Yesterday I went onto Classmates.com for this first time in ages and came across a guy I had not heard from for many years. His name is Rick Rogers and I stayed with his family in Waverly Nebraska when I was a foreign exchange student at the High School there in 1971.
It was great to hear from him again. Now a pop-up has appeared inviting me to look at Friends Reunited. So I might just do that, as long as I don't have to part with any money.
This year has seen me revisit old haunts: Epping in Essex where we lived from 1979 to 1982, and Broad Oak-Brede Sussex where we lived from 1978/79.
It was great to hear from Rick again, although he now lives in one of the Carolinas. It brought back many happy memories of Waverly.
How am I doing this week? Well, up and down. I have discovered a new benefit which came on-stream on Monday. It is called Employment and Support Allowance. It doesn't pay any more than Job Seekers Allowance but it fast tracks you to someone who can help point you in the right direction for suitable work. It is aimed at people who find it difficult to work because of a long-term illness, injury or disability.
They are sending me the papers to apply. I'll see how it goes.
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
Money
After resigning from Lakeland I have been dependent on God for my income, as I had no other way of getting any. So I prayed about it and I think I've got as much in the account now as I did two weeks ago.
God is able to supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Now I am looking for something I really feel at home in. Well, that's the title and the theme of this blog - Finding my way Home. Keep following. I'll get there eventually.
God is able to supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Now I am looking for something I really feel at home in. Well, that's the title and the theme of this blog - Finding my way Home. Keep following. I'll get there eventually.
Friday, 10 October 2008
And the doctor said...
There is no alternative to resignation from the Lakeland job. So I sent in my notice yesterday. I won't be going back. It was making me ill again.
So what now? Well, I am going to make it my aim to apply for one job per week day, either online or by post. There must be something out there I can do.
I am also keeping in touch with the CAB, the Disability Specialist at Kendal Jobcentre Plus and with my counsellor. Most of all, I am keeping in touch with the Lord.
Strangely, in spite of all this trauma, Jesus is more real to me than ever. Even though mental illness hits you right in the centre of your being, Jesus is still there too. That's what the Christian faith is all about.
Some people can't see how you can feel like I do and still be a Christian. But you can.
So what now? Well, I am going to make it my aim to apply for one job per week day, either online or by post. There must be something out there I can do.
I am also keeping in touch with the CAB, the Disability Specialist at Kendal Jobcentre Plus and with my counsellor. Most of all, I am keeping in touch with the Lord.
Strangely, in spite of all this trauma, Jesus is more real to me than ever. Even though mental illness hits you right in the centre of your being, Jesus is still there too. That's what the Christian faith is all about.
Some people can't see how you can feel like I do and still be a Christian. But you can.
Thursday, 9 October 2008
What a difference a day makes
Yesterday started for me at 2.45 a.m. when I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. That's a classic sign that the Black Dog of Depression is snapping at your heels. When I did get to sleep the alarm went off and I did not get up. In fact for the next two and a half hours I did not want to get out of bed. That's another sign of depression.
What I decided to do was to get through an hour at a time and this is how each one went:
9.00 - 10.00 Got up, had breakfast, read the Bible, made sandwiches
10.00 - 11.00 Drove to Kendal, found a free parking space and went to Jobcentre Plus
11.00 - 12.00 Signed on for Job Seekers Allowance, made an appointment to see the Disability Officer (who deals with those suffering long term ill health, injury and disability) for 15.20. Went to the Bank to discover that the DWP had given me some money.
12.00 - 13.00 Went to Communion Service at St. Thomas Church Kendal. Short sermon from the Vicar: Know God's love, God's voice and God's plan. He prayed with me afterwards.
13.00 - 14.00 As we were eating soup and rolls in the church cafe my mobile phone rang and the Disability Officer asked me to go in there and then.
We had a long and detailed interview during which she advised me to call in sick at Lakeland and see the doctor as soon as possible. She also helped me to find more suitable jobs to apply for. So I thanked God for His amazing timing and did what she said.
14.00 - 15.00 Went back to the Church and told the caretaker what had happened. He showed me round their newly improved church and then I went home rejoicing.
What I decided to do was to get through an hour at a time and this is how each one went:
9.00 - 10.00 Got up, had breakfast, read the Bible, made sandwiches
10.00 - 11.00 Drove to Kendal, found a free parking space and went to Jobcentre Plus
11.00 - 12.00 Signed on for Job Seekers Allowance, made an appointment to see the Disability Officer (who deals with those suffering long term ill health, injury and disability) for 15.20. Went to the Bank to discover that the DWP had given me some money.
