Do you know the poor?

The greatest tragedy of the church is not that rich Christians do not care about the poor, it’s that they do not know the poor.

-Shane Claibourne

Walking...no driving!

I've decided to try and leave my car at home as much as possible.

Why?...well, with petrol so expensive, it saves money.

Secondly, I live about 400 metres from the hall. It's about another 700m to the centre of town.

Why should I drive?

Plus, its a chance to get fitter!

Crazy thing is starting now when winter's about to really kick in.

So...keep me accountable if you are speaking to me.

National Reconciliation Week

On Sunday we held a special Reconciliation Week church service. It was attended by Aunty Dot Peters, one of my neighbours and a community Aboriginal elder. Our guest speaker was Ps Esme Blamblett, pastor of Barak Christian Ministries. Cr Janette McCrae - our local councillor also attended.

We have a very positive response from all who attended. We had some photos taken...but on a camera that takes film, so I'll have to scan once they have been developed. Its time I bought a digital camera! Thank goodness one of our people had a camera in their car.

Oh, yes, we had the Red Shield Appeal too...more on that another time.

Healesville goes global?

Just looking at some stats on my blog site. Check out the countries people have come from over the past 108 visits!

69 - Australia
18 - New Zealand
6 - United States
5 - United Kingdom
And 1 each for:
Portugal
Spain
China
Philippines
Morocco
Malaysia
Egypt
Denmark
Romania
Ireland

I can guess who is in a few of these places - but not everyone!

So...my question is - if you are not from Australia and you are reading my blog - welcome and cool!!! But hey, can u do me a favour and say hi so I can get your contact details for free accommodation on future international holidays...(only kidding - but its a good idea!).

Sparks and smoke...

Yes...there were sparks and smoke at Healesville today!

I went into the storeroom by chance to see if there were any more flag stands or flag poles, and I could hear a buzzing sound.

I walked towards the hot water system and it was buzzing/crackling/making noises that it shouldn't! Then, I saw smoke...

Now, I was left with a choice - close the store room door, walk away, and pretend I saw nothing, or do the right thing, cut the power, and call an electician.

What did I choose...

Well, given that my brother's church had a fire recently, I think that if the Salvos burnt down the Mawson name would become synonomous with churching burning...so I cut the power, and have called an electrician.

As much as I want new carpet at the hall, this probably wasn't the way to get it!

God breaks through...

God got to me today! I was chatting with a school chaplain, listening to some of the things God has been teaching him at the school. I am sure he didn't know it, but God was pulling me up as I listened to the chaplain shared - and the words cut right to the heart.

I've been so busy doing of late, that I really need to slow down and be. God will continue to work in the community whether I am there or not! It's not about hype or razzle-dazzle (now there's a word you don't hear enough!).

I need to continue to press into God - more than I have been doing. I need to rely less on myself, and more on God.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (John 15:5-8)

So thanks heaps God for speaking to me today through the chaplain. Help me to stay true to you and the commitments I have made. It's not about me.

An "ordinary" day...

This morning my brother-in-law phoned to see if he could hang out with me for the day while their car was repaired. This is what the day looked like...

8:55...about to run out the door to start the day, and as I turn on the kitchen tap the hot water hose on the washing machine bursts...water goes everywhere!!! I don't have time to clean up now; will have to come back later!

9:00 am - Coffee Morning. Usually held at Beechworth Bakery, have moved to Cheese Freaks today because they have Fair Trade coffee - and its Fair Trade Fortnight. Seemed to go well - six people in total (including me and Steve - who I am sure felt uncomfortable at the lades coffee morning!!!).

10:00 am - Call into Thrift Shop to say hello and check out the boiler that causes issues with water that is too hot. Chat to volunteers for a while.

10:30 am - Go to hall and unpack new coin counting machine. This will save us so much time each week, and it has a printer that tells us how much of each denomination. Shop manager is very very happy - 10 points to me!

11:00 am - Steve runs an errand for me and travels down the line to Croydon to collect Everything had to be tested and tagged. While Steve is gone I do some admin, including finalising an inteview with the local journalist. Balance the petty cash, write cheques for bills.

