GOLD COAST, QUEENSLAND
It's funny how God works sometimes. A chain of connections led us to Australia: Amanda's college friend from Michigan moved to North Carolina, where he met Geraldine, an Australian, at ministry school in South Carolina. Years later, in 2016, Geraldine posted on Facebook seeking an intern. Through her friend's share, Amanda saw the post and applied. By April 2017, we traded our life in rural Tanzania for Australia's Gold Coast, moving in with the Patersons—a couple we'd never met—to work in business as missions. Though our six-month partnership ended when the Patersons needed to prepare for their own move, we're grateful for the unexpected journey that brought us there.
Check out some of the things we were able to assist with below - and on the Papua New Guinea page as well!
Geraldine, a creative writer passionate about Kingdom expansion, turned her focus to musical theatre, inspired to impact the entertainment industry. Her latest work tells the story of John Flynn—an Australian icon featured on the $20 note—who established the first flying doctor service in the outback. Written to showcase faith and perseverance without overtly religious language, "In Like Flynn" premiered in August 2017 with Broadway aspirations. Our family dove in: Bill handled props, tech, and stage direction; Amanda managed online presence, administration, and set design; while young Owen helped make props, cue the music in rehersals, and then watched from the front row, enchanted by the musical.
The Daily Grind
When Bill and Amanda felt called to Australia, they knew one certainty amid the uncertainty: they were meant to support the Patersons. Scott & Geraldine's vision was to transform nations through business as mission, empowering locals and building Kingdom legacy - especially in developing nations. By handling daily tasks—cooking, cleaning, research, and administration—Bill & Amanda freed the Patersons to focus on networking and relationship-building. Though their work wasn't glamorous, it served a greater purpose: enabling the Patersons to pursue their mission of national transformation.
Despite only two phone calls before becoming housemates, the Patersons and Battersons (yes, their names rhymed!) formed an unlikely but perfect blend. Three introverts and two extroverts, two joke-loving men, two women bonded over solitude and fine chocolate, and one lively boy with his sound effects and laughter—a divine arrangement that just worked.