CQ trip report

• June
• 3

8:44 am Updates

Well I’m back home safe and sound, after a very full-on four days in central Queensland, including some wild weather in Yeppoon and Rockhampton!

The trip was all thanks to Footprints reader Ann from Yeppoon (see photo: Ann is on the left, me on the right), who made all the arrangements and was my unofficial tour manager and agent! Although we had chatted often on email, this was the first time we had actually met. Fortunately we hit it off straight away!

After meeting at the airport in Rocky, we drove 3 ½ hours to Emerald, where we were billeted with Lorna from the Uniting Church. Lorna was a real inspiration to me – a widow of nearly 80,  she is a beautiful example of being “older but not colder”. She spoilt us rotten with lots of lovely home-made food!

On Wednesday night I did my talk on depression at the Uniting Church and had about 25 there (from all denominations), which the minister said was an excellent turnout for Emerald. They really appreciated the talk and as a result Ann and I spent most of Thursday meeting various people for coffee (or tea in my case!) to chat and just encourage. So much for sightseeing!!!! Although I did manage to buy a few tacky souvenirs to take home for my kids!

On Friday we headed off and said goodbye to the fine weather, it got progressively worse as we headed towards the coast. However God protected us and we arrived at Ann’s unit in Yeppoon about 2pm. Even though it was drizzling and blowy we still went for a (quick!) walk on the beach, and I met her gorgeous cat Videl.

We had to be in Rocky for 7pm, where I spoke on finding the “Clues to your Calling” for the ladies at the Christian Outreach Centre. However chatting afterwards I discovered that there were women/groups from several churches there.

The next morning we got to do it all again for a ladies morning tea at the Bayview Tower Hotel in Yeppoon, for about 40 women. It was a wonderful morning and feedback was very positive. Before we knew it, it was time to drive to the airport in Rocky for my flight and now I’m back home again!

God was so good and blessed the trip in so many ways. I love doing the “speaking” thing but get nervous about chatting to people individually before/afterwards. However God really blessed that one-on-one time and I met so many wonderful people. He showed me that this is just as valuable as the public “talk”, if not more so.