Wiveliscombe Evangelical Congregational Church

Then, secondly in February 08 just over a year after the stroke I had a fit. Very worrying for my wife, but really only a little annoying for me. In hospital again for a night and then discharged – told there was no further damage to my brain and that I may never have another fit, but always might.

So another year probably before the DVLA will let me drive again – quite rightly, I thank God I was not driving when either event occurred or I might have killed others as well as myself. Worse still I used to have a private pilot’s licence and could have been flying at the time.

Now what, step out trusting God all the way. He has kept me alive, he’s obviously got something he wants me to do. When I started my career I wanted to be a nerd programmer sitting in a cosy corner away from people, the Lord led me to become an IT trainer standing up in front of 20 people at a time, all around England, the Channel Islands, Ireland and Germany.

Our church has a great challenge; to use the new facility of the Silver Street Centre to God’s glory,  the expansion of his kingdom (that means more Wivey folk knowing Jesus and his love) and more friends to meet one day in heaven. Maybe I need to concentrate on this.

Rob a Personal Update

Since I wrote last, there have been some major events in my life.

Firstly in February 2007 I had a major stroke. At the age of 57 I was in hospital until April 2007. They regarded 57 as young for a stroke and I am recovering well. Initially I great difficult in swallowing without choking. I could not move my left arm or leg.  Thankfully I only have residual weakness in the left arm and leg and with altered sensation down the left hand side.

I thank the Lord for a swift recovery with splendid treatment by the doctors, nurses and carers in the Alfred Morris Unit of Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton. The stroke has made me re-evaluate the important things in life. I have decided to reduce my work and wife Jo and I have made the decision to downsize our house, moving, we hope, in the near future to a place not far from Wiveliscombe. This will ease the financial burden of running a large house, which in turn means, we not need to earn as much. Jo has changed jobs from floristry back to office work (which she last did many years ago). It will give her the opportunity to use the skills she learned obtaining her ECDL and hopefully give her a more relaxed Christmas and Easter. I am still deciding how to change my work from a self-employed IT consultant. I have tried to continue the business but this is not working out as I planned. I am also considering writing, something I have wanted to do for some five years, since I took a creative writing evening course. An opportunity has appeared in the form of publishing via the internet. So far I have earned £3.60 but that is a beginning. I get the belief that God wanted me to change my lifestyle and do something different. But I was so tied up in my work that it took an illness of this magnitude to make me change. My attempts to sidestep his encouragement by finding ways around it have proved futile, as you would expect. But, the experience has given me insight into the lives of those who suffer disability and has reminded me of the great hope Jesus has given us through his sacrifice. The stroke could have killed me. But like Jo said that would have been easy for me. I would have been instantly with my Saviour in a far better place, no pain, only joy and a perfect body! Those left behind to live without me  would have been the ones who suffered, so she is glad the Lord spared me. I live knowing that our times are in his hands and what capable, loving hands they are. Since February 2007 I have had a year of improving health even going to the gym regularly.