When it rains, it pours... that can be said about the weather in our beautiful town lately, and it can be said about my schedule as well! In the last week I delivered the last three papers for the semester at Uni: around 7000 words written in three different topics. Fernanda had two tests at Uni as well and still has one to finish the semester, before facing two days of placement. I’m writing my reports for Formation as well, a lot of reflection done over several topics. To make things better, our car died (thanks Jim for coming to the rescue!) and we had to deal with paperwork and the process of trying to get another one. I did the paperwork for 4 Australian and 2 Brazilian passports. In the next week I have to renew Fernanda’s car rego, pack my bags to the trip to South America, pack another bag for a trip to Sydney for another Formation week and prepare a sermon for a church in Sydney where I’ll preach on the evening of the 17th. Then, after finishing the reports, I’ll go to Sydney for 5 days before returning home in time to collect the family and travel to the Gold Coast the night before we leave for Brazil, the same week that Fer does her placements (Thanks Kerri for coming to the rescue!). When I contemplate the last semester, the challenges and the busyness ahead, I am reminded that the reason for all of this is that God is doing something special in our lives. That we have the possibility of studying and being ready for the future. That the church recognised my calling and therefore is helping me to become a better minister. That a church gave me the chance of being their Pastor and has given me all the support and patience to try and being one. That I have two beautiful children that are growing up and the challenges we face with them are part of preparing them for the future. That I’m alive, i’m forgiven, I’m called, that His mercies over me are new every morning and that every day there is a portion of grace available if I reach out for it... We may face, each one in our own way, the many challenges that come from being alive. We don’t have to face them alone, though. God is always by our side; his words of comfort, encouragement and grace sustain us. He has sent the church to be his living body on earth, and in them we find a beautiful expression of His care for us. When we realised I was going to be in Sydney and Fer had her placements at the same time, we didn’t despair: we reached out. God send Kerri to help us! When my car died we didn’t freak out: we reached out. God sends Jim to help us! Whatever you are going through, don’t face it alone. Trust your brothers and sisters. Share the load. Ask for prayer. Reach out. And if you are in a position to respond, then do it graciously, with a smile, with joy. Sometimes we are the ones asking, sometimes we are the ones responding. In each season, in each challenge, we may see the size of the problem or we may see the greatness of our God. Look around you: you are not alone.

Have a blessed week!