FAVORITE BOOKS
The Holy Bible
Lee Strobel - The Case for Christ
Tom Varney’s - Gutter to Glory
Francine Rivers – Trilogy: Sin Eater, Scarlet Thread, Leotta’s Garden
Corrie ten Boom – The Hiding Place
Nicky Cruz – Run Baby Run
Gary Chapman – The Five Love Languages
FAVORITE HYMNS & SONGS
I love Country Music and the old classic 50’s and 60’s
The Prayer - Andre Bocelli & Celine Dion
Who you say I am - Hillsong
Faith without borders (Where my feet may fail) - Hillsong
And can it be – Charles Wesley
Trust and Obey – JH Sammis
God will make a way – Don Moen
In Christ Alone – Stuart Townend
You raise me up – Josh Groban
FAVOUITE BIBLE VERSES
Proverbs 3:5-7
Galatians 5:22-25
FAVORITE FOODS
Veal Scallopini, Roast, Cream sponge
BEST HOLIDAYS
1985 holiday with all the family to Lindeman Island (except Geoff who was playing football for Maine Qld)
The Holy Land
Italy
Tasmania
Caravan holidays
Harrietville Victoria, Australia
Visits to Qld to see our family
Peninsular Beach Resort, Mooloolaba, Qld
FAVORITE COLORS
Pink & Blue
FAVORITE PAST TIMES
Scrapbooking: I have scrapbooked 21st photo albums for each of the grandchildren
Gardening, Watching old classic movies
MY PASSIONS
My family
Happy Marriages
Seeing people come to know Jesus
FAVORITE QUOTES
Scars remind us of where we’ve been, they don’t have to dictate where we’re going - Criminal Minds
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Forgiven, redeemed, set free to serve Jesus her King, Helen, married to Wally for 62 years in November 2021, has five children (one deceased), 13 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren with two more on the way. Helen’s childhood was marred by sadness and insecurity. Growing up with siblings much older than her she felt insignificant and didn’t feel connected to her family which left her feeling unloved. School was not a happy experience, and as she grew happiness and success seemed to elude her.
Her childhood years were spent in the country town of Drouin. When she was 10 years old the family moved to a farm in Springvale North. Her rebellious teenage years resulted in a pregnancy and the adoption of her first child. Pregnant again, she married her beloved Wally. Helen’s father built them a home on a block of land, part of the family farm which had been sold for subdivision. They lived there for 47 years.
Helen trained as an Office Clerk and worked as a Receptionist. She also worked for a time in Sales.
In 1976, at the age of 32, Helen became a Christian. This led to growth and maturity in many areas of her life, and leadership in the church. In 1993 she was inducted as Associate Pastor of Doveton Baptist Church where she ministered for six and a half years.
In 1988 Helen was reunited with the daughter she relinquished at birth. It was a challenge at first but had the pleasure of growing a relationship with Jan and her family which continues to today.
In 2007 Helen and Wally retired to a place where the suburbs meet the country, close to the Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia. It is an area rich in vineyards and magnificent mountainous scenery. Helen first attended the local Vineyard Church for 10 years then made the move to Discovery Church, Mount Evelyn. Helen leads a Home group where they study KYB (Know Your Bible). Loving this time of preparation and study in the Word, it brings her to a place of worship and awe for God’s great love for His people and the relevance of his Word for today.
ABOUT THE BOOK
“Up out of Egypt” is a personal story, an autobiography which tells of a troubled teenager, looking for love in all the wrong places. Helen was a rebellious girl, who, from the age of 12, was searching for acceptance. This resulted in a pregnancy at the age of 14 and the adoption of that child. The story tells of the heartbreak of giving up her baby and the continued search for love to fill her empty arms. Pregnant again at 15, and married at 16, the struggle now moves to teenage marriage and the birth of three children in three years. It also tells of new life in Christ at 32 and how He taught Helen to develop a loving, successful marriage, to override her insecurities and believe that God would enable her to all He called her to do.
Throughout the story there is a thread which holds together the story of adoption, the search for the adoptee to find her birth mother, her success and the ultimate outcome of that relationship.
It is the story of letting go the painful past and looking forward to a new tomorrow.
Up out of Egypt reveals God’s Grace, forgiveness, redemption and reconciliation. It is a story of His redeeming love.
This story will be one of hope and encouragement to the reader in many areas of their lives, i.e. the teenage years, marriage, depression, grief, for those seeking Christ, parents who have family members who have gone astray, and those who have experienced adoption.
ENDORSEMENTS
I found Up Out of Egypt an uplifting and beautiful story. It shows how God’s amazing grace can bring beauty from the ashes. It would help to provide hope and belief to anyone. Jenny Born
Helen's life certainly reminds us that God is faithful, and that God is constantly dispensing tenderness and patience to His children.
Over and over again we see God's gentle nudging to adjust Helen's weaknesses, or His generous interventions to redeem her failures. Helen has persevered through all her challenges, continually discovering more of this wonderful God, and always ready to share her gratitude and joy with others. Morag Zwartz Author
11th century writer, Omar Khayyam, states the obvious, “The moving finger writes, and having writ, moves on . . .” These words are still true today in regard to the vagaries of daily living . . . Sometimes pleasing and exciting; often mundane and dutiful; sometimes positive; ofttimes regretfully negative; roller-coaster learning curves; and pleasurable, deeply satisfying events which make up our daily existence. But all of these occurrences, good and bad, are inexorably writing each person’s indelible history in every moment. The remainder of Khayyam’s verse is a stark reminder that we cannot turn back the clock and make changes. (Nor all your piety nor wit, shall lure it back to cancel half a line, nor all your tears wash out a word of it.) But the life-story contained in “Up out of Egypt” provides reassuring evidence that, ultimately, all things can work together for good.
In her autobiographical book, Helen Marsh has reached back – both carefully and sometimes painfully, into her own history and, with remarkable frankness and honesty, displays how those 25,000 days (approximately) have shaped and moulded her into the person she is today. Having known both Walter and Helen for many years, I hold them both in the highest esteem as being two of the best people I could possibly be proud to name as my friends. Helen’s forthright account of her childhood and then their life together serves not only as a historical record for their own descendants, but also touches a reminiscent nerve of how all our lives have traversed the social and personal progress of Australians from the past century to the present time – often turning “ordinary” people into extraordinary examples for others to admire and emulate. However, Helen’s story stands apart from a purely historical re-enactment, because she shares her discoveries and deep joy at how God has worked in every aspect of her life. This book will serve as a sentimental (and familiar) journey for some, as a salutary warning for others to be careful in their seemingly small choices, but for all, as a sincere testimony to what God can do through a person who is absolutely certain and secure in God’s love, plans and purposes for her.
Lynne Dickson April, 2013
RESPONSES
Oh Helen!
I teared up just reading the introductory to the book! How wonderful! How brave! How magnificent you are to share your story to give people hope that no matter what they have done, there is a loving and gracious God just waiting for them so He can wipe the slate clean.
I will certainly buy it and read it with much love and fond memories of a beautiful friend that I met as a child and then again as an adult.
I have always dreamed of writing a book and pray that one day I may receive guidance from you!
Much love, Vivienne
Hey Ma,
Wow, that was amazing! . . . What great memories and what a beautiful way to be brought up. I have an amazing family and (I am) so grateful . . . You have done an amazing job! . . . Can’t wait to get the book. Well done Ma!
I love you so much
Brett xxx Our son, after reading his part of the story
(now deceased)