Dear All,
As I write this letter I am well aware that it is somewhat overdue as so much has happened since my last prayer letter in November and even since my shorter, condensed update included in the card I sent at Christmas.
I am saddened to share with you at the start of this letter that the divorce was finalised at the end of January. This has had an understandable profound effect on both myself and the girls as we all come to terms with what this actually means for us, both as individuals, and as a family. In my last letter I asked for prayer for the impending financial hearing. I am grateful for your prayers as the build up to the hearing, and the hearing itself, were very traumatic for us all. Thankfully a settlement was reached in one court hearing and now, with the divorce finalised, I am no longer at the mercy of the court systems or waiting for yet another letter from my solicitor. The whole process took up a huge amount of time and energy and, though there is a sense of relief that it is now over, I am now even more aware of the huge responsibility involved in looking after the girls on my own.
As a direct consequence of the emotional and physical exhaustion caused by September through to December, I decided not to go on placement in January-February, as is usual for third year students, and took the term as study leave instead. My intention was to work on my dissertation and, though I haven't got quite as far with my studies as I would have liked, it has been good to take time to recuperate and it also meant that when the divorce was finalised that I was more able to deal with its inevitable impact.
I have decided to do my placement later in the year after the academic year has finished in June. I will be splitting my placement and will spend part of the time here in Gloucester working in a school exclusion centre, and part in Lima, Peru, working with some friends who trained at Redcliffe a couple of years ago. My family will be looking after the girls while I travel and I am grateful for their help in facilitating this part of my placement. I am very excited about my placement as it brings the opportunity to develop my skills and confidence in many different areas - not least travelling half-way around the world on my own for the first time!
I am now two weeks into Term 4 of the college year and am studying a course on Leadership. This module is assessed by an exam and an essay - so I have that to look forward to in the coming weeks. In Term 5 I will be taking a course on Spirituality in preparation for a module in September entitled 'The Art of Christian Soul Care and Companionship' which I am really looking forward to. I will be endeavouring to continue to work on my dissertation in the coming weeks.
I am pleased that I can share with you that, despite everything, I achieved the equivalent of 2:1 results for the assessments that I did last term. This is a source of absolute amazement to me and I know I have achieved this because of God's hand and sustaining love, and because of your prayers - so thank you!
Unfortunately, the girls are still finding contact with their father difficult. Please pray for them and their relationship with him and as they continue to deal with their ongoing feelings and emotions about the breakdown of the marriage. They are also having to come to terms with the announcement that their father now has a new partner.
During the past year or so I've channelled my creativity through music, words and art as a way of dealing with the stress I've been going through. I happened to share some of my artwork with the pastoral chaplain during a catch up meeting at Bristol Baptist College and she expressed an interest in exhibiting my art at the college. My work is now on display at the college until the summer and the college are also selling greetings cards and postcards of the images. I now have my own website: www.mosaicreations.co.uk Please get in contact via the website if you're interested in purchasing anything.
We were very blessed again to be offered the privilege of another break in Devon in February half-term. Despite travel problems on the way there that meant that the 2 ½ hour journey took 8½ hours(!), we had a lovely time and were able to come back and start the new term much more relaxed!
Since January I have shared my testimony about how God has brought me through this difficult time, firstly at our church, and then during devotions at college. God has really used what I prepared to speak to those who were there at the two different occasions, and I feel it is a real privilege to share with others about my journey so far and how I have been brought through by the grace of God.
We continue to thank God for your love, support and prayers. It is so important to us to know that others lift us and our concerns before our Heavenly Father - the One who has promised to hold us in His everlasting arms. We pray for you too and hope that you will experience a deeper sense of His presence in the days ahead.
God bless,
Ali, Bex, Abi and Beth
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For those who pray:
Give thanks:
for God’s sustaining grace that has brought us through an intensely difficult time.
that the financial hearing is now over
that Abi has settled into her new secondary school and has made some good friends
that Bex has had good results so far from her GCSE studies
that Beth continues to enjoy school and being with her friends
that God is using my art work to bless others
for my success in my coursework last term despite the circumstances
Please pray:
for me with regard to my impending Leadership exam, as it is coming up to 20 years since I wrote an essay under exam conditions!
that God will continue to use my art to touch others
that the girls relationship with their father will improve
for the preparations for my placements later in the year and particularly for my time in Peru
for the four of us, as a family, as we move forward with God
a number of hours each day, most notably every evening from 8.30-10.45pm(!), and I didn't want to compromise the girls, or our time away, but I felt this was a God-given opportunity to have a lot of people see my work. I'm currently trying to organise everything I need to take with me...! This is an exciting opportunity - please pray that the whole experience will be a positive one and again, that people will be blessed by my pictures and the other art on display.