LifeSigns, July-Aug 2012 - Sisters of the Holy Cross

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leaves: Sisters in Ministry Sister Scholastica fishes off the pier in Ventura, California. by Sister Scholastica Elizabeth Ampadu LifeSigns ¡ july / august 2012 16 Expanding my boundaries Cultural experiences enrich life On December 19, 2011, I set off from Ghana, my motherland, to Saint Mary’s, Indiana, USA, to begin my six-month cross-cultural experience, my first missionary journey outside my country as a Sister of the Holy Cross. I felt excited that at long last this adventure had begun, especially when I remember the hassles I went through in acquiring a U.S. visa. I strongly believe it was an angel at the American embassy, or perhaps St. Christopher, who got the visa for me. Sister Linda Kors was at the South Bend Regional Airport to welcome me. She took me to her convent, Saint Theresa’s in Augusta Hall, which became my community for the next seven weeks. Oh, I was happy living with Sisters Linda and Mary Mulligan! They opened their lives to embrace me. The three of us had fun and we shared a lot of laughter. In January, I began my three-week ministry with the sisters on the fourth floor in Saint Mary’s Convent, which was another joyful chapter in my life. Such gracious women! Sitting and chatting with them for hours while assisting the caregivers in responding to the sisters’ needs was a happy ministry for me.
leaves: Sisters in Ministry These were enriching moments in my life. These are my sisters, whose lives teach me to persevere in my commitment. Their prayerful demeanor was visible. At the end of my three weeks, I said goodbye to the sisters and their caregivers but continued to visit them in the evenings and on weekends. For the next two weeks I attended classes in the nursing department at Saint Mary’s College, thanks to the efforts of Sister Maureen Grady. She did all the groundwork and introduced me to the faculty dean and professors. This was a learning experience for me. I sat in on classes and went with the student-nurses to their clinical sessions in hospitals, homeless shelters, schools, etc., for more exposure. I came face to face with nursing technology. The students were my teachers as well. We shared experiences, and they taught me how to use the gadgets and equipment. Some of the professors gave me copies of nursing textbooks to use in my teaching when I go back to Ghana. For these I am very grateful. Meanwhile, I was preparing to start my hospital ministry in Boise, Idaho. The sisters in the Boise community sent me pictures, which helped me become acquainted with their community. On February 6, Sister Linda took me to the South Bend airport to continue my journey. It was with mixed feelings that I left Saint Theresa’s community because I was happy living there, but I needed to experience Holy Cross in other parts of the country. My flight in Chicago was cancelled, which made me reach Boise at midnight. However, the sisters stayed awake to welcome me Sister Scholastica delivers flowers and mail to patients at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho. at the airport. The next afternoon Sister Elsbeth Mulvaney took me to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, where I interviewed with the coordinator of volunteer services. I became a Saint Alphonsus volunteer! Within a short period, I no longer felt like a stranger among new people and a new culture. The friendly spirit of the staff and everyone in the hospital drew me into their family circle. The sisters introduced me to every unit in the hospital. I had opportunities to observe heart, head, kidney and orthopedic surgeries, which were very exciting since I was seeing new technologies for the first time. As a floating volunteer, I distributed mail, delivered flowers to patients, attended in waiting rooms, escorted patients and relatives between departments, and ran errands. One day, I shadowed Linda Van Burne, a parish nurse from Risen Christ Church, to learn more about parish nursing. We visited some parishioners in assisted-living nursing homes. Another morning, I had a ride on the hospital’s Life Flight helicopter, which was exciting. And on two occasions I attended Holy Cross Associates meetings. Being with these prayerful women was inspirational. They energized me to revive the Associates group in Ghana when I return. Another part of my ministry was to assist in teaching demonstrations for refugee families in the maternal and child health clinics on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I found myself in a multinational and multicultural society, bound by the love and esteem we held for each other. At any given moment, we had no fewer than six nationalities in the clinic. There were Somalians, continued, page 18 july / august 2012 ¡ LifeSigns 17
Page 1 and 2: july/august 2012 volume 24 issue 4
Page 3 and 4: Branches: Holy Cross Around the Wor
Page 15: Branches: Holy Cross Around the Wor
Page 19 and 20: leaves: Sisters in Ministry I arriv
Page 21 and 22: new leaves: Formation Hearts rejoic
Page 23 and 24: new leaves: Formation Novitiate com
Page 25 and 26: eflections Season of memory I then
Page 27 and 28: advancing the mission A “hands-on

LifeSigns, July-Aug 2012 - Sisters of the Holy Cross

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