Kansas City National Training School - Shield Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

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them of this gladness found a place in my heart. These words came to me, Freely ye have received, freely give. God Leads-How was I to give to others? The years slipped by. Then away from my mountain home I traveled, to dwell beneath the sunny sky of the Sun- flower Statef' Soon I found myself facing three roads. Which should I take? Looking down the one to the right, I seemed to see a picture of a good position, and a large bank account. Reluctantly, I turned to the left and saw a long road leading far to the westg but the end I could not see. Turning, I saw just before me, a beautiful white way and there stood a guide, a lady dressed in black with white collar and cuffs, and a black bonnet with white ties. She explained many things to me that had long been perplexing. So once again I journeyed and soon reached the open door of the home that is so dear to each girl-K. C. N. T. S. Above its door I seemed to see these words, Not I but Christ. As I entered there came to me the con- sciousness of a new happiness and a new joy, for now it was my privilege to train for Service. M. W. M. After I had finished my training for the nursing profession, the thought that I could serve my Master as well in my profession as I could by .giving myself for definite Christian service kept COI'l'l1I1g to me. But there was always an unsatisfied longing. I loved my profession, especially, after I took up my work as a visiting nurse. Those little Austrians, Lithuanians and Croatians became such a part of my life that sometimes I felt I could not give up my work among them, even though I knew that I might be called to a similar task, after I had finished my spe- cial training. Pale 80 Some of my friends did not understand. They wondered why I felt that I could do a bigger and bet- ter work for God and humanity, by taking the train- ing at K. C. N. T. S., when I had already prepared for nursing. But I was thinking of the many, many lives which God may heal, through me, both physically and spirit- ually. There is such a need for medical workers in both home and foreign lands and it makes me so glad to know that it may be my privilege to fill one of these needy fields. May He have His way in my life. R. McD. The cry of preparedness sounds from every busi- ness college, from every professional college and from every school that helps its students to meet life. Pre- pare! For what? For anything you want to do. If you would be a teacher--prepare, a doctor-prepare, 2. stenographer-prepare, a home-keeper-prepare. I was already a teacher and yet wished I could do more for Christ. I thought if I could only do some- thing outside of school hours or during vacation I would be satisfied. But I wasn't. Over and over came the thought, Christ's work cannot be a side issue. I realized if I were to make it my life work, I must know how to do it efficiently. Again I heard the cry, Prepare! What a new meaning it had! If I were to be a partner in the King's Business, I must study to show myself approved unto God, a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed. The result--three happy years at K. S. It is not necessary to see the end from the begin- ning, for the life that has chosen to leave its guidance

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mlm El Glamr in li. 01. N. Gi. Ev. It was while attending Epworth League institute, I realized I was not doing all that I should for my Master, and with the realization, I made a decision to prepare myself for definite Christian service. With the knowledge of God's call and the decision made, the next step was to go some place where I could prepare for better service. The way opened so wonderfully for me to come to K. C. N. T. S. and I have been so happy since being here. M S The Vision Splendid! Yes, it was a vision that gave me insight to the needs of the world and a long- ing that I might be used to help bring in the Kingdom of Righteousness. There was nothing miraculgus about it, however. It was but a gradual working of the Spirit. It came about in this manner: Through the Winsome Christ-filled personality of a friend, the leader of our Epworth League, I was led to see my lack of Christian service and to know God, the Father, in a more vital way. Through Bible and Mis- sion Study classes, the dire need of folks everywhere, without Christ, came to me with deep conviction, and through Epworth League activities, I experienced real service and longed for more. I was a business girl and enjoyed my work but was not satisfied. Why? Because the vision of the need, together with the love God had placed in my heart, were deepening and ever luring me on to give of myself. It was at an Epworth League Institute that I said, Yes, Lord, Here am I, send me. And the vision? It is all the more potent, because I am n0W Preparing for greater usefulness. E. R. One day after a conversation with a friend, she suggested that deaconess work would be fine for me' but I answered that I was needed at home and did not think much about it. Several years afterward I listened to an evan- gelist preach from this text: He that loves father or mother, brother or sister, more than me is not worthy of me. The sermon. was forgotten, but a voice that spoke only to me said: Be a Deaconess. Then I made other excuses, but took a correspondence course in Bible work while I tried to make Sure 1 was not mistaken. One Sunday morning almost four years afterward the pastor called for volunteers for service. I sudden- ly found myself going over events and to my surprise realized that every obstacle had disappeared. I prom- ised God that morning that I would commence train- ing the next September, and I did. Satisfied? Yes. M. L. God Speaks-Far, far from our dear K. C. N. T. S., in a little country ChU1'Ch, I heard God's voice. It was revealed to me throughfche ministry of one who had a vision for greater service. There came to me and within me, a deeper experience of God's love. God Calls-As the joy and happiness of my new experience grew, a desire to help others and to tell P818 79

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in God's hand is willing to enter the door of greatest opportunity. My purpose, since a child, has been to work among the poor. Every opportunity which came my way was unconsciously measured by its relation to that purpose, which I kept in the most secret place in my own heart. I responded to the appeal to Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousnessng and have trusted in the promise that All of these things shall be added unto you. Opportunities for education were delayed but with them came a desire to specialize in Public Health Nursing. When just on the point of entering a three year course of nursing, I attended an Epworth League In- stitute, where I decided to come to K. C. N. T. S. Now, in my second year, I am doing' the kind of work I have always longed to do-Christian Social Service, and I owe it to those who have made K. C. N. T. S. possible and to the willingness to enter an open door-the door of greatest opportun1ty.M L I had not planned to come to K. C. T. S. as had many of the girls here, for I knew little about the Training School until 1920, my senior year in High School. We were discussing future plans and ambitions... just what we wanted our lives to count for in the world. The majority of the class were looking for- ward to careers, believing a specialized vocation neces- sary in this day and age. I desired my work to be such that it would best serve the Master and others, but I did not hear Him calling me into any of the voca- tions for which my friends were preparing. However, at the Epworth League Institute, the need for efficient Christian workers was put so force- fully that I realized the wonderful opportunities which come to those trained for Christian service. And there came to me a conviction that this was the work Christ would have me do. I knew that I must receive training for such work and it was suggested that K. C. N. T. S. offered just the course I needed. To me, there is nothing unusual about this. I think it is very natural that a girl should prefer her life work to be of a definite Christian character. For, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and wlth all thy mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second like unto it is this, Thou shall love thy neighbor as thy- self. i V. C. Page SL