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From Luke’s Journal February 2024 | Vol.29 No.1 | Missions and Sacrificial Service

I had the pleasure of attending Broome Anglican Church whilst living in the Kimberley for the first six months of my working career, during secondment from Fiona Stanley Hospital. On Day One of my arrival to Broome, I was faced with the unfortunate circumstance of my checked luggage being missing, as well as the arrival of my boxes and car being delayed due to floods at Fitzroy Crossing. On top of this, my accommodation had been double booked so I needed to stay at a motel for two weeks, which was about an hour’s walk from the hospital. It was one of those situations where you had to laugh at yourself and say, “It couldn’t get worse!”

I had none of my belongings except the clothes, set of scrubs and stethoscope I could fit into my hand luggage—no car and no house to set up in. Worst of all, I was over 2,000km from my friends and family. I had never felt more helpless in my life, as almost every aspect of life was out of my control. In that moment, I realised that my life was well and truly in God’s hands. God continued to provide for me in so many unexpected ways, with lots of little blessings to remind me of His sovereignty and provision. First, I bumped into an old Christian friend at the airport who dropped me off at my motel and church the next day. Then I met another Christian at church who dropped me off at work. Lastly, I met yet another who helped me pick up my luggage when it finally arrived (it was later determined that some soul had accidentally taken it thinking it was theirs and returned it many days later). Slowly, all the bigger issues found their resolution in  very unique ways. All I could say was, “God is good”. 

Despite being in a completely foreign environment and feeling overwhelmed by the anxieties of starting my first job in a new hospital in a new town, the community I had through the local church was the constant in my life that created a sense of spiritual peace. Similar to my experience at Karratha Anglican, which I attended whilst on placement as a medical student, Broome Anglican made me feel so incredibly welcomed the minute I stepped through the door. I loved going out for coffee and chats with other young adults from so many diverse backgrounds after church every Sunday (when I wasn’t working!). Broome has a way of creating strong bonds very quickly as you form friendships with people who, just like you, are working or living away from their family and friends.  As a result, these friendships become your own little family. I found it so easy to make friends in the community through local sport, the hospital, and especially through church. 

“One of the things that God taught me whilst in Broome was the incredible blessing that a church community offers through an unspoken bond formed through a shared faith in Jesus.””

One of the things that God taught me whilst in Broome was the incredible blessing that a church community offers through an unspoken bond formed through a shared faith in Jesus. This was compounded by the nature of a rural area like Broome where the population is so small that you often get to work with other Christians. I enjoyed getting to work with so many Christian doctors, nurses and allied health members in the hospital. I loved all the little things from being able to say “Hi!” to a Christian colleague you bump into on the wards, to having shared care over your patients with a friend from church, or even being able to call up the Christian GP anaesthetist to help with a tricky cannula. It was a special experience getting to serve Jesus as a doctor by serving our patients alongside my brothers and sisters in Christ. It was also so clear to those on the outside that the Christians in the hospital were special by the way they treated patients and staff. It was truly the perfect example to me of serving Jesus in the workplace.

During my time in Broome, I was able to attend both the morning services and Peoples Church (aimed at connecting with the unique backgrounds of Aboriginal people), as well as participate in a Wednesday night Life Group led by Matt and Leone Morrison which was a major source of encouragement. Singing songs of praise with my Indigenous brothers and sisters in their native tongue was a big highlight too! Though living all the way up in Broome this year was completely unexpected, I’m so thankful to God for the lessons and people He put in my life whilst I was there. When it eventually came time to leave, I found myself planning how I’d be able to come back! Broome certainly holds a very special place in my heart and I’m eager to return to the Kimberley in the future.

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