Shirley in Summary: I am a freelance writer, a cancer survivor (1997), and a registered nurse. I am also a pastor's wife. I live in South Africa, which forced me to write internationally almost from the beginning.
More than you want to know
I was born in Scotland but grew up in Gwelo, Rhodesia, a tiny land-locked country in Central Africa. This land is now called Zimbabwe, and if you want to read some unbelievable facts Google "Zimbabwe today".
As a little girl, I had a problem discerning between fact and fiction, a "gift" neither my parents nor my teachers seemed to appreciate. When I was fourteen, I needed a Christian play so I wrote it. This kick-started an awareness that if I wanted something original to read or produce, the cheapest and most rewarding way was to write it myself.
A New Life: At 18, I travelled to Cape Town, South Africa, to study nursing at Groote Schuur Hospital. A few years later, Prof. Chris Barnard made this hospital famous when he performed the world's first heart transplant.
Within a few months of my arrival in Cape Town, I formed two life-changing relationships.
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In 1967, Rob and I married, and two years later, he accepted a call into full-time Presbyterian ministry.
Over the next years, we were fruitful in more than our ministry. We multipled our family, starting with Debbie in 1968. Stephen followed three years later, and then came David.
Just as we thought we knew how to be parents, we started to multiply again, with the addition of a son-in-law, two daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren.
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Moves and Ministry: Over the next 37 years we ministered in six congregations across Southern Africa.
This included a six-year stint where our address changed three times although we never moved house. During the "Bush War" we moved to Harare, Rhodesia, led by the late Ian Smith. This became Zimbabwe-Rhodesia, led by Bishop Muzorewa, and then Zimbabwe under the infamous dictator, Robert Mugabe who still maintains his reign of terror today.
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Life Changes:
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We bought our first computer
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We became part of the Internet community
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Our daughter and family left South Africa to go as missionary teachers to Venezuela
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I received a diagnosis of cancer with a poor prognosis and
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I had to leave nursing due to my impaired immunity system
During a traumatic year of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the Lord spoke to me from the words of Psalm 118:17, I will not die; instead, I will live and proclaim what the LORD has done. (GNB)
More Life Changes:
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A year later, the words of Habakkuk 2:2 leapt off the page of the Bible at me: I will give you my message in the form of a vision. Write it clearly enough to be read at a glance.
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Wherever I look, I see a devotional message, so it made sense to write devotions for the international market. I have had over 120 articles published, many of an inspirational nature.
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In 2004, I flew to the United States of America to attend the Sandy Cove Christian Writers' Conference, thanks to a Cec Murphy scholarship.
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Two years ago, Rob and I moved to the beautiful coastal city of Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Province of South Africa. Our cottage is only a seven minute walk to the beach, so inspiration is never far away.
Into the Future:
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In March 2010 God willing I will be travelling to the Florida Christian Writers Conference, again thanks to the amazing generosity of Cec Murphey.
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It is my prayer that through my writing others will be encouraged and motivated to see God at work all around them. We only have to open our eyes and invite Him to speak to us. He's alive and well --and He's living right where we are.
In everything (and that includes all the situations and peopls around us) we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us. Romans 8:37 CEV
Listing 7 Items
Cancer from a Mom's Perspective. by Shann de Smidt (S.Africa)
posted: 15 August 2009
Cancer of the eyelid - at 27 years old. Tarryn's mother tells the story of the scare, and the blessings.
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Bad Hair Days by Kathryn Lay
posted: 19 July 2009
The waiting room was crowded. It was my second time there and, though I wasn't scared as last time, I was dreading the long day to come. Read on . . .
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Relationship in Crisis by Jane Lebak
posted: 13 July 2009
My mom says that before getting married, a couple should endure one crisis and one ten-hour car trip. Now we learned why.
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Lessons of a Mother by Pauline Baird Jones
posted: 13 July 2009
Mom's don't bounce back as fast as children. At my age, I don't bounce at all. But I can get up and be grateful for what I have received.
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Survivor! by Fran Armstrong
posted: 13 July 2009
The worst part was the wait, the questions, the fear.
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Strengthened by Prayer by Geneva Iijima
posted: 14 June 2009
I wasn't a particularly strong person either physically or emotionally before. I'm stronger now.
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Plans to Prosper by Cheryl Kroch
posted: 5 December 2007
In every hug there were always two sets of arms, the person hugging me and my Lord’s. Every kind deed was accompanied with His perfect touch.
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