My best friend when I was in the convent way back in the ‘70s was Lena (of Africa). She had told me that when she was six and riding on her bike with a friend in Presque Isle, Maine, they both said what their futures would be: friend — a doctor; Lena — a nun in Africa. Both became their dreams.
Lena entered the convent (a year after me) at 19. She got her LPN, then was told she couldn’t go to Africa. Then she got her RN — told the same. Then got a Masters in nursing and she told the powers that be that they should stop the lying. She went to Liberia during their civil war. She was lined up with others frequently and threatened with death and then let go. Finally, she and others had to escape to Cote D’Ivoire because the rebels were serious. A nun and priest who remained were hacked to death. There’s a horrible movie about that event that she refused to consult for them.
She came back — got therapy (physical and mental) and then wanted to go back but was told she couldn’t. Sooo, being Lena, she went to Mississippi because she said that was the closest to African poverty that she could find. Then she ended up in NOLA after Katrina. She’s 30 miles north of the center now.
Lena told me that God meant her to be where she was needed. I scoffed saying, “why would he need you to be hacked to death in Liberia or drowned in NOLA”? she laughed. She could have gotten out but was begged to come back to a health center to nurse the endangered and ill. She’s 70. She replaced an 80 year old nun who remained a nurse but was told she had to be moved.
We talked on the phone — I called our other best friend who still is a nun and 80 and we laughed and cried. We really, really need to get together after this recent scary time. Our fond memories are way better than are negative ones — and trust me, the negatives were horrible. So little time and no one should waste a minute.