12:45 pm - Go to bank to deposit money, pay bills at Post Office.

1:00 pm - Lunch at Beechworth Bakery. The staff call me by name...I've been here way too much!!!

1:45 pm - Return to hall and prepare for interview with journalist.

2:00 pm - Journalist and a women we are currently helping arrives. We sit down for interview, then get photo taken for newspaper. This is for a Red Shield Appeal article, which includes Hayley's (not her real name) story. Hayley has fled domestic violence, and was sleeping in her car with her three kids in her mum's driveway. There was no room in the house because the mother cares for some of her other grandchildren. We've been able to help her and her kids out.

3:00 pm - Start to clean up the kitchen at the hall. Throw out heaps of the old glasses - obviously people bought in different sized vegemite jars over the years! Am going to Ikea Thursday night, and for $20 will have 30 new glasses that all match. Need to have it sorted for when all the Beechworth Bakery managers meet at the hall next week - need to make a decent impression!

3:45 pm - Drop Steve off at the 4WD place to pick up car.

3:50 pm - Back at hall to get plates and cups ready for breakfast program at Healesville High tomorrow. Continue cleaning up hall and office.

5:30 pm - Go to "Dinner at Darron's" - the weekly community meal. Have a great conversation with a local guy who has some accommodation issues. Will continue the conversation over coming weeks with this guy.

6:00 pm - During meal get a phone call from the local Anglican minister stating that a family has turned up to his house that are homeless and need emergency accommodation. I go and meet family. I call a local hotel and book them a room, then take them there. Parents with three kids - very full on as they had nowhere to stay for the night! Give details for how the family can connect with appropriate services in the morning.

7:10 pm - Feeling a little exhausted at this stage...I travel down to Croydon to collect the posters and rego forms for our school holiday program in July.

7:50 pm - Arrive Croydon and catch up with a friend and enjoy sitting on the couch drinking coffee!!! Am needing one by this stage!

9:00 pm - Arrive back in Healesville. Am turning into my street and suddenly realise...that hose broke this morning and I haven't had a chance to clean it up! CRAP!!!!

Well - that's been my day. Am pretty exhausted. Need to go to bed now - have to be at the high school at 7:30 am in the morning to set up for the breakfast program. Then off to my first Healesville service providers network meeting, then CRE at Healesville Primary, then off to Upper Yarra Secondary College to meet and interview the chaplain, then back to Healesville to meet two of the Youth Services Team. Another full on day ahead...

Who said life as a CO was boring and the same every day!

Mother's Day & Pentecost

Have been pretty flat chat recently. Our electricity supply was upgraded at our shop, so now we can get an air conditioner installed - just in time for winter!!! Good thing it will be reverse cycle so it will work as a heater too. We took the opportunity to bring all our shop volunteers together for a training/information day. The day went well, and it was good to get everyone together in this format. There are a few things that the shop manager and I will need to work through as follow up - but will be great!

Today we celebrate Mother's Day & Pentecost. Difficult to focus on two things, but hopefully something sunk in! We had a great morning tea of scones with jam and cream - fresh scones from Beechworth Bakery!

And as of today Healesville Salvos have gone FAIR TRADE! We use Jasper individual serve instant coffee, Scarborough Fair tea bags - and had a treat with Chocolatier chocolate! It' Fair Trade Fortnight, so it was a good time to make the switch. I'm off to our shop during the week to confiscate all the old tea and coffee!!!

Spent this arvo at Anita & Steve's place. She baked cupcakes after a 4 month hiatus from the kitchen. It's ok, she feels like baking now but might not get as much of a chance in 5 months time...

Oh...search for church pews on eBay and spread the word - we need to sell our pews ASAP!

A dedication to two mates...

This post is dedicated to my friends Brendon and Dave - was great watching the footy with you tonight!

We are the Navy Blues,
We are the old dark Navy Blues,
We’re the team that never lets you down,
We’re the only team old Carlton knows,
With all the champions they like to send us,
We’ll keep our end up.

And they will know that they’ve been playing
Against the famous old dark Blues