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February 2019 February 2019
details relating to how they will establish a community liaison committee, to meet in 1961. Over the following years God led them, as a couple, through a number
twice a year, for approval in writing by the Waste Planning Authority. The details of of God-arranged circumstances which eventually brought them to Dorset, to
the community liaison committee will be implemented in full for the lifetime of Whatcombe House, Winterborne Whitechurch, which was an Anglican
development. Community and Conference centre. While there they were introduced to the
Congregational Church at Bere Regis. When the then pastor, Pat Kellard, left the
Nine members of the public were present and they offered their thoughts and pastorate in 1980 the church called Ray to be their pastor. He was ordained and
opinions during public participation. Strong dissatisfaction was expressed about took up his ministry, which lasted until 2001.
the response by Highways that they had no objection to the application.
Although Ray will be much missed, we rejoice that he is now free from pain and
Following a lengthy discussion Officers agreed to consider a number of points with His Saviour, whom he has served faithfully for over sixty years.
made and respond to the Parish Council in time for its next meeting. This response
was received and discussed at the January meeting.
God Used My Tragedy by Duane Miller, a Canadian pastor.
The Parish Council welcomed the proposals made by Mike Garrity and based on
the changes to the conditions now being proposed and new ones added, A day in July 1970, which should have been a fun day, turned into tragedy and
Councillors decided not to ask the County Councillor to refer the application to loss. Three good friends, two of whom were teenagers, as I was at the time,
the Regulatory Authority. drowned in a canoeing accident on Opeongo Lake, Algonquin Park, but
miraculously I survived. Ten years after the accident, I was again in Algonquin
In summary the changes to the proposed conditions are as follows: Park, leading the youth group from my church on a canoe trip. I had taken the
students to the exact spot of the accident, and I told them about God’s amazing
1. Delivery hours reduced from 9-5pm to 9-4pm.
ability to use a tragedy to change the lives of countless people – especially my
2. No change. own. I shared my struggle with grief and guilt as well as how I had wrestled with
God over hard questions. But I also told them how the Lord had brought healing
3. Source of waste condition to be extended to exported waste from the site. to my heart.
4. No change. On the last night of the trip we sat by the camp fire, laughing and fooling around.
But a long pause in the activity prompted me to ask them to share how the Lord
5. New condition to introduce a height/ depth bar on the slurry lagoon. This
had worked in their lives that week. One by one people began sharing their
will ensure that the lagoon is built in accordance with the approved plans. hearts: “This trip has opened my eyes to who God is and how much He loves
6. The Parish Council had argued for a one-way system to be a condition of me,” said one of the teens, who had received Jesus as his Saviour.
any grant of approval to the application. However, Councillors accepted that this One of the girls said, “I really needed this week to get alone with the Lord and to
could not be achieved based on planning legislation. Instead there is to be an think and pray about my future.” Another boy shared that he had been unable
informative note on the planning decision notice advising on the use of a one- to forget what I had told them about the accident. “It caused me to realise how
way routing scheme together with a reference to liaison meetings to provide a serious this all is, and that I have been wasting my life by not surrendering to the
useful mechanism for monitoring adherence to this.
Lord. Beginning right now that is all going to change.”
It is expected that this application will be determined before the end of January. Well over two hours later, and long after the sun had set, I walked down to the
beach to have a few moments of quiet with the Lord. Several others joined me,
This has been a challenging application and one which has taken many months.
The above detail represents a short summary of the results of many meetings and we stood in silence looking out over the water at one of the most
including site visits. If anyone has any questions or would like further details then spectacular sights I had ever seen. There was no moon, no clouds, and
please contact a Parish Councillor. The Chairman can be contacted on 01929 absolutely breeze. I felt as if I was standing on the edge of space gazing at the
471375 or sue.jones@silversands.co.uk universe. The water, smooth as glass, perfectly reflected the stars. Several of us
grabbed our life jackets and paddles and climbed into canoes, setting out onto

the water.
Affpuddle Finger Post As we drifted, I felt as if I was floating in outer space. Everywhere I looked I saw
stars. As I attempted to take all this in, the peace and presence of God filled my
The new finger post at Affpuddle Crossroads is now complete. Councillors have
heart, and I became overwhelmed by the realisation that the God, who had

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