looking Forward Looking Back

Dont look back move forward into a new adventure 

The photo is of the bush tucker walk on Thursday afternoon lots of Gum leaves blowing and great fun . You slow fella  aint  you?   yep, Well, I'll walk with ya so you don't get lost, Thanks ! ( a conversation with a fella I meet on the journey )

Induction service 2013

Yes it has been 3 years from the time I first headed out as a Rural Chaplain I look forward to the next term of my placement lots of changes and I think more to come , but some things have not changed that much . Drought still eats into the lives of many on the land or those in town who supply those on the land,

These to vans are the same spot the differences.
left on Louth road , right loading for Small Schools Camp plus some farm visits along the way .

Rain Falling from Cryon

The sky's gave a promise of good things but storms fell on some missing many others the rain lifts hope, it now cooler so rain is needed before it gets too cold to grow crops or pastures .

Drought visit to Engonia CWA house

The above photo is from the drought work in 2014 is were we will be parked this week doing the Small Schools camp  small schools are the  many small towns in the Western area it may have a official name or zone but Engonia is the host this year Wanaaring Louth Weilmoringle public schools.

yes back in the old parking space at the CWA rooms Enngonia school in background

This is one of the team building games 

Knox boys helping out above early ANZAC service

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Time moves and we find ourselves often in new places and also were we have been before.  I find in this role as Rural Chaplain that the welcome and the welcome back is warm and open. In 3 years I have been to many places over and over again others not as often but still find the contacts made with the people of the bush is lasting . Those from the Churches that have supported this vital Ministry  over the last three years and into the future  I thank you for your prayers and support in other ways on behave of those who are touch by our as your work as you are all part of it .

Shalom

The Last Few Weeks

We travel beyond the main road and sometimes the drive ways are awesome!

Hi.  Sorry no blogs over last few weeks but I have been on the road a lot ! I posted on Facebook one surprise trip to Narrandera to say goodbye to Julie - it was worth it for the look she gave me when I walked in! Above is a farm out the back of Hermidale and Nymerge.  The early summer growth has dried up and blown away in some places.  The teams I have been working with, like the Uniting Church ladies from Dubbo, Catherine and Natasha, will have their funding run out for drought work at the end of June.  Again there's no word on when the next roll out will occur for farmers like them.  They hang on, waiting for what will be.

The clouds of the summer storms (left pic) have promise but it is like a raffle - your place may come up but next door misses out. The news of rain on a Sydney-based news radio is often heart-breaking for those in the bush who just keep missing out. A number of farmers I have visited of late have raised this as a bit of a hit to them.  Drought is still a big burden on many families.  I have had a number of cases of people who have hung on doing without - not wanting or thinking they need any help - but it's just too hard.  The conversations have grown - connecting points, follow up and feedback calls, common invitations to call in for a cuppa (these I make a priority).  Sharing goes both ways, that's why we are not like other welfare groups; we connect to people, not clients - a very important factor.



A visit to a local farmer's was one of the highlights of the Moderator's visit to the 150th Anniversary of Narrabri Methodist/Uniting Church.  We also toured around the areas where I travel - Pilliga, Coonamble, Walgett and Burren Junction.  This involved meeting some community people and leaders. We also met with Gomeroi Elders of Gunnedah.  We  heard of their concerns for their sacred sites, plus water damage to the Darling River system from mine work across their lands.  The 150th Service and Lunch was a great success.  Kara, who edits this Blog, with her team did the church proud.

These photos are of the drumming and theatre games in Quambone last week.  We had good roll up from town and farm; some old friends from our "Pamper Pack" days.  We are going back for a Camp Oven Cook off - I'm to be one of the judges and am really looking forward to it.  Plus we took the drums and games out to Carina PS.  This was my first visit and I loved it; a bit of offroad driving due to a shower of rain at the top end of the road.

We will be covering the Patrol ministry team over the coming months in this blog.  I hope you get to know the team - all of them do a great job reaching people in rural remote areas of NSW.  As we head to Easter we remember that Christ came to walk among those at the margin, bringing the word of God through words and acts of love and compassion.  This is our call - to be the face of God in the remote lands and to those who are just on the edges of our community.

