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

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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

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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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Q iliirnaihv EIT IS EVENING. Without-the sky is gray, snow flakes are fluttering softly, some falling lightly on my window ledge, others gently nestling around the roots of the trees and flowers to protect them from the bitter cold, and still others clinging to the branches. Within-I have my cozy room-and the fireplace! Fireplaces are so delightful and really very accommo- dating. Shadows dance upon the wall, playing tag, then running away, only to be replaced by others even more grotesque and fascinating. The soft' shadowy grayness and the warmth cast around, entice me' to the comfort of the easy chair in front of my 1Y1V1l31Hg fireplace. The day's work is done. Many things have been accomplished and in the flickering blaze, I llve agam the events of the day. As they pass before me, other pictures come and I am dreaming, dreaming of other days long since gone. Many years have passed since I was a senior in '21 and I live again with those who made it one of the best years of my life. I Ah! Who is this? Miss Neiderheiser, of course, the leader of the whole flock, always iI1'C61'eSted and ready to help. She's in the chapel-homiletics, to be sure. Those were such interesting and helpful times. Now I see her again and it's sewing class. Another picture-Miss Banman and Miss Pike, folding Kansas City Deaconessesf' in the office- quite a familiar scene. And there comes someone with a suitcase-no, there are several. Oh, yes, field work- ers, Misses Judy, Britt, Benedict, Tibbetts and Rigg. Page 82 ilianrira They come smiling, too. Maybe they have won more girls to service or had great success in some special meetings. Now, what do I see? Woods and birds and flow- ers. Why I might have known it-Miss Smith and her Nature Study Class. It must be something very interesting they have found. And over there on the hillside are some girls, with art boards in their laps- Ah, now I remember, the art class, and there is Miss Hutcheson helping first one and then another. And I see her again on the tennis court with one of her gym classes. What fun! what fun! How quickly these scenes come and go-too quickly! There are Mr. Morales and Mr. Bisceglia leaving after their Spanish and Italian classes are overg and Dr. Wright and Rev. Brown. My! such wonderful days as those were! Shall I ever forget Dr. Jeffrey? Ah, I see him, too, and he has the same mischievous look. I wonder if he ever forgot his glasses again! Another-Miss Hastings-and she is bandaging Miss Hobbs. That is fading now and I see others- girls coming from class rooms, and some one, a dea- coness, carrying a-what! yes, a parrot-ha! ha! ha! -now I know, it's Miss Wolfe with a toy parrot, made by some one in her Hand Work Class , and she has some doll furniture too-'Tis gone- How stupid of me to nod so-and the fire is low. Now fuel makes the sparks scamper up the chimney like wild elves and the comfort of my easy chair makes me think of Miss Curry, for she had such an inviting