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F L A V O (U) R V
“I especially like this one,” said Marissa.
“It was supposed to be a vase,” Ramona replied.
“But it looks nothing like it.”
“No, but its got…the vase’s FLAVOUR.” explained Marissa.
F L A V O (U) R IV
Unbeknownst to Ramona, she had an admirer. One day, she noticed her little sister, Marissa picking up a crumpled up drawing that Ramona had thrown away. “Give that back!” Ramona hollered, following Marissa into her room. What she saw in the room took Ramona’s breath away.
The walls of Marissa’s room were covered in her drawings!
F L A V O (U) R III
One day, as Ramona was drawing a vase, her brother, Leon walked by. He looked over her shoulder and suddenly laughed. Pointing to the picture he asked, “What on earth is this?”
- Ramona became very unsettled by her brother’s mocking words. She tried to capture the likeness of the vase by drawing and redrawing again and again. But it was no good. At last she put down her pen, defeated. “I am finished,” she said.
F L A V O (U) R part II
She drew, whatever the time.
- She drew, whomever the subject.
- …And she drew, wherever the place.
F L A V O (U) R
Nothing happened this summer to our patients. This is a good thing. No relapses. No mishaps. Just a faithful, relentless pursuit of maintaining mental health well being on their parts. We can only pr that they are as relentless and faithful in the pursuit of their spiritual well-being in the One who ordains and permits all things. Including mental illness. And so I thought I’d share part of a story book that Amanda got for me last year. It’s been translated into Chinese and if any of you seeing this know the original please let me know. It’s inspiring and reminds me a lot of a 10 year old girl I spent last summer with. Here it is:
This is a story of a girl named Ramona. Ramona loved to draw.
His Mercies Are New Every Morning
So unbelievable. A few months ago I thought this girl was going to lose her life. She was catatonic. She hadn’t eaten for several weeks. And hardly had any fluids in her. Her pulse was racing. So many odds were against her. I thought she was going to die of organ failure.
But many people remembered her in their prs. She was lifted up. And this fresh-faced and intelligent girl whom I met that morning surprised me immensely.
PTL!
In Loving Memory
If everything is lost,
thanks be to God
If I must see it go, watch it go,
Watch it fade away, die
Thanks be to God that He is all I have
And if I have Him not, I have nothing at all
Nothing at all, only a farewell to the wind
Farewell to the grey sky
Goodbye, God be with you evening October sky.
If all is lost, thanks be to God
For He is He, and I, I am only I.
Dom Julian, O.S.B
(From ‘A Severe Mercy’, Sheldon Vanauken)
Bling in Black and White
For your viewing pleasure…
her story
This is our new patient. She returned from Myanmar recently, after having burned down her own home in the midst of a psychotic episode. Although her family was thankfully unharmed, soldiers demanded a monetary fine the family just could not afford. And so they are back here, without a home of their own.
She misses Myanmar and its flat lands and fears she will tumble and fall if she takes walks in the mountains.
There were 13 children in all. And now there are only 5 left. Her lovely 12 year old daughter, Ah Cha, is now ensuring she takes her medication, and generally looks after the rest of her surviving children. But Ah Cha can’t go to school here because she learned everything in Burmese.
Please remember them. Please pr that her children can get some schooling again. Please pr her can get better with the meds.
Thanks.
Ah Ci is getting better
Thank you for remembering Ah Ci in his time of need. He continues to suffer from extra-pyramidal effects but is recovering ever so slowly. He is now able to walk a little, sit up a little, hold a glass to his lips and drink a little.
We may have to take him to Kmg for further treatment. Please continue to lift him up.
Thanks so much.