Warm welcome as Rob swaps Hawaii for church role in Caithness
A former maintenance mechanic and safety officer has swapped the tropical beaches of Hawaii for the east coast of Caithness.
Rob Petersen, a US citizen, has traded in what many would consider a dream life – living on a nature reserve on a small Hawaiian island – to come and work for a church in Wick.
For Mr Petersen, this is a calling.
He said: “We decided to come to Wick to exercise a real love for our Lord, His Church, and an answer to His calling. To be honest I don't think that we all that we could actually give up this idyllic life, but we relied, and continue to rely on, God's strength and find comfort in His word. He sees the move as a natural outworking of his faith: “In our society, a strong emphasis is put on individuality and our own personal comforts. There is definitely a 'me first' attitude in America, and I believe this is a particularly challenge for those professing faith in Christ as this attitude does not reflect well the example given to us by Christ.”
Mr Petersen will be working alongside the Rev Andrew Barrie at Pulteneytown and Thrumster Church.
Mr Barrie said: “We are really excited that Rob has been able to fill the position that we have advertised. He and his family are really nice and we think that they will fit in well in Caithness.
"We know that it can be hard to fill jobs in Caithness, so we are very thankful to God for making this happen.
We are excited to be a part of the community of Caithness.
"We are also grateful that Rob and his family have heeded the call to come here. It shows immense trust in God that they are so willing to uproot their life. We hope that having the Petersens here will enhance the life and work of our congregation.
"While the weather here may be a bit colder to them, we hope to extend a warm welcome as they make their home here.”
Mr Petersen added: “I'm sure the weather will take some adjusting to – but as for the people, we are approaching this aspect with a sincere love and interest to learn. We are excited to be a part of the community of Caithness and share life here.”
Pulteneytown and Thrumster Church is part of the Church of Scotland.
