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

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Gratis Work at the Dorm. Dorm Life “And to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity. II Peter 1:7. With some apprehension and curiosity we arrived at the dormi¬ tory. The apprehension vanished almost immediately. From the first day there has always been a gen¬ eral feeling of brotherly love which has increased as time went by, and as we (the boys) got to know each other better. The day in the dorm’ begins at around 6:30 a.m., except for some very early risers. At this hour bro¬ ther Ben Friesen calls us with a cheery “Good morning.’’ After a short period of devotions we all go down, wash, and gather round the breakfast table. Before the meal we have Bible reading and prayer led by Ben Friesen. After each meal comes the in¬ evitable—dishwashing done by two brethren upon whom this fate has fallen for the week. Then after a short period of study or some other gratis work, the boys all head for school. We always look forward to din¬ ner which is prepared by our very able cook, Mrs. Ben Friesen. At times a problem that arose in » school is discus¬ sed during the meal, each one giving his views. Continued on page 36 Fifteen hungry young men are seated around a well-decked table, making short work of the delici¬ ous meal, so ably prepared by our wonderful cook, Mrs. Ben Friesen. “Is everyone through?” As soon as all are finish¬ ed a chorus is begun and the dishes are‘passed up. “Careful now, don’t break any!’’ Two eager boys rush to put on their dish washing apparel (aprons) and cheerfully go to their task, ft “Singing I’ll go along life’s road IK ll ' ' ' ' “111 . . . ’’ Hmm, sounds like Bro. Abe Giesbrecht (Beverly) is practising his vocal lessons. Perched on the kitchen stool sits another eager beaver, enthusiastic¬ ally attacking the huge basket of unpeeled potatoes. “Please, not quite so thick, It’s the potatoes we want to use, not the peelings.” Where can that cloud of dust be coming from ? It must be Brother Ed. Reimer (our Book of Know¬ ledge) sweeping the floor. “S a y, Bro. Ed., don’t forget t o sweep the front steps and cement walk!” “Sister Friesen, is there anything you need from the store?” “Yes, 6 lbs. but¬ ter, 10 lbs. beef, 5 dozen eggs, 2 boxes of cheese, 2 heads of cab-, bage, and 6 bananas.” What a load! Bro. Peter Brandt, are you fur- naceman for this week ? Better hurry up with those ashes. Classes begin in five minutes.” Although we all seem to rush through these little tasks, we still take heed of the suitable verses printed on our gratis work chart. “Let all things be done decently and in order.” I Cor. 14:40. “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the the heart.” Eph. 6:6. —Melvin Dueck

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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

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Why I Attend the S.B.A. “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim. 2:15 It is my great privilege to attend Bible School this year. My desire is that I may learn to know more about God’s Word, and His will for my life. The short time I have been here has given me a deeper insight into God’s Word, a clearer picture of what it means to be a child of God and our duty to bring the Word to those who have never heard. It seems to me there are so many even right here who have heard the Gospel often, yet who do not know how to accept Christ as their own personal Saviour. The Bible School has done much to help me make the way clearer to others and I praise and thank the Lord for the opportunity H e has given me. —Mary Kroeker Social Evening Morning Services November 25 Mr. Reimer pleasantly sur¬ prised us with an invitation to a social in the school that evening. At 7:30 we, includ- ding the evening class students, gathered in the school auditorium. Mr. Wittenberg opened the even¬ ing’s activities by leading us in a song. “Lasz d i e Herzen immer frolich.” He then read a portion of Scripture and added suitable re¬ marks. Mr. Penner, led us in chor¬ uses and also in a game of guessing Bible verses pinned on our backs. Mr. Reimer then led us in an¬ other guessing game. Late r the teachers brought each of us a plate filled with good food and then Mr. Reimer showed us some slides. On leaving, Mr. Penner called out, “No pop tests tomorrow.’’ So with a relieved feeling we went home, having tho¬ roughly enjoyed an evening of blessed fellowship. --Tina Wiebe At nine o’clock the students and faculty gather for devotions. The speaker for the morning may be a teacher, a visiting minister or a missionary. After the speaker has announced the song, all join in with singing that stirs the soul and lifts the heart in praise to our loving Father in heaven. Then the speaker leads in prayer, following which he brings us a heart-searching and practical message of God’s Holy Word. The message may be on fruit-bearing showing us that Christ set us an example in this and that “here¬ in is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit.” Or it may be on the walk of a Christian, exhorting us to walk as children of the light so as to remain in fellowship with God as well as to honour Him before the world. It may also be on the enemies of a Christian, on self-denial, or on the Christian’s equipment for labour. Whatever the message, it is sure to bring us to a deeper realization of our pri¬ vileges and responsibilities as God’s children. In closing one or two students lead in prayer, after which we disperse to our respective clas- m