Our TFJ's (Time For Jesus volunteers) have always been a life-saver for us at Caring For Life. It is absolutely true to say that without the help from young people wanting to give up a year of their lives to work in our ministry, we would not be able to function as we do.

Since the early days of Caring For Life, we have had Time For Jesus volunteers every year, and we have greatly appreciated them. It is by no stretch of the imagination an easy year, or a 'gap' year as some may say. It is 'full' of many challenges, new experiences, character building highs and lows.

As a 'TFJ' your role is to support CFL staff in any area that may need help. This can range from assisting with lunches in the 'Refectory,' to helping muck out the cattle barns. A whole range of new skills are guaranteed to be developed during a year's voluntary work as a 'TFJ' at CFL.

But it's not just the range of new skills that a person will learn that is a challenge. On any given day a TFJ volunteer may come to the farm, expecting to be involved in any given and prearranged area of service and work, only to discover that that for some un-foreseen situation had arisen and they will needed in an entirely different sphere of work that day. This can be extremely difficult to adjust too, and some find it much harder than others, but it will be the experience of every Time For Jesus volunteer at Caring For Life. Flexibility and adaptability are essential attributes for any TFJ volunteer at CFL.

This year we have yet another good group of volunteers. Steve, Dominic, Lucy and Peter are all now busy serving at Caring For Life.

Steve is currently focusing on the Horticulture project, with Jake guiding and helping him on the day-to-day work. Steve has also been busy making preparations for harvest time, when many churches, schools and individuals bring gifts of food which are absolutely vital to enable us to provide for the increasing number of people here and the additional, growing number of people of all ages that we are caring for in the community.

Dominic has assisted the agriculture team for some time, but has been called upon to assist in the the new Granary Café now run at Crag House Farm. He is enjoying being able to get back outside, which is where his main interest is, getting alongside the men we care for on that project. He too will be helping with harvest when it starts to arrive.

Lucy is also assisting in The Granary Café but in the next few weeks she will be moving to other projects where she will be working alongside many of the young ladies in our care. She also will soon be helping with harvest gifts.

Peter, the last of this years TFJ's, arrived only last week. He is an American from Cleveland, Ohio, who's has really come to England specifically to help in the Granary Café. His interests are very much in catering, and we are already appreciating his in-put in the Granary, where he has made a huge difference and removed a huge responsibility from some of our senior staff.

All of our TFJ's are just fantastic, but they do need much support a great deal of prayer, and a lot of sleep! It's a tremendous year, and we look forward to giving you an update soon as to how things are going. It is a very physically, spiritually and mentally challenging, but a most fulfilling year .

If you know anyone who you think would fit the mould as a Time For Jesus volunteer, giving a year's service for Christ at Caring For Life, please do get in touch.