1969

The Medical Missionary magazine in the winter of 1969 is dedicated to being young and involved.  The introduction to it states: 

“One of our greatest assets is the fact that the Society has been in existence only 44 years. When one is young, it is easy to grab hold of life at its roots and burst recklessly with it to the sky. Youth is characterized by an eagerness of mind, an openness of heart and a spontaneity of spirit that dream such dreams as to change the world. More courage and determination make up for less prudence and wisdom. But every age has its own maturity, and this youthfulness is ours.”

At that time, Sister Elly Verrijt was a young Dutch Sister in her twenties, who had just completed an orientation period at the headquarters of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization in Rome. She wrote the following reflection for the magazine:

“The poor, the weak, the have-nots - it is for them I choose to live my life. That is the life of Christ: a message of good news, very vulnerable, not spread by power, nor with economic or political advantage. Up till now, I have not had many experiences of other cultures. I have only read books about the difficulties to adapt, to grow into another culture. But I am not afraid. Soon I will speak the language of the people.

It is not a matter of studying grammar or lists of words, but to understand, really understand, in mind and heart.

I go with the confidence that I have something to share. The hunger of mankind - it is a challenge to my life. My work will just be a little help for some people in one part of the world, but perhaps it is enough.”

She also wrote the following poem to go with it - encouraged to write poetry by Mother Dengel:

to do with your hands

what your heart believes

without guessing

if it ever reaches man, 

flowers, clouds

to sing with your lips

the songs seen

by your eyes

but who knows

if they are ever heard

to dance on ways 

of fear and to 

know how your 

words give flowers

in the garden of Eden

and then wait for

Yahweh; he is coming 

in the freshness of evening after

a hot midday sun.

                                           Elly

Soon afterwards, Sister Elly left for her first mission assignment in East Java, Indonesia, where she was working as a rural home economist for a community development project in the villages around Surakarta. 

Most recently, she has been sharing her rich knowledge and experience of ecology with Medical Mission Sisters in East Africa, inspiring their creative works. 

Thank you, Sister Elly, for sharing so much with so many over the years!