12.00 - 13.00 Went to Communion Service at St. Thomas Church Kendal. Short sermon from the Vicar: Know God's love, God's voice and God's plan. He prayed with me afterwards.
13.00 - 14.00 As we were eating soup and rolls in the church cafe my mobile phone rang and the Disability Officer asked me to go in there and then.
We had a long and detailed interview during which she advised me to call in sick at Lakeland and see the doctor as soon as possible. She also helped me to find more suitable jobs to apply for. So I thanked God for His amazing timing and did what she said.
14.00 - 15.00 Went back to the Church and told the caretaker what had happened. He showed me round their newly improved church and then I went home rejoicing.
Tuesday, 7 October 2008
Poverty Trap
This road I am following on my journey home is full of potholes. I have fallen into one of them called the Poverty Trap.
To sum this up: it is possible to go from living on benefits to earning a wage and end up worse off. This has happened to me.
When I was not working and being paid Incapacity Benefit I was getting more into my bank account, and less was going out of it, than now that I am working.
This means I keep wondering if it was worth going back to work at all. I don't enjoy it. It doesn't suit me. I have to pay for fuel to travel the 20 miles in order to work four hours at a time for three evenings a week.
But the fact is that I felt God called me to go back to work and I have to be obedient.
These Bible verses have been helpful:
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." James 1:2
"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2 Corinthians 4:17
To sum this up: it is possible to go from living on benefits to earning a wage and end up worse off. This has happened to me.
When I was not working and being paid Incapacity Benefit I was getting more into my bank account, and less was going out of it, than now that I am working.
This means I keep wondering if it was worth going back to work at all. I don't enjoy it. It doesn't suit me. I have to pay for fuel to travel the 20 miles in order to work four hours at a time for three evenings a week.
But the fact is that I felt God called me to go back to work and I have to be obedient.
These Bible verses have been helpful:
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." James 1:2
"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2 Corinthians 4:17
Wednesday, 1 October 2008
Back to work (again)
Going back to work last week was not easy. I found I had forgotten some of the training I had been given the week before I left for Hastings. I got into a muddle on my first evening back and had to train again the next evening. Then I worked on Saturday afternoon and things went a lot better because there were not so many people working and I could go at my own pace without pressure.
On Friday I came across the details of an evangelist post on the South Coast. Having just returned from a successful mission there, and the job description fitting my skills, gifts and abilities I sent off for the details which came straight back by email.
The closing date was yesterday, so I started to apply on Saturday before going to Lakeland. On Sunday I went to three services - two at IMC and one at Bentham CofE. In the first, the children's message told us we should use our gifts and talents or they will be taken away, and both the other services included the message "Pray for the workers to go into the Harvest Field". I sent off the application on Monday.
On Monday evening I went with the Shepherds Choir to Kings Meaburn in rural Cumbria. I was leading the meeting and spotted the Methodist Minister, Phil Dew, at the back of the church. So I made up a story about him during the singing and told it during my talk.
To make a longish story short it spun on seeing him fall down and calling it a Dew Drop. Anyway, it worked. People were impressed that I could do that. And I was pleased I could too. I'm more skilled at that than what I'm getting paid for now. That's why I applied for evengelist job.
Watch this space.
On Friday I came across the details of an evangelist post on the South Coast. Having just returned from a successful mission there, and the job description fitting my skills, gifts and abilities I sent off for the details which came straight back by email.
The closing date was yesterday, so I started to apply on Saturday before going to Lakeland. On Sunday I went to three services - two at IMC and one at Bentham CofE. In the first, the children's message told us we should use our gifts and talents or they will be taken away, and both the other services included the message "Pray for the workers to go into the Harvest Field". I sent off the application on Monday.
On Monday evening I went with the Shepherds Choir to Kings Meaburn in rural Cumbria. I was leading the meeting and spotted the Methodist Minister, Phil Dew, at the back of the church. So I made up a story about him during the singing and told it during my talk.
To make a longish story short it spun on seeing him fall down and calling it a Dew Drop. Anyway, it worked. People were impressed that I could do that. And I was pleased I could too. I'm more skilled at that than what I'm getting paid for now. That's why I applied for evengelist job.
Watch this space.
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
Walk East Sussex Coast
That was the most amazing week of mission I have ever known.
There were eight of us on the team and we saw about 20 people make decisions for Christ. We were amazed.
