You may have noticed a few months have passed since you last heard from us. There's a very good reason. WE HAVE BEEN SO BUSY... Like, crazy busy! So here is October and November in a nutshell… By the time you get this it will probably be the festive season so Merry times to you all! Since our October update we have had lectures on counselling people whose lives have been impacted in various ways by: Grief and Trauma; Abuse in its many different forms; Addictions; Eating disorders and Family Dysfunction. We have also been taking part in weekly workshops where we are learning some of the practical skills of being counsellors. Each day we have work duties so Chris is still getting to use his carpentry skills four days a week and for one day I help out in the kitchen preparing dinner for the 300 or so people that live here. We have had assignments and presentations to prepare and a weekly journal to write and workbook to complete. In our journals we have to summarise the topic for each week in key points, discuss the cross cultural implications for the weekly topic, and write about how what we have learnt has personally impacted us and our values and beliefs. It sounds like so much and sometimes it feels quite overwhelming, but we wouldn't be anywhere else right now. We are LOVING being here and are so thankful to everyone who has been praying for us and supporting us through this adventure. Phoebe and Jethro have had much more time than us to meet new friends both big and small. While we are in class Phoebe is either at Preschool or being looked after by some of our amazing staff. Jethro goes to a playgroup once a week, and on the rest is supervised while he plays with his countless friends around the base. We have a few topics left in the lecture phase, then it's time to put what we have learnt into practice for three months which will be the outreach phase. Our class is heading to Nepal and Myanmar (Burma) for two months and then to the outback in Western Australia for about a month. As a family we are staying in and around Perth, Australia to complete our outreach. We will join our class when they go to the Outback. Just to say this has been an incredibly significant time for the Hatton family, and an incredible way for us to end this year and enter into the next. Our needs heading into 2014 We still need to see finances come in for our fees here in Perth and for our outreach phase of the Foundations in Counselling ministry school. On top of that we are still paying half the rent on our house in Canberra, plus all the daily expenses of having kids. Please prayerfully consider helping us out financially if you would like to. A huge thanks again to all those who have already done so. We have arrived. After many months of planning, a VERY long drive for Chris and two flights for Carol, Phoebe and Jethro we are here in Perth, ready and willing. We have seen provision above and beyond anything we could have asked for and we have only been here a week… Now its down to assignments, workshops and community life! So, read and rejoice with us! A Summary of September, some photos from the past month and Perth … · Jethro’s forearm x-ray showed significant healing of his bones after 6 weeks for the cast to remain off. We hold our breath every time he falls over as re-fracture is a real possibly. · Carol’s Centrelink study fee application has been approved for half of the course, the same as Chris. · Chris had a driving buddy for the epic road trip who also shared costs. Both arrived safely with no dramas. · Another faithful friend gifted $$$ for petrol. October so far… · Flights with Phoebe and Jethro were smooth and almost enjoyable. · We have been billeted in our OWN HOUSE!!! A modest two bedroom unit/flat which a missionary family rent (they are away for 9 months in Africa and India). Considering we were expecting our accommodation to be one or two rooms in a shared house we are feeling very blessed. There are even toys, a cot and cubby house for the kids! · Phoebe has met and adores her pre-school teacher Miss Pam, and has already made new friends who will be in her class. School starts 14th October. · Jethro has made a few little friends too. His group of toddlers run around in a herd when they are allowed to. Very cute to watch. The YWAM base here in Perth has about 350 people involved at any one time. There are several schools run simultaneously. This quarter there are about 90 students taking part in 7 different school.s from 22 different nations. Our school has 8 students from 7 different nations. We are already doing assignments and homework… its a bit of shock to the system! |
Hattons...We're a family of four changing the world starting with ourselves! Archives
February 2018
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