Many myths surround the origins of Valentines Day which is now an annual holiday celebrated across the globe, though nowhere is it a public holiday.
However the most interesting legend and one of the oldest asserts that St Valentine was a Christian presbyter who once conducted marriages for soldiers
and their lovers, so that they could maintain their vows to God. As the story goes he also provided care and assistance to desperate persecuted
Christians during the Roman era.
In keeping with this theme – the care towards the persecuted Christians not the marrying of soldiers of course – we planned to distribute flowers to
all the persecuted women we are helping and our women officers too. Not that we felt this celebration was essential for our faith or held any
Christian value per se but because we felt we could use the established celebration as an opportunity to bring some joy to those in our care whilst
sharing Christian love.
Farzana holds her flowers she is still working hard on a stitching course and hopes soon to start a business of her own.
Sherish is now married and can be seen with her husband who she married just a month ago.
Amber Saroya our latest officer was given her first valentines flowers.
Flowers were also recieved by Mehwish Bhatti our lead officer in Pakistan.