ST ERKENWALD'S

God has a plan for each and every one of us. This is part of my life story that God has created for me. Our Father in heaven is so loving and gracious. How do I know this? Well I am a living testimony I am here by the grace of God. It is a miracle that I was conceived at all, and then born three months premature weighing less than two pounds and allergic to starched sheets etc, and not much hope of surviving my life continued. Around secondary age I started to become ill - problems with vision and headaches. As a teenager I needed to have a surgical operation. There were complications with the anaesthetic and I had a seizure. I came through but (I know there is always a but) this is where I became quite ill becoming unconscious in all manor of situations which as you can imagine is really quite dangerous. I was in and out of hospitals, test after test, numerous medications were prescribed. I looked awful. I was desperate. I took myself off to our local church, I was still a teenager at this stage.

I loved to sing the hymns and I hoped there was a God because I really did not want to be ill anymore, I hated what was happening to me. I hated that it had ruined my education, my life. If this was the way my life was going then I wanted out of it. So I talked to God about all this stuff on my own in the church pew. I felt quite silly at first but I continued going and talking to God even getting really angry. I remember standing in a middle of a field and screaming and shouting at God to take this illness away and that I did not want to be on these drugs anymore. I told

one of my doctors this so he took me off them and you guessed it I had a seizure. I was with my boyfriend at the time, who is now my husband of 30 years. Fortunately he was first aid trained and was aware of my illness so knew exactly what to do. Can you see how God puts everything in place? Can you see how he took care of my needs? Can you see how I know that I am a living testimony?

I have two wonderful children, although the road was a little rocky with one of them for a time but that's another story. The road has not always been easy, we are still living through some difficult times but I now know and understand that God is preparing the way for the path that lies before me. Through our difficult times we have learned to put our trust in God, for if we truly trust him he will go before us in all things. Our relationship with God has grown over the years, especially since we have been at St Erkenwald's with our present Vicar. Clive and his wife Catherine. We have learned to talk pray and worship him in the good and in the not so good times. We have learned to talk pray and worship him in the good and in the not so good times.

God is still working in our lives in so many different ways and situations, recently he has been guiding and teaching me how to work with him on so many levels, he has also given me situations that have shown me and more importantly those around me the natural ability that I appear to have in listening and helping others. I am currently training as a Christian counsellor so that I may reach out to help others. God has given me the perfect background enabling me to carry out the work he has chosen for me. Come and join us at St Erkenwalds church it is a great place to meet up with God and his family.