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

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Clock-wise, beginning at top: Tina Wiebe Gladwin Plett . D.V.B.S. in the Weekes, and Kathleen Buhr teaching D.V.B.S. at Saskatchewan area. Mayfield. Anges Buhr taking part in a Street Meet- John Martens - Voluntary Service Unit, ing at Kamsack, Sask. Provincial Hospital, North Battleford. Evelina Reimer at the Sanitorium, The Pas. The Quartet - Gospel Meetings, Mikado, Jacob Dueck - D.V.B.S. at Kamsack, Sask. Sask. Elizabeth Reimer at the Sanitorium, The Inset: Henry Hiebert, Menno Hamm and Pas. Ben Friesen - D-V.B-S. at Mafeking, Man. 28

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ACTIVITIES

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North Battleford Last winter one of our teachers intro¬ duced the idea of students spending their summer months working in mental hospi¬ tals. As I prayed about it, I felt the Lord wanted me for this work. I sent in an application to the North Battleford Pro¬ vincial Hospital and was accepted several weeks later as a psychiatric aid. Some¬ time in the latter part of April I left for North Battleford, where I was greeted with friendly “Hellos” from the unit mem¬ bers and our M.C.C. representative, C. Wilbert Loewen who had come up for a few days from Steinbach, to get everything organized. The first few weeks of our stay, were somewhat formal; everyone seemed so modest. But later on we started to feel as one family. We did our cooking together and naturally the girls took the lead. The boys seemed to be bashful but not so when it came to eating. After meals, we did the dishes together. The boys also had some very good opportunities to “stir up the gift” in cooking. As a whole, I think it was a very valuable experience for all of us. The first thing upon my arrival was to get a medical check-up. I began to work on night duty. The first impression en¬ gendered to a certain extent, nervousness and fear, but this quickly disappeared as I became accustomed to the patients and surroundings. On nights there is very little to do, except to stay awake, which is more important than some may think. There are about sixty to eighty patients on each ward with the exception of a few wards from twenty-five to thirty patients. There are twelve wards for men, who are placed according to their mental ailments. The younger men are separated from the older men. Efforts are made to keep them oc¬ cupied and physically fit. Patients work in toy shops, shoe shops, in the barn and out in the fields. They also have other methods of curing them, as for example, the electric and insulin treatments. The work at the hospital is full of new experiences and sometimes unpleasant ones too. Moreover, there are many opportuni¬ ties to witness for Christ, to the staff and also patients. But most important is to live a consistent Christian life before them. However, discipline is a great necessity and has to be enforced. A good motto in this matter is “kind firmness” and “firm kindness.” On the whole, I have greatly enjoyed this work last summer. The Christian fellowship in the Unit was wonderful. We have had many blessed times together in prayer and meditation on God’s Word. The Lord truly rewarded me for this step of faith. I would like to urge fellow-students and Christians who want to go into full-time Christian service, especially as foreign missionaries, to engage in such work. It is a very worth¬ while experience and may prove to be a great value in later years. —John Martens The Last Week of Vacation Bible School After teaching D.V.B.S. for three weeks, after encountering friendly and indifferent districts, we were wondering just what the last week of school would hold for us. Early Monday morning the housetrailer, equipped with food and materials which were to be used in teaching, was hitched to the car. When boarding the car, we breathed a prayer, “Lord, thou hast a work for us. Prepare the field and prepare Thy servant for the task.” After travelling along the low roads, through the wooded country-side for about twenty miles, we entered the district which was to be our mission field for the next five days. When we reached our destination, no school was in sight! It had been claimed by fire about a week previous to our visit. We parked the housetrailer in a nearby vacant farm lot. The lovely outdoors and the trailer were to be our classrooms. Children jumped from the attic of a de¬ serted log building, tumbled from behind the bushes and hurried to welcome us. Some were anxious to tell us about an old well they had discovered. It was not long before we realized that these boys and girls needed someone to love them. Because seating arrangements were in¬ complete we had only short classes the first day. The music, new books, and strange teachers created an interest for Bible School in the children. The enrolment was about fourteen and the attendance was very regular. Each day new blessings awaited us as God’s Word was taught to the dear children. The sing¬ ing, even if it was not the best, became beautiful as you listened to those who were really trusting Jesus. A favorite and oft- repeated chorus was, “All of my burdens went rolling away.” Too soon the week terminated. The last evening, which took the form of a pro¬ gram with singing, stories, reciting, dis¬ tributing diplomas, caused us to rejoice. Yet we did not like to say “Goodbye” to those whom we had learned to love and appreci¬ ate. The apprehension with which we had started out was forgotten. Instead there was joy and thanksgiving in our hearts to God for His blessing during our last week of teaching Daily Vacation Bible School. »—Jean Plett 29