Church, Bush and Blokes plus a good drop !

This last few weeks has been an awesome time, questions answered and ways forward being planned, even had falls of rain across most of the places I go, except Walgett which still struggles, but other places do OK.   Dry dusty roads turn to mud = smiles on faces "But it is still a long way to go" they will dryly tell you.

The rain fell out from Dubbo and beyond. As I drove back to Dubbo I could see the clouds rolling in dark and low. This was my second trip to Dubbo.
Last week I met with others looking at rural remote ministry - some good robust conversation and great fellowship. This lead into a RMU planning meeting for the up coming Field Days,10th to 14th August. A great program is out for this event for all involved in the life of the church. Lay and Ordained will be well fed spiritually and intellectually and with your choice of pre- booking or buying lunch you will do OK that way too.

Work on table groups

pulling it together, together

 I then headed home for a great night at a ball for Life Without Barriers. Some great moves going down to "ABBA."

dancing queens soon filled this spot

I'm sorry, I did not get permission for the guy's photos for the blog but there were lots of body suits and blonde wigs.
Church on Sunday, tip for young preachers -Check the roster, finding you're on a few days out and you have 2 meetings to be part off before then!! - but it all went well .
That all done it was Load the car and Back to Dubbo for a meeting and catching a flight to Sydney for a meeting then back  to motel in Dubbo for the night, then some running around and off to Nyngan shopping for the big day.

 Running events has become all in a days work for Uniting Care Workers, Catherine and Natasha.This one was a winner, 17 men yes, 17 MEN! Booked in for a Pamper Day and they all turned up. The day opened with a health talk from a local Doctor, who did a great job. All listened, then were pampered and health tests were done.

Utes filling the car park at Tennis Club 

When  is my go at ??

It tickles 

Health check or Badge of Honor 

This was great afternoon and evening. Most stayed and helped put the Tennis Club back to normal.
Thanks to the health and beauty workers. They too enjoyed the day.  All behaved well and gave us suggestions for the next day for Hermidale area. This week is a family night movie under the stars, but I came home for a couple of days rest.The trip home saw low flooding along the road and Marthaguy Creek was over flowing

Like many things there is a fine line between famine or feast. It applies to rain too but some, as I said earlier, have still not done well. Yet others along the Creek had flood damage to crops and pasture. But we welcome the rain as life giving to the land.

My work with the Western Farming Communities has still a way  to go but seeing the smiling faces, getting men to take a day off, fills you with hope that change is coming. On these cold days, it warms you to see a good sense of community involvement- growing people talking to each other.  It was also good to see people from all levels of the church come and sit for 2 days to seek a way forward for the Rural remote Ministry in NSW ACT Synod as the add and song goes "we all in this together" that's what happen .
Shalom
Phill Matthews Rural Chaplain