by Sr. Sheila Campbell MMM                                 Ireland                                        10.05.2025

Life teaches us many lessons. My biggest learning was to be flexible!  Life is constantly changing, and I have learnt to weave my way through it, trying to respond as best I can, to the needs of the local people of God and to my community.  At times I have struggled with some assignments I have been given.  For example, I trained as a nurse, but I do not like hospital nursing!  Yet I spent three years as one of only two trained nurses in a rural by  in Brazil because I knew it was the need at that time.  I knew I was in the right place.

Life teaches us that we cannot control global events, but we can respond to them creatively.  I think of the many MMMs who stayed with the local people when war and conflict broke out.  I think of others who address emerging issues like human trafficking and climate change.

For me, mission happens in the cracks of ministry – a chance word of encouragement spoken, a smile, a shoulder to cry on, a listening presence – often these gestures have meant more to people than my formal position.  Being flexible means constantly adapting, constantly fitting in to new cultures, learning language, understanding the other person´s point of view.  I come from Northern Ireland and we grew up with an ultra sensitivity to the two cultures that share our small patch of land.  I think I have developed and broadened that concept as a religious.

Life is just a vast classroom of learning – I haven’t arrived at the exam level yet!