It was on April 1st, 2023, the last of a few ‘moving’ journeys that we headed finally for Bryn y groes. Deb was packed in with flowers, plants and other gifts from having finished in school the day before. Steve had started the transition at the beginning of March. We then had a week to unpack and prepare for our first residential, the Spring Theological Training Course (TTC): it felt like a whirlwind, as has all of this first year! Yet then, as now, we have so much to be thankful for as we reflect on our first year at Bryn y groes.
Gwydion and Catrin very kindly came to support us through the first two days of TTC. We both remember the feeling of complete inadequacy as they drove away: surely we were not now responsible for all this?! We continue to be so grateful for the patient and prayerful support they have given us, answering our what, when, where and how texts. The TTC guys were also very kind and generous to us, a good sign for those training for ministry!
Expect the unexpected
One thing we learned in over thirty years of education was to expect the unexpected. That was a helpful lesson as over this year there have been a few unexpected events. One of our first tests was the visit of the Food Hygiene and Safety inspector, about four weeks after we arrived. We were expecting Steve Webster, the EMW Health and Safety Officer, at the door. Never having seen Steve, Deb opened the door and warmly welcomed ‘Steve’ only to find out it was ‘John’, from Gwynedd Council, who had come to inspect the premises. Steve arrived five minutes later and so in the presence of Steve, Deb was grilled (no pun intended) on all aspects of the catering processes here. Thankfully good systems were already in place and being followed and we are so thankful to be maintaining a level 5 food hygiene rating at Bryn y groes.
Our next ‘event’ was the invasion of cows. Steve was carefully maintaining the good quality of the lawns, only to discover that we had had a visit from a local herd. Thankfully there was no real damage done, other than large areas of divots over the lawns. Well, a lot of soil was moved and holes were filled and thankfully we had no divot related accidents over the summer months!
The sewage blockage was another ‘event’ after the first week of camp, which saw Steve and Andy in the sewers with a wonderfully helpful local firm. Again all was sorted and nothing that a hose down, shower and disinfectant couldn’t cure for Steve and Andy!
Many of you will have been aware of the boiler issues. The old boiler had done almost forty years of good service but by the new year was able to give no more. After some chilly months and the very brave Mini Gwersyll managing with extra layers, we are so thankful to have new boilers installed and the Bryn y groes main house feeling warmer and with less output.
The blessings
This is just a snap shot of some of the more ‘dramatic’ incidents. We have been blessed beyond measure by the prayer support of family, church family and friends. We have also been humbled by the generous gifts, however large or small that people have given in response to need. These gifts have been time and prayer as well as money. What a blessing it is to see God’s generosity at work through people’s lives as they have volunteered to help!
We were blessed by the volunteers who came to help clean through the site in between each camp, some travelling over an hour each way to do so and the two men in their 70’s/80’s during one residential who wanted to help us to fill the cow divots, once a farmer, always a farmer! A lovely group from Rhuddlan came to help in the house and garden for a Saturday: our hearts burst with thankfulness for them all! Ann Davies at the Bala bookshop reminded us only this Sunday of seeing God in the small details. The boiler work was finishing on the Friday and we had a group in that evening. Unusually they were not arriving until 8pm and so were not having an evening meal. This allowed us to have a complete clean through of everything before the group arrived, again helped by friends from Bala Evangelical Church.
Mending nets
We have been encouraged by the diversity of groups that use Bryn y groes; people of varying ages, nationalities and backgrounds. It has been an enormous privilege to share in the blessing they receive when they come for fellowship and ministry here. Our prayer is that we are able to welcome, serve and facilitate a time of enjoyment and blessing whilst they stay with us. A dear American pastor who supports the work of Welsh-speaking ministries likened the work at Bryn y groes to mending nets. Sometimes those out on the fishing front line need time to come and pause and be refreshed; to mend the nets. What a privilege it is if by God’s grace, Bryn y groes and those who work and help here can be part of that!
We also pray that we will be ‘fishers of men’ as we are part of our little church and the town of Bala, who are patiently and good-naturedly bearing with our attempts to learn Welsh as we reach out into this Welsh-speaking community.
We are so thankful for the continued sacrifice of our family and for the prayer support and giving for the work at Bryn y groes. We are so thankful for those who work with us on a part time capacity: Bethan, Andy and Ruth along with Bala Church and other volunteers.
A year on we can testify to God’s goodness in so many ways. With lessons learned (and still being learned!) we can truly ‘praise him for all that is past and trust him for all that’s to come.’
