Eleanor Drysdale

Eleanor Drysdale Deaconess Wellington

This year has been all about finishing well.  It is our last year in Wellington Street before moving to our new building in March 2009.  That has meant a lot of added work to the weekly diary.  In the early part of the year I completed my course in counselling skills at Union College.  This has proved invaluable in my daily work.  Within the church family there have been challenging pastoral
issues - much of my work surrounds working with those in crisis situations.  We have seen some of those situations turned around in incredible ways, and others ending in tragic circumstances.  But in the midst of it all, I have always been aware of God working, changing people and changing me.  I am so thankful to those who pray for the work that we are involved in.
 The second half of the year has been spent looking forward to our move, and this has meant attending lots of meetings, and thinking through how we can be prepared for growth to happen in our new location.  It has meant looking for more help throughout the congregation, enabling people to use their gifts in specific areas, equipping people to serve.  But as we have looked forward we are conscious also of giving thanks to God for all the years in Wellington Street, so part of the time has been given over to allowing people to look back on what God has done.
 It is hard to put into words the work that has been done this year.  Some of it has been so exciting, seeing people work through difficult situations and grow in their faith; at other times the work has been heart-breaking.  But I think we have finished well, and the next time I write a report it will be as the Deaconess in Wellington Presbyterian