Sheila Leech talks about her amazing adventures as a missionary nurse in her new book "God Knows what I'm doing here"
What motivated you to write this book?
I used to write letters from Ecuador each month to my church and family, telling them about what was going on in the jungle community where I was living. One time, on my return to the UK, the mission secretary at church handed me a bundle of my letters. As I read through them, I realised how much I had forgotten. In fact I was shocked at what I had forgotten - really important and amazing things and times when God showed up in amazing ways. I realised that in Scripture God constantly tells us to “remember” and to “not forget” all the ways He has led us and all the things He has done. So, I decided to reflect on the previous years and write about some of the things I remembered.
Have you learnt anything new about God/ your faith journey by looking back over your life so far?
It has been a wonderful experience to look back and see God’s faithfulness and grace in my life. There are times when I am astounded at the way God has led me, the people I have met, the places I have been, the experiences I have had. I am also amazed at God’s patience, kindness and forgiveness. I nearly called the book “Greedy for Grace” because I think that reflects my walk..... it’s really the story of a “serial repenter” and a forgiving God whose grace and love never fail and who never gives up on us.
A strong theme through the book is trust- ing in God’s plans even when it isn’t always obvious what they are. What’s the key thing you have learnt about this?
A person way wiser than me used to say that 90% of knowing God’s will is being prepared to do it before you know what it is. I think that’s true. I don’t believe that God hides His will from us. He does not show us the whole plan all at once, but He does reveal it step by step. Finding out about the next step has to do with an attitude of heart and openness to doing whatever God asks, rath er than having to be absolutely sure of it before we take a step. I don’t believe that God leads us astray or tricks us. I think that God speaks to us through His word, the witness of the Holy Spirit and the counsel of godly people. If we pay heed to these, we will not go astray. God will use us in ways we could never imagine.
You write that God challenges us to live 100% for Him and His kingdom. What is the key lesson you have learnt on how to live full out for God?
Elizabeth Elliot was a missionary in Ecuador whose husband was killed by an indigenous group in 1956. She used to say “wherever you are - be all there” and that we should “joyfully embrace what you believe to be the will of God for your life”. In other words, do whatever you are doing with your whole heart. It does not matter where you are or what you are doing, whether it’s a great preaching ministry or a secular job, raising children or sitting quietly in a care home, our life needs to be characterised by offering whatever we do to God as worship. Every menial task can become an act of worship to God. I think if we live our lives in that manner, whatever He asks us to do, we will live a full life for God.
The book charts your many adventures around the world. What are you currently doing and where?
I have just returned from a month in Ghana where we do a medical internship outreach. It was a busy time and it combined delivering quality healthcare to about 1800 underserved people in the rural areas with training the nine medical interns in medicine and evangelism.
What do you hope readers will get out of reading "God Knows What I’m Doing Here"?
First and foremost I hope the readers enjoy the book for the stories. I hope some of the stories will make them laugh, maybe weep, and also shake their heads in disbelief when they read how a follower of Jesus can be such an idiot at times! I hope they see a normal person with doubts and fears and a sense of fun, but someone who although very flawed still loves and tries to follow Jesus. I hope they get a fresh glimpse of how amazing our God is and if they don’t know Him, they will definitely know more about Him after reading the book. And finally I hope that some readers will feel challenged to look at their own lives and see if God might be nudging them to be doing something more to let others hear about His love and grace.
SHEILA LEECH is a registered nurse who has been serving on the mission field for more than 30 years. She is currently the Vice President of Global Healthcare for Reach Beyond, working in palliative care and disaster response around the globe.
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