The other good memory was of working as a volunteer at The Park in Moggerhanger, and meeting my future husband Gordon, who was not the husband I had been expecting!.. I was there for 3 months and Gordon would come down for a few days at a time every month or so.. (There were two houses next to each other at The Gatehouse and funnily enough it was decided I should be separated from a young man also volunteering, for our protection.. but a 'romance' they hadn't expected blossomed instead within the same house!..)
Gordon had sadly lost his wife through cancer only the year before and I was able to comfort him and pray a bit with him when we met up in the evenings. I had lost my father about 7 years earlier, so I understood how grief feels for someone close. He was touched by my compassion and knew quite quickly that I was the one for him and would be his second wife. It took me longer to see this as I hadn't been expecting a widower and someone over 20 years older than me. But after many fleeces being put out I 'gave in' and about a year and a half later we were married! We had a lot in common, not least of all a great love for Israel. It wasn't easy for me as I was 41 so big adjustments, but Gordon showed me the love of God I really needed - and I then cared/prayed for him as he still had hurts from his past and I became his carer near the end of his life. His two children have always loved and accepted me too and I'm particularly close to his daughter.
There were difficult times while at the Park too and we were part of a lot of prayer as spiritual battles were happening. We both felt that perhaps they needed more prayer covering as the ministry could be a target for the enemy, with having such an important vision to bless the church in the nation.
So I'm sad about that time and the vision not being reached, but from talking to Gillian Orpin - the present owners/Trustees are carrying out much of the vision for The Park that the Hills had, so that should be an encouragement for them.
So I was there at a 'birthing time' of this ministry and it was exciting in many ways - and there was some good fellowship in the Gatehouse where we stayed.
But it's been amazing how they've made the re-start based at the Sandy office and so many new staff have joined them, all so capable! I couldn't quite keep up with them as involved in so much. Lovely memories are of the Slave ship, The Zong in London and so many of the public seeing the exhibition and understanding more of the horrors of the Slave Trade.. Also the musical production touring the land called 'Heal Our Land' (which I was involved in - in Liverpool) but not sure how much changed in the nation after it….. At least it encouraged Christians to pray together in many cities.
I've always felt Cliff & Monica are quite pastoral, so it's lovely to see them leading this growing group on Sundays during the Covid lockdown, which is encouraging so many who are feeling quite lonely at this time.