Great colleagues

Oh dear .....

You'd think after doing the blog for nearly 7 years I would know what I was doing by now but in my last blog I still didn't manage to get the final version published. A very important paragraph was left out about my colleagues. So here is the bit you missed .....

Over the last seven and half years I have worked with many extraordinary people but I wanted to acknowledge those I had worked closely with in Rural Chaplaincy. Kel Hodge was in place when I was appointed and shared his wisdom about the job and how it all works, in a gentle way. Can't imagine how I would have done it without his guidance. Sue Chapman took on the support role and coped really well with me constantly changing what was happening. Phill Matthews brought his passion for people and his willingness to work with those that were hardest to reach which meant we were able to cover a lot more. So thank you Kel, Sue and Phill. The job would have been a lot poorer without all your help, knowledge and support.

Cheers

Julie

As we say goodbye to Julie we all have been touched by here passion for working for the Communities she work in across the state. Her voice on the floor of Synod in the Blog as with the seasons all things change the Rural Remote  mission field has been feed by Julie and from all those who know and have worked with her I say thank you and may your new journey be one of wonder and thank you from me for allowing me to travel with you .


Our first meetings in Dubbo     No! Julie Like this  camp 2014 johnny cakes 

The new team has been  working in other teams but we have come together with lots of new things over the coming months we hope that we can share our new look and bring stories of the team  what will we be called Chaplains or Patrols who will be what but the main thing is The Uniting Church NSW and ACT has a presences  in the Rural Remote areas of NSW  With Rev Jo  Smaibil and her awesome Husband Lou  The Cobar Nyngan Patrol and Pst. David Shrimpton     Broken Hill Patrol and his plane and Rural Chaplain Rev. Phill Matthews Based Narrabri NENW going where ever God takes me. teaser alert new look page

The new look team L-R Rev Phill,   Pst. David,  Rev. JO & Lou  plus our trusty steeds

Well good night you can look up stories from days gone by on the side of the blog there is a heap of good stories why because  each time we follow God and allow his mighty Spirit to lead us we become involved  the church gathered and scattered  God so loved the world and he calls us out into areas of Rural and Remote NSW  to share that love in all kinds of ways thanks be to God
Shalom
Phill

And it's bye from me

As I write my last blog after 7 1/2 years in the role, it all seems very poignant. How do I  sum up the amazing, fulfilling, growing and blessed time that has been this job? How can I possibly express my thanks to God and those I have worked with for making this such an extraordinary time of my life?

As I reflect on what has happened in the role there are many things that spring to mind and those that have journeyed with me through this blog will know that much has happened. It has been a time when God's gifts of creativity and passion have been able to make differences in people's lives and give practical demonstration to the love and generousity of our God. (Phill is putting together a photo collage on our facebook page).

But nothing is ever one-sided and much more has been received by me than has been given. I have been able to be involved in state-wide projects such as suicide prevention, Murray Darling Basin, mental health and Waste Not Want Not.

Alongside this has been the privilege of being able to travel to amazing places in the state and build relationships with those that live there. It has been an honour to stand beside my friends in these places and help them make some of their dreams for their "place" come true. Or to stand beside them in the tough times and uphold them with practical help and prayer. And of course many of you have contributed generously by getting involved in projects or giving money and praying. It would have been a much poorer time without all your support.

This will be my last regular blog but I am not disappearing entirely. I am just about to start as a volunteer with a group in Sydney that shares my passion about breaking down the barriers between city and county. At this stage we are still calling it "The Great Unnamed Project" (guess what one of the first tasks of the Steering Group will be!) and we are still working out the nuts and bolts of how it will work but when we have some more concrete plans in place I'm sure Phill will give me some space to let you know.

In the meantime Phill is continuing as Rural Chaplain and Jo at Cobar and David at Broken Hill are doing patrol ministry. I'm sure this blog will continue to bring the work of the Uniting Church in the bush to you all.

