CHRISTCOMMUNITY CHURCH

 So as the academic year starts to wind up at UQ, my time at university is also coming to an end. After spending the last 5 years in Brisbane it is a scary thought to think that in a couple of months I will be packing up, relocating and stating a new life somewhere else. But God has been so faithful in preparing a path for me, that I know it is the right step to take.

Earlier in the year I took some time away (with my dear friend Pippa Kuchel), for a “Prayer and Priorities” retreat. The purpose of this time was to pray about and write some guidelines down (in accordance with my priorities) for what I wanted in a job next year. The idea behind this is that I wanted to make sure that the LORD was guiding me and that I wasn’t tempted into taking a job that would just be ‘easy’ or ‘comfortable’. So here is the list with the attached priority and reasoning.

1. Somewhere 2- 6 hrs drive from my parents (they live in Ayr, just south of Townsville) – The purpose being so I can visit them more regularly and love, serve and honour them.
2.  In a small town (between 2 000 and 25 000 people) – The purpose being so I can get to know lots of different people on an intimate level and in doing so be a witness for Christ to them.
3. A clinic NOT open on Sunday- The purpose being so I can go to church and have a day off.
4. A well supported clinic with supportive staff – The purpose being to encourage my professional development so I can practice the best veterinary medicine and surgery that I am capable of.
5. Shared after hours/on-call – The purpose being so I can get involved in lots of different groups in the community and get some time away from work.
6. Some component of large animal (especially cattle) work – The purpose being so I can get to know and serve some of the farmers on the outskirts of town and be a witness to them by helping them improve their farms.
7. A pay package of no less than $ 45 000 per year – The purpose being so I can generously support the local church as well as Dan and Matt as they commit to going on staff with Uni Impact.

Just this week, God answered my prayers and has provided me with a job that fits all these criteria. The clinic is just south of Mackay in a town called Sarina. Though I haven’t signed on the ‘dotted line’ yet, the clinic has expressed a very keen interest in having me and is flying me up there for a couple of days on the 29^th of September. If all goes well, I’ll be signing the contract then! I am excited to see how God will work through all these different avenues and how that will grow my faith next year.

Hannah Armstrong