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Show Wednesday, December 20, 2006 Heaven Help Us By Corrie Lynne Player Let Christmas Light brighten the darkness My windows twinkle red and green, white icicle lights drip from the eaves, and my collection of nativity scenes glows from the top of the piano. The lights of Christmas remind me of the Light born into the world two thousand years ago. When I see pictures of a father stroking the heads of his three dead sons, killed by political opponents who thought he was in the car or hear of another dozen dead in roadside bombings, I grieve for the darkness in this world. That darkness presses ever closer, but it can be pushed back by the Babe of Bethlehem. Murder and darkness permeated the world when He was born, too. Herod tried to thwart the prophecies by killing every child in Bethlehem, but he failed to stop the coming of Jesus Christ. And faith in Jesus Christ will banish the darkness, as it has for centuries. Wickedness continually tries to put out the Light but fails, again and again. Faith is a simple word, but it means so much: it means we don’t have to fear the darkness, and we don’t have to worry about what tomorrow will bring. Sitting in Heritage Hall a few days ago, I listened to the familiar, soaring sounds of Handel’s Messiah, sung and played by my friends and neighbors in Cedar City. Handel’s music spoke to my heart of a Savior, lowly and humble, despised, who taught us by word and example how to love and serve each other. He sealed his teachings and example with His blood and rose on the third day, triumphant, to lead us all back to the presence of God. The Hallelujah chorus brought the audience and me to our feet, many of us singing with the choir. My heart soared with the angelic sounds. My mother struggled up from her wheelchair to stand with me, her trembling hand on my arm. After the encores and clapping, she smiled as people exited past her, “My, wasn’t that marvelous,” she said, again and again. We returned home, driving through neighborhoods bright with the lights of Christmas and felt, again, the promise of peace to come, peace for our war weary world. And it will come— that’s the promise of the Baby born in a stable, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. Merry Christmas to all of you, my friends and my readers—may the beauty and promises of this season warm and comfort you, no matter what troubles or trials you may face. A5 Sanpete Messenger/Gunnison Valley Edition Nurse from a world away wraps up career By Karen Prisbrey Staff writer GUNNISON—With two suitcases and three young children, Sirkka Liisa Folkerson arrived in Gunnison in 1985 to begin a new career and a new adventure in her life. Now Liisa Olsen, recently retired after 21 years of service at the Gunnison Valley Hospital among banners, balloons, roses, and many expressions of gratitude from patients, associates, and hospital staff members. Liisa came to Gunnison fresh out of St. Catherine’s School of Nursing in Montreal, Canada in August 1985. “I had received my nursing license in ceremonies at KAREN PRISBREY / MESSENGER PHOTO Liisa Folkerson received her nursing license on Aug. 3, 1985. 11 a.m. that morning and received a job offer at 1 p.m. that afternoon.” Cindy Peterson, then director of nursing at the Gunnison Valley Hospital, called Liisa and offered her a job at the recommendation of David Beck, who was serving on the hospital board representing Centerfield City. Beck met the Folkerson family when he was serving a mission for the LDS Church in Denmark many years ago, and says of Liisa, “She is a survivor, a take charge type of person that adapts really well to any situation. She cares so much more about other people than herself; I knew that she would be an excellent choice for our hospital.” Olsen was born in Finland during World War II. Her father, who was in the military, was among the forces that prevented Russia from invading the Scandinavian countries during the war. As a teen, Olsen had a desire to go to nursing school and began her early training in London, but it only lasted six months. She had met a young Dane and fell in love. They were married and moved back to Finland where they began their family. Following the birth of their son Jon, the family moved to Denmark where their daughter Ann Helen was born. A few years later the family emigrated to Canada. Two more children, Henry and Dyna, were added to the family. Then the young couple divorced. Olsen’s good friend Joan McKay encouraged her to go to nursing school, saying she “had the determination and personality needed to become a good nurse.” Olsen says, “I was one of 700 who applied for enrollment KAREN PRISBREY / MESSENGER PHOTO Liisa Folkerson Olsen on her retirement. at St. Catherine’s School of Nursing, which is one of the oldest and largest schools in Canada. One hundred fifty applications were accepted, and 70 passed the testing to qualify for the school. I was one of those lucky students.” Olsen had moved from Finland, to Sweden, then Denmark and Canada, and then to Gunnison, “a place I had only heard about; I had no idea what to expect when I arrived, but the Becks and the Miles Jensen family, along with the people of Gunnison, made me feel welcome and comfortable right from the start.” Olsen and her young family lived in a small rock home owned by Elizabeth Jensen on Center Street in Gunnison. Several years after moving to Gunnison, her good friends Bonnie and Gary Greenburg set Liisa up on a blind date with Don Olsen of Manti. Don was a widower, and it wasn’t long before the couple realized that they were meant to be together and were married in March 1989 in the Manti Utah Temple with several members of the hospital staff in attendance. Liisa and her children then moved to Manti with Don. Liisa says, “Nursing has changed a lot over the years, but Gunnison is a fantastic place to work. Everyone knows his/her jobs and works as a team to give the best quality nursing to all their patients.” Recalling the skill of the staff in meeting emergencies at the hospital, Olsen spoke of the night (See “Retirement” on A12) |