Dear Rachael

I want to thank you for writing your blog post ‘How to feel rich (when the world insists you’re not)’. I loved it when I read it the first time round. I loved it the second and the third. I particularly loved the section about living somewhere that takes your breath away. At the time of reading that’s what my heart longed for: to live by the sea. ‘I’d love to move away to the coast and live a simple life’ I thought. ‘But Sam would never go for it’. Fast forward 4/5 months and here we are, in Aberystwyth; by the sea in a cottage in the countryside with no internet or TV – can’t get much simpler than that!

A couple of months ago, the Lord lead Sam and I to make a risky decision, one that required us to have complete faith and trust in Him. We gave up our life in Cardiff to move to Aberystwyth; our jobs, our home, our families and friends. At that time we had no jobs to go to and no home to live in. Despite this, we knew it was the right thing to do. We had doubts, we had worries, we had excitement, we had joy. But most importantly, we had Jesus going before us, preparing the way.

The Lord provided us with a gorgeous cottage in the countryside just a 5 minute drive from the sea. He’s provided Sam with a job and me with the opportunity to pursue a big dream of mine. Sam and I also have the opportunity to grow in community with people He’s placed around us, something I’ve been praying and longing for, for some time.

I feel as though I have arrived home. Although I have lived in Cardiff all my life, the summers, the autumns and the springs spent at our caravan in Tresaith when I was growing up meant the seaside was my home. Whenever I faced difficulty in Cardiff, I wanted to escape to the sea, to Tresaith. By the sea is where my heart feels at home.

The biggest lesson I have learned in this whole process is to let go of my worries about money. I bring it up in conversation with Sam all the time. That was until one particular conversation where it hit me just how concerned I was that I started crying in the middle of the street. Sam’s encouragement, your post and the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:25-34 MSG version, help me to realise what’s important as well as knowing Jesus provides all I need.

So, I just wanted to say thank you because your words in that post has played a big part and has been a huge encouragement to me in the decision to move. I am looking forward to many trips to the sea, reading plenty of books and ‘In the Moment’ magazines (due to lack of internet and TV) and mostly pursuing my big dream.

God Bless,

Bethan x

 

(Rachael is a photographer based in the Gower, Swansea and can be found at https://www.ourbeautifuladventure.co.uk/blog/ . Instagram account is: ourbeautiful_adventure )