As I sat down thinking over my life, I found my heart swelling with love and gratitude to God, my heavenly Father, for the wonderful things He has given me since the day I was born in a faraway country called Mizoram. I had a truly happy childhood there in northeast India, on the border with Burma.

 The Mizos are a people who find it hard to contain their joy and thankfulness for the way the Lord had rescued them from their old way of living. Full of fear, suffering and darkness they were fierce headhunters who caused havoc when they raided the English tea plantations. Today the country is Christian from the Government to the humblest worker, and they truly believe that they were rescued to bring the rest of the vast continent of India to Jesus Christ, and I am sure they will do it. The State is small but they have well over a thousand missionaries all over India. "From Headhunters to Soulhunters" is how they describe themselves. Thank you, Lord, for that very special influence on my early life!

God has blessed me with a wonderful husband and five grown up children, of  whom one is with the Lord. Two of them, and their families, are serving the Lord with all their hearts. We would not have had this amazing blessing if God had not intervened at the birth of each one, miraculously saving each one. Owain, our youngest, even made the front page of the Wrexham Leader thirty seven years ago: “Baby Owain survives 4 to 1 chance.” He is now a G.P and also serves the Lord, with his wife and family, as directors of Coleg y Bala, a Christian Centre for Youth and Children.

There is medical proof that my life has been saved from death at least three times. On each occasion I had amazing experiences of His love and peace encircling me, driving away all fear. I thank Him so much for that, and for all the other answers to prayer in my life.

In 1978, as part of a group led by Deaconess Linda Mary Evans of St. James’ Church, I was prayed for to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit - like on an Alpha Course - and my life took on a new dimension. I could describe it like being able to watch colour television when all we had known before was black and white. I felt so much closer to Jesus and was given a new love for the Bible and all people.

It has been so good being allowed to serve Him in many, many ways but particularly so alongside David as he led Oasis Church Wrecsam for seven years. Sharing God’s love with so many needy people was such a privilege, especially the youth and children, and also in the schools where I taught. These are just the bare bones of why my life is so full of gratitude.

Now, finally, I thank my wonderful Lord Jesus for leading David and me to join you in St. Johns. I do hope you all realise what a wonderful Church you are - so loving, welcoming and accepting. We are both looking forward to being confirmed on July15th and to many years of working together with you as we will try to bring the people of Wrecsam into a real and living relationship with God. I have loved Him all my life, but I met Him in a special way on Easter morning in 1955 as my Dad welcomed me into the Fellowship of the church he was pastoring in Liverpool. That morning, as I made Jesus my Lord and Saviour, I took the most important step I could ever make. He has been my best Friend ever since.

Mair Edwards