Page 13 - Grapevine 62 FINAL

God’s different gifts at different times THE DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE… LOCAL PEOPLE’S FAITH IN ACTION

through the then Rector, Symon Beesley, and his Beyond boundaries Enjoying work
strong teaching. He drew many to a personal We have been aware that the Lord calls us to I have enjoyed every job I have ever done. I’m
commitment to Christ, including myself. go beyond our church boundaries. He stretches still in paid employment one day each fortnight
It was a church filled with people many of us. One of the outcomes has been the Hastings in a florist shop in Bexhill, dealing not only
whom had served abroad – something that Sierra Leone Friendship Link. with happy occasions but also those who are
seemed so far from my destiny. From the start I developed a love affair with bereaved.
Our faith was really stirred up and we Hastings in Sierra Leone (Grapevine 60). I love the Our grandchildren are either at boarding
were soon very strongly drawn into church people and working with the community there. school or taking a gap year and we are
life, particularly to the children’s and young Richard and I have visited many times redundant now in that area. The Lord
people’s work. and are making it ‘home’ for more of however has encouraged our love
the year in the future by building a ‘We are for Sierra Leone. We are also
Going wrong house in the village. building a able to work with those less
Sadly that was when things started to go I now realise how much I had fortunate in our town and with
wrong between us and we parted. I was learned from those who had house in Sierra Hastings Borough Council in
devastated and it was a couple of years before I returned from working abroad to Leone’ various ways.
could find my feet again. St Leonard’s all those years ago. I have been deeply affected
My faith, however, was not knocked and I by the sad parts of my life, but I
was aware of God’s presence in all the sadness. Another shock believe that life is amazing and that
I don’t condone marriage breakups, but when I had suffered a major blow when my marriage we can totally trust in the Lord to lead us
they do occur I believe it’s better if communication broke up and I was to suffer another big shock through the darkness and rejoice with us in
can still be maintained as in our case. when our elder son, Richard, was diagnosed the good times.
with leukaemia at the age of 24. Up to then Interview by Wallace Boulton.
Christine was able to With her infectious enthusiasm Finding support he had been very healthy and played hockey at
hold fast in faith CHRISTINE BOULTON-LANE continues county level.
Photo: Ben Clayton Symon and Dorothy Beesley were a wonderful
to make a lively contribution to local example and were very supportive. It took two years to find a donor of
church life and to Loaf Project, as As church secretary I would go to the unmatched bone marrow. During that time he
well as to the Hastings Sierra Leone rectory in Quarry Hill in the mornings to do the had radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Friendship Link. She has however secretarial work and join them for their lunch. After a vast amount of prayer and practical
known times of shock and sadness as I was surrounded by amazing people who help from the church family he pulled through The Manor House, Penhurst, Nr. Battle,
well as encouragement. remain close friends today. and, after the transplant, went back to work. East Sussex TN33 9QP
tel: 0845 458 0602
I was born in Dulwich, brought up in I then went to work full-time for Christopher In 1995 the leukaemia returned. Before email: info@penhurst.org.uk
neighbouring Beckenham with my older Langdon, a local solicitor and friend. At he could undergo stem-cell treatment he web www.penhurst.org.uk
brother, and went to a Catholic Convent around this time I met Richard, who went on sadly contracted an infection from a platelet
boarding school. to become a partner in the practice. Our first donation. He died six months later aged 29. Open to all who wish to seek God’s peace.
My teenage years were full of live music meeting, however, was on the badminton court This Christian retreat centre offers a welcoming family
and musicians, some of whom went on to – rather than Hastings County Court. God’s timing home environment in a setting that is remarkable,
be famous including David Bowie and Peter Richard was educated at a Quaker school The Lord does do miracles and answer prayer, peaceful and beautiful. The house can sleep up to 12
guests and cater for day groups of up to 25.
Frampton. near York Minster. He began coming to St but not always in the way we want. My son
I became a secretary in a publishers, part Leonard’s parish church.His faith really became was taken; this was God’s timing. He knows
of the William Collins group. It was a good ‘switched on’ and he was confirmed. better than we do and we should not be
company to work for and I enjoyed it. It was at We were married in 1986 so this year we demanding. Not all are healed.
work that I met my first husband. celebrated our 32nd anniversary. It’s hard to We never have all the answers. God gives
We bought a flat in St Leonards. believe. them in small parts. I was able to hold fast in
I am the treasurer of the Loaf project and faith knowing I was in his hands.
An excellent venue for individual or small group
Church connection have been involved in Loaf since it started. The Lord gives us different gifts at different residential retreats, individual quiet days, group away
Our first church connection here was through It has been an exciting adventure working times. I have now been led into working with days etc. We also have a programme of led retreats
our younger son Paul attending St Leonard’s with our chairman, Dr John Geater whose the chaplaincy team at the Conquest Hospital and workshops available.
Church of England primary school. enthusiasm and vision has rubbed off on me by enabling a group of mainly young Christian Contact the wardens for further details or to book.
We were attracted to the parish church and the others on the team. doctors to meet in our home.
12 GRAPEVINE GRAPEVINE 13