Steinbach Bible Institute - Star Yearbook (Steinbach, Manitoba Canada)

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Upper half — Our musical ability, Lower half

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30 STEINBACH BIBLE ACADEMY YEAR BOOK r Uo.lunta uf Service “For the love of Christ constraineth us . . II Cor. 5:14. “I realize that you have applied for summer relief work at Ninette, but a telegram has just come from the Brandon Hospital for Mental Diseases, informing us that they are in dire need of a group of ward aides, to begin work immediately.” This from Mr. Loewen our M.C.C. leader for Western Canada. Would we be willing to go? “Yes, we will go!” What passed through our minds during the time be¬ tween the question and our reply, might take too much space to relate. Suffice it to say that we humbly asked the Lord for guidance in our decisions, committing ourselves into His loving care. Seventeen Christian young people, re¬ presenting four Canadian provinces, made up the M.C.C. unit at Brandon. Of this group Ramona Loewen, Adeline Reimer and myself are from the Academy. During our first days on the wards, we were completely overwhelmed by the sad plight of over one thousand six hund¬ red mental patients. We were faced with a challenge, a real responsibility, but al¬ so a precious privilege. The horror, delusions and misconcep¬ tions which are so real in the nightmare- existence of a mental patient constitute a challenge that cannot be ignored — a challenge for us Christians to be that testimony to those round about us outside of Christ that will win them to the Sav¬ iour. For He alone can give us peace and calmness of soul and mind in this mad, rushing world of today. Is it possible that we as Christians are largely to blame for these broken lives? In our daily contacts with the patients it was plainly evident that in many cases they had become un¬ balanced mentally, due to misapplications and misinterpretations of the Scriptures. Then, also, in some instances, the destruc¬ tive and perversive influence of false cults had done its work in the minds of the uneducated, causing utter confusion. Never before had we been challenged in such a real way to study and “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you ...” I Peter 3:15. We felt a keen sense of responsibility towards the staff as well as towards the patients. A person who is working side by side with you from day to day is quick to perceive where you stand and what your convictions are, judging not only by your words but by your deeds. We realized anew our responsibility to be true repre¬ sentatives of Christ. It was a sweet privilege to he the means of bringing a ray of hope and cheer to the hearts of discouraged patients. There is so pathetically little to contribute to¬ wards a semblance of enjoyment for those who are in a position to appreciate it. They are starving for love. We were more than rewarded for our meagre efforts when, with tears in their eyes they would thank us for our service to them. The unit life at Brandon afforded amp¬ le and interesting opportunities for ex¬ pression in the devotional, educational, literary and social phases. Never a dull moment did we spend in our off-hours, thanks to the ingenuity of the members of the four committees who provided us with spiritual, mental, and physical ac¬ tivities. We had a wide choice of meeting plac¬ es for our various get-togethers — sur¬ rounding the magnificent nurses’ home are most beautiful lawns, groves of trees, and flower-bordered lanes. Our favorite picnic spot was the spring, about a half- mile walk over hills and across fields. On rainy nights we would gather in the spa¬ cious, luxuriously furnished living room of the nurses residence for sing-songs and talk-fests. Our gatherings for prayer and devotion which we held in the chapel of the hospi¬ tal are looked back upon as times of real blessing and strength which we could not do without in our duties as ward aides and attendants. Our prayer is that our summer’s work at the B. M. H. will have been of benefit to the patients and that our Lord may have been honored and glorified. Evelina Reimer. deceit “Es lautet”! in the “Grammatic” hour. There’s a closing of books and a shuff¬ ling of feet, then a dash through the door to our coats. ‘Are you taking overshoes? — What answer did you have for No. 4? —- Oh! it’s nice out, come on ‘Time’s Money’.” Soon the gossip fades to quiet whispers of those delicate ladies. Our aim outside is to get that volley ball, with nothing in it, over the net. This is sometimes done in a queer way. The ball, if you can call it a ball, is tossed about from one eager player to another, sometimes over the sagging net to the other side but more often it flops to earth on the player’s side. Oh! Oh! someone is passing fudge un¬ der the net but soon the empty paper bag flutters to the ground. Slippery as it may be and in the snow¬ iest weather there is still the volley ball that is flying high in the sky or down to earth at recess. Mary Reimer.

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