I realised I never added my 2008 Christmas update...

Its time for a Christmas UPDATE....

Ok so last years Christmas update stupidly finished up with something like “hoping 2009 will be less chaotic” HAHAHA!!! I think I was jinxing myself. While there have been no overseas trips or major milestones, this year -especially this past few months- has been FULL ON!!
So here goes...…
At the end of 2008 I injured my back at work. After several painful procedures and a fight with work cover. It has just recently been determined that my definite diagnosis is damage to the costo-transverse joints (where the ribs attach to the spine) and there is nothing they can do about it, except pain management. However I know that my Jesus can do more than just pain management and so I'm still hanging out for my miracle!!
Due to my back I have been working less and less at the hospital. I started on light duties and then I completed Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and a First Aid Certificate with the aim of becoming a first aid trainer for non clinical hospital staff.

I have also been hard at work completing the final year of my Social Work degree. I have done very well with a distinction average (and a few High Distinctions thrown in as a bonus!!). I started my final placement in September at the Migrant resource Centre in Dandenong. I will be there until the end of January. The MRC work with refugees in their first 5 years in Australia. AND I LOVE IT!! Some days I feel like I'm back in Africa!! I have particularly worked with 2 families from Africa. Both have several children and both have had babies while I've been working with them!! So it has been great. I feel like I'm making a difference in people’s lives. I have already applied for some causal work and if anything more permanent comes up I will apply for that too!! I am looking forward to starting my career as a social worker as I really feel I have found something I love. I come home feeling satisfied with how I spent my day and not just happy to be getting paid. (Although some money would be nice!!)

Otherwise I have kept very busy with my family. My littlest sisters Tiff and Krystal are now 9 and 2 respectively. And take a lot of time. Tiffany has had her fair share of challenges, but I have been very proud of her as she slowly overcomes them. She has just a loving nature and is a real joy to have in my life. Part of me wants to take her back 9 years and protect her from everything that happened to her before she joined our family. But I know God has a journey for her and she will be a mighty woman of God. I love hanging out and taking her shopping, although most of the clothes I pick for her she wont have a bar of!! She loves our Gloria Jeans trips!! Krystal is just a bundle of energy. She is constantly running and yelling!! She is hilarious!! She is very naughty but I think that’s just her very cheeky and
inquisitive nature. She makes me laugh all the time. She is very smart and is always amazing me with what she says and understands!!

I have also remained in youth ministry at my church and although with all my other commitments and dramas I have felt as if I let the team down a little, however I have really worked on developing relationships with the girls in my small group and some I have become very close to. I had to step down from singing due to my back, which was something I really loved. I did organise a camp for like 116 kids back in March, which went off without a hitch and lives were powerfully touched!! Sometimes I feel as though I don't have as much to contribute but at the end of events such as camp where God really comes and changes hearts I feel like maybe I am helping to do Gods work.

So anyway I'm sure there are hundreds of stories I could share but I want to keep this a short and sweet overview!! I pray that you have a blessed Christmas-and a Christmas where you reach out and bless others!! I hope to catch up with all of you sometime in the new year!! LOVE YOU-Jo

Merry Christmas!!

I am just wanting to wish everyone a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!! I already know its going to be very happy in our house. Krysie is SOOOOO excited, its very cute!! Catch you all in 2009!!