What do you do when it rains? You jump in the puddles!

Hiya everyone! I am sending a smile to each of you from Buxton, England! I arrived in Buxton in late August and was met by a very chilly air and lots of rain. Thankfully, I quickly met a three year old who helped to put Buxton's weather patterns in perspective for me. He happily explained that when it rains, you just jump in the puddles. I now carry a rain jacket everywhere I go and am starting to see the chilly air as "refreshing."

I will be spending the year volunteering at a women's refuge called Charis House. Charis House strives to be a Christian foundation for women who need a home. The house is an old hotel building, which is an ideal setting for a refuge. The staff work hard to help rooms look well-kept and each resident has an assigned kitchen space in addition to several lounges.

The refuge was founded by two women, Hazel and Debbie, whom I work closely with and admire so much. Their vision for the house is to maintain a Christian atmosphere by staffing those who practice the Christian faith. The women who live here are invited to join in with worship opportunities, but are not forced to participate. Residents are allowed to stay in the house for up to two years. I love the idea that the house is not just a place to spend a few weeks. It is a home to help re-develop a stable way of life, while creating a community to come back too.

The Bigger Picture
Over the years Charis House has expanded beyond just the house into Good News Family Care. GNFC consists of four main parts including The Farm, Community Support, Nursery, and Charis House.

The Farm is located a few miles just outside Buxton and is BEAUTIFUL! The farm serves as a volunteer opportunity for women living in the house to help care for the animals and gardens. Charis House is able to use the eggs produced to sell free-range eggs as part of their fund raising efforts. GNFC is hopeful that one day the farm project will be expanded to include a rehabilitation unit as well.

There are two staff who lead a community support team. These staff devote their time to minister to the women who have since left the house. In addition to providing lifestyle support, they help to coordinate fellowship opportunities with current residents in the house. The support team works to be the community that reminds these old residents they can always come back to the house for a cup of tea.

The nursery includes children up to six years of age who live in the house or in the Buxton community. I have recently started going with the three and four year olds to the Buxton pool once a week. I have only helped in this massive event twice, but I am sure that this will lead to further blog stories.

First Impressions
Charis house is full of life all the time. The beginning weeks where exhaustively full of figuring out names and finding my way around. After just one month, I have seen Rosie and her daughter move out after two years. I have held and marveled at a new baby girl named Jurmiah. There are always stories to be told from the house and I look forward to sharing some with you! Thanks to each of you for your prayers and continued support through letters and email.

Gods Peace!