This is what happened:-
Friday 12 Dreadful journey down. Stuck on the M1 in a Megabus for two hours. Missed the next coach to Hastings so stayed with my sister Sheila and her husband Andrew in Thames Ditton. This worked out well as they gave me a mug they had bought in America for me and I used it the whole week.
Saturday 13 Took the train to Brighton and then another to Hastings. Got our gear - hoodie and polo shirt in pale blue with logo, songbook, Bible study, etc. Then a welcome service with the leader Daniel Cousins.
Off to meet our hosts at Ore, then to meet the rest of the Church people. We were working with the Salvation Army and Christ Church Ore for the first part of the week.
At night we went to the local pub for the first of several visits. I talked to a couple of guys from London who have caravans on the coast.
Sunday 14 Met an interesting character called Jeff who looked homeless but actually had a house in Ore. Had bacon butties at the Salvation Army and then walked prayerfully round the Downs Farm estate.
AM service at Christ church. I gave a two minute testimony and took part in a puppet sketch. Afterwards met a young man called James who had lived most of his life in Hastings, except for five years in BURNLEY!
Then we had an outside BBQ and I found that people had come down off the estate to the service. In the evening I attended my first proper Salvation Army meeting. I was impressed with the music - brass band and songsters. It was great.
Then back to the pub again.
Monday 15 We returned to the flats on the Downs Farm Estate to knock on the doors. We had a spiritual beliefs survey for the people but most were not interested in it. But the Salvation Army captain who was with me told them about a Family Focus they run each month in the community hall, and they were interested in that.
In the afternoon I went out door knocking with a man off another team we were working with and we got into a great conversation with a young lad. As we were getting to the most important part a bin wagon parked itself right next to us and made the most awful noise and smell, but I prayed and my mate kept on going.
The lad made a decision to become a Christian.
In the evening a young girl on our team and me went to a supper party. One of the Anglican ladies had invited two of her neighbours and her husband, who is not a believer, to meet us.
Tuesday 16 Out on the doors again with the same person as I went with the day before. We set off to start where I had finished. But as soon as we got into the road a lady passed us and then said "I have a survey form for you." So we walked up to her flat on the estate and picked it up. We prayed with her. She was a Christian.
We went down to the next block of flats where my mate picked up a lot of litter on the floor while watched by a couple over the fence. I did the spiritual survey with them and they prayed to receive Christ as Saviour.
As we were going along with our hearts bursting with thankfulness I decided we should visit a lady I had seen on the previous two days whose husband had died two months before. We did the survey with her and prayed for her.
Then we met a guy from the estate whom my mate had seen twice before, and finally we passed an old guy working in his garden. He lifted up his head and said "You'll wear that pavement out." Then he went on tell us about a near-death experience he had had, in which he had met his dead father, and we told him how he could have assurance of heaven.
Then we ran back to base, because we just couldn't cope with any more.
After lunch two of our team members went out on the doors - the young girl is doing a Ph D in Maths, and the older man has always been a kitchen porter. They asked for God's blessing, so I just put my hands on their shoulders and said "God will bless you." They came back rejoicing that an 87 year old woman had put her trust in the Lord.
At night we had a Hot Potato Evening. There was a supper of hot potatoes and salad followed by a panel discussion of hot spiritual topics. Richard Dawkins came up, as did the Trinity and a few other things. A young woman at the other end of my table was asking lots of questions. She was sitting near the Salvation Army folk. When the meeting was finished they spent a lot of time talking with her while I cleared the table and washed up. I felt it was better that way round as they would always be there and I was leaving next day.
Wednesday 17 A morning off, spent walking on the cliff tops near Fairlight. Then off to St. Leonards to work with Calvary Chapel. We first went to a residential home to take a meeting and talk to residents. The meeting was a bit of a disaster but one of the residents trusted the Lord.
Then we adjourned to our places of residence. I was put in a penthouse overlooking the sea on the Promenade. We really slum it on these missions.
Thursday 18 We had our first open-air outreach in downtown Hastings. Singing, acting and speaking was a lot of fun. We met some interesting people. One turned out to be a high-flying Russian diplomat. She was in favour of what we were doing. How times have changed since the Communist era.
We moved places half way through the morning and one of our team got talking to a couple and did not arrive at the second venue for sometime. When she did it was to tell us that they had accepted the Lord. She then started chatting to another woman and led her in a prayer of repentance. I've never known a time like it.
In the afternoon I went out on the doors with the pastor of the church and handed an invitation for a free BBQ on Sunday morning to a family on the street. We had some good conversations on the doors but a lot of people were out.
It was pub time again at night but I didn't find anyone to chat with except my companion. But it was a good time nevertheless.
