It is a blessing and a calling to volunteer within the Hospital Chaplaincy team at Brighton and with the ambulance service.

I have experienced so many things within the short period of time I have been volunteering, right on the front line of the A&E departments and out in the ambulance. It really is serving God through action, love, words, prayers and sometimes just an exchange of a smile or eye contact. When I followed the call into Chaplaincy, I trusted God to place me where he wanted me to be, introducing me to the right people, in the right places at the right time, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, giving me the words and actions needed for those I encounter.

Already, I have been blessed with some significant events; my first shift as an ambulance chaplain was outside A&E on New Year's Eve. The first encounter was with a patient who had a stab wound and severe mental health issues. I was able to be a presence amongst the chaos, silently praying for the staff and the patient and helping the paramedics to calm the patient down for treatment. The patient was walking around outside A&E after trying to discharge themselves - it was the first experience of the work these teams deliver.

The second shift outside A&E involved watching an ambulance come in on the highest level of alert, as the red lights went off inside A&E I watched the ambulance pull into the front. I felt drawn to walk around the other side of the ambulance, to where a car was pulling in with distressed relatives. It was then I realised that they were searching for the patient who had just come in as a major trauma. I was there for the relatives as they watched the patient come off the ambulance under sedation and ventilation and led them through to the relative's room. In amongst supporting the crews as much I could that evening, I was also able to be there for that family who had to make the decision to turn off life support, or go forward with a very high risk operation. I led them all through to the hospital chapel and prayed for them, before returning outside to see how the rest of the evening would unfold.

This was just a taster of things to come. This week I went out on a 12 hour shift with the ambulance crew, third manning with the team as their Chaplain. We began the shift at 6.30am. The first call out was to a patient who was being violent and had taken various drugs, this was a fairly short visit and we headed back to the ambulance.

Immediately, there was a C1 call out (the highest level emergency call) for a cardiac arrest patient. Driving off on blue lights, I prayed in the back of the ambulance whilst also preparing to take my bag in with me with my pastoral service book and prayers and one of the olive wood crosses I carry with me to give to whoever I encounter and may need it. We were the second crew on scene and straight away I was asked if I wanted to help with the CPR. There was no hesitation with this as I knew I was there to help in any way I could. I swapped with one of the crew and delivered chest compressions, whilst another crew member did the ventilation.

This would be a visit of firsts, the first time I had delivered CPR, the first death I had witnessed and the first prayers during and after death.

Watching and supporting the crew deliver CPR highlighted just how much of an amazing team they all are, and it was a privilege to be a part of it on that day. Being present for the teams and relatives as the patient passed away and being able to deliver prayers whilst the relatives held the olive wood cross in between their hand and patient's hand, is something that will stay with me for life. To be present in that moment of someone passing from life to death and feel such a presence of the Holy Spirit in the room really gives meaning and purpose to everything. I know that I was meant to be on that job that morning and it was an honour to be able to serve as a Chaplain for the team.

In contrast to this death, the second C1 call out was much more of a shock for the team. We were sadly called to a patient who was dead on arrival and had been dead for approximately 2 weeks. It was something that perhaps not many people will ever see or experience, but it was where God wanted me to be at that time. Again, I was able to say prayers whilst the team worked with the police. The crews see so much we don't even realise, and it made me proud to be able to help support them as their Chaplain in whatever way I can.

Whilst the rest of the day wasn't as dramatic, we saw a variety of patients suffering with mental health or age related health issues. When we signed off at 6.30pm, it felt like such amazing work had been done that day. Being right on the front line of life and death and supporting, caring and showing love and kindness to all we encountered, really is God's work in action.

I am always so excited to see where God will take me next, each encounter, whether routine, to deliver prayers or communion, to support suicidal patients, to give company to the elderly and lonely, to support during end of life care, to bring teddies to the children's ward, or Bibles and holding crosses to someone, I have never felt more fulfilled. I feel like I am in exactly the right place at this time and I am so thankful to God for this calling and vocation.