My Life Since 1968 ~ Nadine Hiebert

The Years After Berean    

   by:  Nadine Hiebert

My parents gave me the verses in Proverbs 3:5-6 and encouraged me to trust in the Lord to direct my steps. Reflecting on the past 50 years, I see how God has led.  I attended Tabor and during my freshman year, I sang with three former Berean classmates in a sextet. Learning wasn't only academics. Carolyn Graber, Mary Stucky, and I, with Julie Jost accompanying, traveled to various churches.   We learned that leaving old gum stuck to the program on the podium was a bad idea.  The pastor rested his Bible on the podium to speak, and later attempted to pick it up; not good. One night, while working at Lee's Drive-Inn with Mary, we closed up and needed to make it back to the dorm before curfew. Luckily, a Hillsboro policeman just happened to pass by, so Mary flagged him down and asked him for a ride. The silence was a little awkward as he drove us back to the dorm before 11 pm, probably wondering, "Why me?".  During my college years, my interest in working with disadvantaged children was growing and so I decided to major in Elementary Education with special training to work in inner-city schools. 

I accepted a teaching position in Omaha ISD for 10 years and worked in an "inner-city" neighborhood north of the downtown. Wanting to make a difference in my students, I soon learned about their home life, discipline, poverty, and "new vocabulary". I learned which drinking fountain to use in order not to get "cooties';  that if Hazel wore large glasses in our second grade, they actually belonged to her grandmother;  and if a student said the cat relieved itself on the homework, not to ask for it because it was true. Academics were important but it was also important for them to know I liked and cared about them. My next 6 years went a different direction as I moved to Arlington, Texas, and taught at Pantego Christian Academy. There I developed lifetime friendships. It was a refreshing change to instill scripture and spiritual lessons in their education.  During that time, I worked on my certification to teach students with dyslexia.  I was hired by Arlington ISD and taught for 24 years in various schools.  These were some of my most rewarding years as I saw many struggling readers become successful in their academics.  Thinking I was going to retire, I received a call from Fort Worth ISD asking me to apply for a Dyslexia Specialist position.  Again my steps were changed, and I worked there until a second bout with cancer was the deciding factor to retire in December of 2015. 

Through the years, I have participated in various churches and have been involved in the music ministry by singing in the choirs or by playing piano/organ for the services. I've had mission opportunities in places like Mexico and British Columbia.  Teaching has allowed the summers to travel and I've spent weeks traveling to visit family in Brazil, Fiji, Madeira, and France. It's been an unique experience to visit the nationals in their homes and learn to know the people. The small churches were only too happy to have a visiting pianist accompany the music on the piano. Speaking French or Portuguese wasn't required for that. 

God has been good to surround me with ministry and wonderful people everywhere I lived.  I continue to live in Arlington, Texas.  Reflecting on God's leading, love, and protection, gives me faith for the years ahead.