Val

Val, who has lived all her life in Middlesbrough, shares her story and what she is discovering through Stepping Up.

My name is Val Oliver and I have lived all my life in Middlesbrough. I worked for 23 years as a machinist in a clothing factory and when it closed down I moved on to a car company producing parts for Nissan and Ford. After the death of my husband Tony I decided to retire. I have two dogs Gizmo and Olga and I spend a lot of time walking them on the beach or in the woods, which we love.

l attend the Church of the Ascension, Berwick Hills, where I have made many friends I go to prayer meetings were we can all get together to pray and discuss topics. I enjoy helping with church fetes and I was part of the Feast of Fun team, providing holiday activities and food for local children and families in the school holidays.

I decided to join the Mustard Seed programme to meet with other people who like me want to learn more about my faith. I have learnt that it's not just about praying but also about listening to God, listening to others and sharing our faith. I hope that as I progress I will understand more of what God wants me to do and be able to share faith with others.

Living on your own isn’t easy in lockdown, but when I go for walks with the dogs, I am becoming more aware of God with me.