Friday 19 We set off for Oxford Road and went down one side of the street while another couple worked the other side. "We" being me and an older Northern Irish lady who now lives in Bexhill. She has an insatiable appetite for talk. So I had to ask her to button it a bit while I was talking. She managed graciously to do this eventually.
We managed to work together well. So much so that on the way home she struck up a conversation with a man standing outside the pub smoking. I took over, went through the survey with him, and led him in a prayer of repentance. Amazing.
Later on in the evening we had an outreach event in the same pub with a guy called Roly playing his guitar, harmonica and keyboard, but not all at the same time. The pub was invaded by lots of Christian men, and a few women. Some of the locals tried to protest and cause a rumpus but it didn't work and a lot of people were challenged.
Saturday 20 saw our second downtown Hasting open-air outreach. This time one of the team did Sketchboarding and four kids prayed a prayer of commitment. There were a lot of people around and it was very exciting.
In the afternoon we strolled through Alexandra Park and came across a wedding group taking pictures. It turned out to be a couple from Ore Salvation Army, with whom we were working the first part of the week. They invited us to come and have our picture taken with the bride and groom.
At night we went to Battle to meet the church folk we had not already met. They were very middle class and I wondered how they would relate to the people who live around where they meet, who are at the other end of the social scale.
Sun 21 Last day. Sunday morning service was at a Community Centre near four huge tower blocks known as the Four Courts. At least two men were there because of our invitation. When I came out there was a family outside waiting for the BBQ. They were the family I had given the invite to on Thursday. We enjoyed hot dogs and the kids had a bouncy castle. Then we got together for our last time as a team.
We waited for some time for our leader to appear but a message came saying that he and the pastor were busy talking to the family and that we should carry on without him. So we prayed for each other and the family. When we had finished he came in and gave us the thumbs-up. All three - father, mother and son - had given their lives to the Lord.
We jumped around, clapping and hugging each other. What a fantastic end to a fantastic week!
The last event of all was the final service for all the teams at St. Leonards Parish Church on the seafront. Six people gave testimony to what had happened during the week. Incredibly, I was involved in what three of them had to say.
What an amazing week.
There were eight of us on the team and we saw about 20 people make decisions for Christ. We were amazed.
This is what happened:-
Friday 12 Dreadful journey down. Stuck on the M1 in a Megabus for two hours. Missed the next coach to Hastings so stayed with my sister Sheila and her husband Andrew in Thames Ditton. This worked out well as they gave me a mug they had bought in America for me and I used it the whole week.
Saturday 13 Took the train to Brighton and then another to Hastings. Got our gear - hoodie and polo shirt in pale blue with logo, songbook, Bible study, etc. Then a welcome service with the leader Daniel Cousins.
Off to meet our hosts at Ore, then to meet the rest of the Church people. We were working with the Salvation Army and Christ Church Ore for the first part of the week.
At night we went to the local pub for the first of several visits. I talked to a couple of guys from London who have caravans on the coast.
Sunday 14 Met an interesting character called Jeff who looked homeless but actually had a house in Ore. Had bacon butties at the Salvation Army and then walked prayerfully round the Downs Farm estate.
AM service at Christ church. I gave a two minute testimony and took part in a puppet sketch. Afterwards met a young man called James who had lived most of his life in Hastings, except for five years in BURNLEY!
Then we had an outside BBQ and I found that people had come down off the estate to the service. In the evening I attended my first proper Salvation Army meeting. I was impressed with the music - brass band and songsters. It was great.
Then back to the pub again.
Monday 15 We returned to the flats on the Downs Farm Estate to knock on the doors. We had a spiritual beliefs survey for the people but most were not interested in it. But the Salvation Army captain who was with me told them about a Family Focus they run each month in the community hall, and they were interested in that.
In the afternoon I went out door knocking with a man off another team we were working with and we got into a great conversation with a young lad. As we were getting to the most important part a bin wagon parked itself right next to us and made the most awful noise and smell, but I prayed and my mate kept on going.
The lad made a decision to become a Christian.
In the evening a young girl on our team and me went to a supper party. One of the Anglican ladies had invited two of her neighbours and her husband, who is not a believer, to meet us.
Tuesday 16 Out on the doors again with the same person as I went with the day before. We set off to start where I had finished. But as soon as we got into the road a lady passed us and then said "I have a survey form for you." So we walked up to her flat on the estate and picked it up. We prayed with her. She was a Christian.
