the Otter's Pool - web home of Ady Gould -

In this time we lost, and gained many members. The fellowship peaked at about 40 people, with many children attending. The remarkable thing was that people came just by word of mouth, and being drawn to us.

One member who made a big impression upon me was Mike. He had lost one arm in an accident, and had it replaced with a "hook". We never saw him much, but when he came, you knew he was with God.

When Mike was tragically killed, I was devastated. He was like a brother, one who had seen the world, and had come beyond it.

I remember the last time I saw him because I now realise I saw Christ in his eyes and face. He was at peace with himself, and with the world. The sort of peace that only comes from God. He was smiling, like he knew what was to happen, but was not in the least scared. I thank God for this man who showed it was possible to be full of faith in a place that took him to the depths of trial, and the heights of joy.

It is interesting that as I write this piece, God keeps bringing to my memory events that happened to me during my spiritual life. One important vision that he gave me in a service was overwhelming. I now sit and close my eyes, and see it with as much clarity as I did then.

Some say that God does not minister that way, but I offer to you the scene he painted in front of my eyes.

God showed me an area, the area was surrounded on all four sides by columns, columns that had no top, and where of perfect white marble.

The bases were ornately decorated and each column stood with at least twelve feet between them. There were too many columns to count, as the room just travelled as far as I could see, yet I could see clouds a the base of what was to be the throne of God.

As I stood in the middle of the room, I heard music playing, and felt the need to dance. The Spirit took me and let me dance with all my heart before the Lord.

After a time, the music faded, and I stopped my dace of worship. When I reopened my eyes, it seemed that all the saints and the heavenly host were watching, as Christ came forward and took my hand saying, "Child, you are mine, and I love you. Now come and sit at my feet."

I followed the Lord as he led me to his seat at the Right Hand of God. Christ had me sit by his feet. We then watched as the saints and the heavenly host came into the room, and praised God for his mercy and his love. All of heaven praised his name "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty."

I still find this vision uplifting. Yet again God was telling me he approved of me, and who I am.

My time with Adullam was one of my best, spiritually. The fellowship taught me heaps, and it enabled me to take the next step onwards in my growth. It was a decision that was partially forced upon me upon my return from the UK one year.

In the months before the trip to the UK, I was to get online to the internet for the first time in about 6 years. This gave me the opportunity to explore areas of my personality, and to develop new skills. The skills that God gave me. He blessed me with making new friends around the world, and in addition, He also blessed me with the patience, and the ability to listen, and to encourage, people around the globe via the net.

It was during this time I became increasingly aware, that despite all I was praying, and all that God was doing in my life, that a hole was in my life. A hole that God was not filling, because He had other plans. He wanted me to feel a yearning. Or as they call it in Wales, hiraeth.