| Memories........ from twenty years of sharing the love of Jesus. by Esther Smith On Wednesday 28th February 2007, Caring For Life celebrated its twentieth birthday. For some of us who have been involved in the ministry from “square one”, the memory of that first day in the life of CFL burns bright and clear. I personally can remember the opening of Carey House and the first evening there with Gary, Owen, Larry and Colin as though it had happened just a matter of weeks ago. Twenty years on, Peter Parkinson, our CEO and the founder of this ministry, asked the assembled group of young, (and now older!) people being supported by CFL if they had any memories from the twenty years that they would like to share with us all. Interestingly a number of both men and women talked about their very first day at Caring For Life. They remembered clearly how nervous they had felt, how strange it all was, yet also what a relief it was to be welcomed and supported at last. Several spoke about how everything had changed from that day on.  Some young people wrote letters of thanks to Peter and Judith, or to the whole staff team. Gary wrote,“If it hadn’t been for the help that you two and others have given I don’t know what would have happened to me. I’m sure I would be struggling much more than I am now. So this letter is to say a very big thank you for all you have done for me. “ The CFL birthday always means a very great deal to Gary. He is immensely proud that he is one of the first young men to move into the first CFL home and he always remembers the birthday date, even if everyone else is at risk of forgetting! We were at no risk of forgetting the date this year. A huge and very delicious birthday cake had been baked by Pat, one of our Trustees, and kindly decorated by her daughter. There was some amusement when Owen, Shane and Gary stepped up to cut the celebratory cake and were handed a cake knife, also supplied by Pat, which played “Happy Birthday to You” amongst other tunes! Eighty-one people had gathered together in the small CFL refectory for the occasion and serving a buffet to that many people in a small space was interesting but fun. Our chef had prepared a huge whole salmon, again caught by one of our trustees, along with a big spread of other food, which was all wolfed down by the crowds! We would have loved to invite along many more people, volunteers and supporters, but there was simply not the space and it would have felt strange to celebrate the birthday anywhere other than at Crag House Farm, the home of CFL. It was a joy to have young people come back to us who had been amongst the very first people helped and housed by the Trust. One young man, Shane, who is far from well, stood up at the end of the proceedings and gave a vote of thanks to everyone including the chef, raising a loud three cheers from everyone present. Others had written a thank you note or just recorded some of their memories. Danny wrote, “I think if I didn’t have CFL as part of my life I don’t know where I would be now but I have come to be a Christian coming to CFL. Thank you to all the staff.” Wilf shared how he had felt when he heard that he had a place at Tindall House, “I did not think I would get a place at Caring For Life but I got a phone call, would you like to move in on the 10th December 1994 and since that day I’ve never looked back. “ To balance the quite tear-jerking messages and shared memories, the CFL staff team entertained those present with a variety of funny sketches and songs. There was great hilarity but there was also time to remember those who very sadly are no longer with us. A very kind donation of printed teeshirts meant that every young person present was given a teeshirt, displaying CFL’s name and logo, plus our motto: Sharing the Love of Jesus. We heard that in the following days one young lady was proudly wearing her teeshirt at the sheltered flats where she lives and was raving about CFL’s birthday party. Another lady wore her CFL teeshirt at her baptismal service the following Sunday! 28th February was a day of mixed emotions, mixed memories, but above all of thanksgiving to God who has so wonderfully sustained us throughout the twenty years. We thanked God for our supporters who have been so generous and so faithful in their giving and their prayers. The CFL Family was mentioned many times, including by Danny, who wrote, “I came to a Christian family at CFL.” A sense of belonging is absolutely vital for all of us and especially for those who may not have ever experienced that feeling before. We thank all our supporters, who are very much a part of this family, a crucial part, and we give all glory and praise to God, who called us to begin this work amongst very vulnerable, lonely people and who surrounds us all with His love each and every day, on into the future. Esther |
||
|
|