Gladys at the BI 1966 Jubilee reunion in 2016 with fellow student Hedley SteadI only spent one year at BI as I had already done one years study at Glenvar, the AEB Bible College.   BI recognised this and so I graduated with a full diploma after completing one year.   It was a wonderful experience and was a grounding for life.

After leaving BI I spent a year in the YWCA and another year at Hamenskraal Mission Hospital. For various reasons those years were really tough. While working in the YWCA in Pietermaritzburg I was involved in the bookkeeping. The YWCA auditor then invited me to join his firm so I ended up back in the secular work place.   I studied through Unisa and obtained a BCompt. Honours Degree then passed the Chartered Accountant SA Board exam.

At the time I qualified as a CA it was a very male dominated profession. After much prayer and very much a step out in faith, I opened my own practice. This was some 35 years ago – on average I took on one new client a week and increased the staff by one person each year!   My office was always a place of counselling – I had a greater ministry there than I had in full time service! This practice was sold when it grew to big to handle on my own. Since then have maintained a small client base and worked from home.

I now live in a very special retirement village in Howick called Amber Valley.   There are over 1000 units in the “Greater Ambers”, we enjoy wonderful sports and entertainment facilities including an auditorium which seats about 400. We have our own game ( buck, warthog, zebra etc.) which makes for interesting gardening, as each species enjoys different plants. The activities available are amazing and cover a wide variety of interests, from early morning bird walks, to Quiz evenings.

I have lead a Bible Study Group for many years, wherever I have been. I now attend the Presbyterian Church here in Howick.

Amber Valley is a Mission Field. It is hard to believe that people can reach our age and have no place for God in their lives. The salt of Christian witness is much needed.

Kind regards

Gladys Ford