We went down to the next block of flats where my mate picked up a lot of litter on the floor while watched by a couple over the fence. I did the spiritual survey with them and they prayed to receive Christ as Saviour.
As we were going along with our hearts bursting with thankfulness I decided we should visit a lady I had seen on the previous two days whose husband had died two months before. We did the survey with her and prayed for her.
Then we met a guy from the estate whom my mate had seen twice before, and finally we passed an old guy working in his garden. He lifted up his head and said "You'll wear that pavement out." Then he went on tell us about a near-death experience he had had, in which he had met his dead father, and we told him how he could have assurance of heaven.
Then we ran back to base, because we just couldn't cope with any more.
After lunch two of our team members went out on the doors - the young girl is doing a Ph D in Maths, and the older man has always been a kitchen porter. They asked for God's blessing, so I just put my hands on their shoulders and said "God will bless you." They came back rejoicing that an 87 year old woman had put her trust in the Lord.
At night we had a Hot Potato Evening. There was a supper of hot potatoes and salad followed by a panel discussion of hot spiritual topics. Richard Dawkins came up, as did the Trinity and a few other things. A young woman at the other end of my table was asking lots of questions. She was sitting near the Salvation Army folk. When the meeting was finished they spent a lot of time talking with her while I cleared the table and washed up. I felt it was better that way round as they would always be there and I was leaving next day.
Wednesday 17 A morning off, spent walking on the cliff tops near Fairlight. Then off to St. Leonards to work with Calvary Chapel. We first went to a residential home to take a meeting and talk to residents. The meeting was a bit of a disaster but one of the residents trusted the Lord.
Then we adjourned to our places of residence. I was put in a penthouse overlooking the sea on the Promenade. We really slum it on these missions.
Thursday 18 We had our first open-air outreach in downtown Hastings. Singing, acting and speaking was a lot of fun. We met some interesting people. One turned out to be a high-flying Russian diplomat. She was in favour of what we were doing. How times have changed since the Communist era.
We moved places half way through the morning and one of our team got talking to a couple and did not arrive at the second venue for sometime. When she did it was to tell us that they had accepted the Lord. She then started chatting to another woman and led her in a prayer of repentance. I've never known a time like it.
In the afternoon I went out on the doors with the pastor of the church and handed an invitation for a free BBQ on Sunday morning to a family on the street. We had some good conversations on the doors but a lot of people were out.
It was pub time again at night but I didn't find anyone to chat with except my companion. But it was a good time nevertheless.
Friday 19 We set off for Oxford Road and went down one side of the street while another couple worked the other side. "We" being me and an older Northern Irish lady who now lives in Bexhill. She has an insatiable appetite for talk. So I had to ask her to button it a bit while I was talking. She managed graciously to do this eventually.
We managed to work together well. So much so that on the way home she struck up a conversation with a man standing outside the pub smoking. I took over, went through the survey with him, and led him in a prayer of repentance. Amazing.
Later on in the evening we had an outreach event in the same pub with a guy called Roly playing his guitar, harmonica and keyboard, but not all at the same time. The pub was invaded by lots of Christian men, and a few women. Some of the locals tried to protest and cause a rumpus but it didn't work and a lot of people were challenged.
Saturday 20 saw our second downtown Hasting open-air outreach. This time one of the team did Sketchboarding and four kids prayed a prayer of commitment. There were a lot of people around and it was very exciting.
In the afternoon we strolled through Alexandra Park and came across a wedding group taking pictures. It turned out to be a couple from Ore Salvation Army, with whom we were working the first part of the week. They invited us to come and have our picture taken with the bride and groom.
At night we went to Battle to meet the church folk we had not already met. They were very middle class and I wondered how they would relate to the people who live around where they meet, who are at the other end of the social scale.
Sun 21 Last day. Sunday morning service was at a Community Centre near four huge tower blocks known as the Four Courts. At least two men were there because of our invitation. When I came out there was a family outside waiting for the BBQ. They were the family I had given the invite to on Thursday. We enjoyed hot dogs and the kids had a bouncy castle. Then we got together for our last time as a team.
We waited for some time for our leader to appear but a message came saying that he and the pastor were busy talking to the family and that we should carry on without him. So we prayed for each other and the family. When we had finished he came in and gave us the thumbs-up. All three - father, mother and son - had given their lives to the Lord.
We jumped around, clapping and hugging each other. What a fantastic end to a fantastic week!
The last event of all was the final service for all the teams at St. Leonards Parish Church on the seafront. Six people gave testimony to what had happened during the week. Incredibly, I was involved in what three of them had to say.
What an amazing week.
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