Trina

Trina – serves at Restore Community Church (Loughton) and iNet Trust (South London)

I can’t believe it is 5 years since I moved into my house with Mission Housing’s help!  What an incredible blessing it has been to me and to others during this time; a gift from God who really does care about and provide for us.

Apart from using my house for missions meetings, meals, and endless chats over coffee, I have hosted two people for short periods at different times, both of whom needed accommodation for a short spell.   Having the space and being able to use my home like this has been wonderful.  My home is a gift to me but I want it to be a gift for others too.

It is also perfectly placed for getting to know some of my neighbours from Ukraine, Hong Kong and Bulgaria – as well as the UK ones of course!  My heart has always been for creating and strengthening community. There is a beauty in doing life together that we sometimes miss because our lives are so very busy at times.  Stopping to sit down with a neighbour and to have a chat with somebody who needs to be encouraged and listened to is something I love to do.

The last few years have been very full in spite of the pandemic.  I have particularly enjoyed working with and training young people from a range of London churches that I am connected with through my work at iNet Trust.  I have also been involved in working with the iNet Summer teams that have served at Restore Community Church. I long to see this next generation step into all that God has for them and to see them journey with Him. 

In Loughton, much of my time has been spent managing the Community Centre run by Restore Community Church although my role has changed completely now and I shall be serving much more pastorally in this next season as well as looking to build relationships with local young people in different contexts.  Holiday clubs, mentoring, a voluntary counselling placement with a local Christian charity that supports young people – life has been full and varied with lots of colour!   I have really enjoyed running a youth club for 8 – 12 year olds from a local estate and getting to know them and their families; becoming friends with some of the children’s mums, has been an added bonus, and we do coffee together and take our dogs for a walk when we can.  My heart is to build real and healthy relationships in my community that will show people who Jesus is and how much he loves us.  I am also doing some preaching and teaching again after a season of illness last year which made many things difficult.

In many ways, I am entering into a new season now which is exciting.  I am looking forward to seeing what God will do next!