Over Easter 2021 we organised a Hope Trail around Fords Farm to bring the hope of the Easter story to our local community. As part of the trail we asked our church family for short stories of hope from this past year. We received even more than we needed for our trail posters. So, here they all are for you to read. May they encourage and bless you.
On a lockdown walk I passed a house that had tomato plants outside with an invitation “Please take one”. An act of kindness from a stranger, that blessed me with a great crop of tomatoes!’
– Sue M
Lockdown has revived my relationship with my brother. Thanks to a family zoom meeting every week, I have spoken to him more times over the past year than in the 20 years before that!
– Kate (48)
On a January Prayer Meeting night our well stocked freezer expired. Despair turned to thanksgiving when four kind neighbors came to the rescue storing the produce. The PM was missed but God still answered!
– Graham and Rosemary
Nature’s colours give me hope. The intense blue of the sky and bluebells in the first lockdown. Now, yellow daffodils, pink camellias and multi-coloured crocuses all seem more vivid this year.
– Maureen Treavett
Most recently following a very stressful situation with a builder 🙁 he took my money for materials to build a fence and then disappeared, a few days later I received the most wonderful gift from someone in our church family that enabled me to find someone new and get the job done.
– Karen
My sister organised removal of the dangerous decking in the garden of the lodger of our shared house in Exmouth and started to clear the garden ready for reconstruction. The lodger amazingly embraced the project and replanted and organised the garden herself for a glorious summer.
– Pam
My sister and I were getting ready to renovate the garden in our shared family house in Exmouth, but amazingly our lodger embraced the project and replanted and organised the garden herself ready for summer!
– Pam
We said hello to our new baby during Lockdown 3. We have been so thankful for support of neighbours and friends from our church family
– Tom and Caitlin
Delicious meals landing on our doorstep, weekly shopping provided, always with a smile, from family and friends. How wonderful to be on the receiving end of such love.
– John & Jacqueline (73 & 75)
Encouraged by kind-heartedness of many people, particularly children, in raising awareness, support and money for sick and unwell relatives or friends, reflecting something of God’s common grace and, his image in all of us.
– Roy and Margaret
My sister Jan had two major ops for two different cancers during the lockdowns. Both were successful and she is now recovered and well. We give thanks for answered prayers.
– Judy
Happy that I had internet connection
Optimistic that we would get through
Pleasantly surprised on my lockdown birthday
Excited about my move to be nearer family
In God alone my hope is found.
– Linda
My lockdown was brightened by offers of help with shopping by neighbours, a church family and a friend’s daughter. Also the Daily Prayer at One on Zoom was a real blessing right from the start of lockdown as I live alone.
– Alison
We feel hope for the future through the warm welcome we get every Sunday morning when we attend the service in the church. God is so good!
– Bernard (87) and Mary (88) Wilson
I found a snowdrop hidden in our garden, it gave me hope that better days are coming.
– Anna Kew
During Lockdown it has been a real encouragement at work to have colleagues who share the same faith encouraging each other via a WhatsApp group.
– Cate Cooke
“Coronavirus thinks it’s got me. It hasn’t: Jesus has got me.” These were the words of a much-loved church member before he died in May ‘20. His hope was in an eternal future with his Saviour.
– R.I.P. Mr C (66)