Hilda Iddiols was a women who gave a massive contribution to
my life. Born into a single parent family on the 6th story of a high
block of flats, I was a very troubled child. But there was an couple on the
estate in their 60’s called Bill and Hilda. Bill and Hilda were like tent pegs
to me and my mum. They provided a stability that we seriously lacked. Hilda
would often come round and spend a lot of time with my mum, helping her. She
would baby sit for me so that my Mum could sometimes get out of the flat. Me
and my Mum would go to Bill and Hilda’s and enjoy the calm there, and I would
happily stay there for hours.
Bill and Hilda were Christians, and you could tell it in the
way they lived their lives. I always felt safe when I was round their flat. But
Bill and Hilda were never patronising or condescending to us. They never treated us like we were
basket cases, they treated us as brothers and sisters in Christ. In fact Hilda
would often encourage me and my mum with how much she saw God working in our
lives. Hilda also acted like a mother to my Mum, and a grandmother to me. I
didn’t have grandparents, but I always took comfort in the fact that I had Bill
and Hilda.
One of the local churches had advised my Mum to put me up
for adoption, they warned her that I wouldn’t turn out good. Hilda took a
different approach, she prayed for me, and she involved me and my mum in her
life. I remember going with her to her sister Grace’s place
and being asked to read the Bible to them. I remember going to Richmond park
with them and just hanging out. I remember Hilda visiting my school plays etc.
I also remember having lots of conversations with Hilda
about Jesus. It was just natural to talk to her about God, and what he was
doing in our lives. She was our friend, and we all knew Jesus, and so we would
talk about him in every conversation.
Bill and Hilda were also a wonderful example of marriage. I
was so used to seeing them together that I would even confuse their names and
sometimes say, ‘Hill and Builda’. Until Hilda’s passing they were married for
70 years.
My mum says that she wonders how I would have turned out if
it weren’t for Hilda. Would the nay-sayers have been correct that my Mum should
have put me up for adoption? Would I be a Christian today? Would I have started
New Life Church on our estate? Would the Urban Ministry Program exist? Who knows, but I am confident that God put Hilda
in my life for many reasons, and that I have benefitted in so many ways.
Two years ago at age 96, I asked Hilda how she felt about
going to see Jesus soon. Her eyes brightened, and with a surge of energy and
happiness, she said, ‘I can’t wait!’ I myself can’t wait to meet her again in
heaven, where she is no longer in pain, and enjoying seeing Jesus face to face
every day.
Thank you God for Hilda.