So it's bye from me. May God shower you with His blessings.

The new year

Christmas Eve 2015 heading out The Heads, Sydney Harbour

After a rocky start I was with Lyn and my son and his family heading out the great harbour of Sydney for NZ and Noumea.  13 days of no driving and no work - just resting, eating and seeing sites like this one (photo on left).  The first time I saw this skyline was in April 1968 as a young lad facing an unknown future. Now, nearly 50 years later, I was seeing it again as I started a holiday on a ship!  The cruise liner was so much bigger than the one I arrived on - 14 floors by lift, let alone what was below us!  I believe rest is very important in our work otherwise you end up unhelpful. 

It was Christmas Eve when we departed.  "How will Santa find us?" was the big question the little ones with us were asking.  But the boat was set up to party! 

Sunset off the Bay of Islands, NZ.



The Christmas Tree was 6 floors high!  

The night sky over the Nyngan district, with promise of rain teasing the 45 night  

I'm now back on land and back to work.  13 days have gone by, with no phone calls and no emails.  I feel refreshed.  Then my phone starts to ring so back in the car and back on the road again. This week we worked with young people and children in the Nyngan and Cobar areas. Catherine and Natasha were going to give a drumming lesson/session.  We ended up in the Uniting Church hall at Nyngan as it was cooler.  Not!  It was 45oC when I got to town at 4:30 pm!! I left the motel at 6 for dinner, and the temp had climbed to 47oC.  According to the weather man, a cool change was promised for the next day but that never came.  High 40s again.

The picture below is of the hall set up for the first drumming session.  75 young people were keen to attend with only 14 drums!  This meant the group would need splitting up, with some doing craft while others learnt drumming.  Then swapping.  We had 53 arrive for the session that day.  The kids had sore hands after drumming for two days(!) but great contact was made with some awesome children and some real princesses.  A good time had by all.

The time with family was great; the trip away was wonderful.  Seeing New Zealand and how green it is.  It was interesting to learn the story of the places we visited - like all have so much more than what they show you. As I travel this great area of Australia, being allowed to share in the back story of places, in the stories that children share, the truth is always close.  Unfortunately most see only the resistant. I was taken by a young man of around 10-11 looking after his sister who is 3. It was so wonderful watching him give his place to her over and over again.  Such love. Such was my first week helping out making connections.

The bitter/sweet of moving

Darcy and I on the Lachlan River

As some of you have now gathered just before Christmas I moved back to Bathurst to my home here. I was finding it very hard to be so far from my family, especially my two gorgeous grandchildren.

Even though I was excited about coming to Bathurst the leaving was very hard. After 7 ½ years in Hillston I have many things to be thankful for. In a place with only 1000 people it is not all that difficult to know a significant number of the residents. Walking into any of the shops or banks you are greeted by name and sometimes it can take a long while to grab a few groceries as you stop and chat lots.

As well as knowing lots of people superficially I also made many good friends whom I miss a lot. Luckily phone communications are quite cheap these days, and I love having a skype “cuppa” with other friends.

Unfortunately I had to leave my dog Darcy in Hillston as I was unsure of my work circumstances here in Bathurst. However, he is with Jenny and Joe and they love him to bits so I know he will be well cherished and looked after.

And the other great loss is the Lachlan River and kayaking with good friends. Still looking for a good place to go here.

On the other hand I love being near my family here. It’s been a long time since the boys and my daughter-in-law could just drop in for a chat. Sarah and her family are only 3 hours away and I’m seeing more of them also.

The Uniting Church here has been very welcoming with invitations to meals and including me in things. As you can imagine it is a much bigger congregation with a number of multicultural members which is lovely. I’m slowly learning a few names. There are some other things in Bathurst not available in Hillston and tonight I am going to join a choir, which I am very much looking forward to.

As my work is changing with a big emphasis on linking city and country Bathurst is a good mid-way point, but I’ll write more on this in another blog.

So it has been a bitter/sweet move but I think we are so blessed that wherever we go there are others of God’s family with open welcoming arms.