John Elliott and Luella May Welcome You to the Sixteenth Edition of
Women of Courage
Each week we will honor a woman that has truly made a difference by her
contributions, courage, love, and selflessness. Women honored will be chosen from inside AdlandPro, outside AdlandPro, living in the present, and yes, we will not forget those heroines that paved the way for the freedoms we now enjoy. We will honor women who have shown tremendous courage and fortitude against all odds.
Assisting us in coordinating these awards are four outstanding ladies who are Women of Courage in their own right.
Presenting:
Carla Cash
http://community.adlandpro.com/go/245569/default.aspx
Veronica Davidson
http://community.adlandpro.com/go/vdavidson1972/default.aspx
Joyce Hyde
http://community.adlandpro.com/go/031849/default.aspx
Pauline Raina http://community.adlandpro.com/go/301079/default.aspx
Aparna Ganguli http://community.adlandpro.com/go/blukiwi/default.aspx
Our Sweethearts of Courage
Shirley Caron http://community.adlandpro.com/go/scaronpoet2005/default.aspx
Michael Caron http://community.adlandpro.com/go/192260/default.aspx
And Adlands very own man of Courage
John Partington http://community.adlandpro.com/go/114695/default.aspx
WE PRESENT TO YOU OUR SIXTEENTH
WOMAN OF COURAGE
Amanda Shaver
By Carla Cash
Amanda's story is very interesting. She was featured as the 79th Person of the Week here in Adlandpro.
Amanda is a good team leader in Jerky Direct. She also has a heart of gold. Her story is amazing and she is definitely a Woman of Courage.
Her parents were up in age when she was born and her father already had children by another marriage. She was raised in New Zealand and, of course, some of their values are different than they are in our country.
As Amanda got older, it was discovered she had a hearing problem but didn't qualify for a hearing aid. This presented challenges for her. Her classmates made fun of her and her teachers made things more difficult for her too. Amanda also comes from an abusive home. However, the abused she received in school far surpassed her abuse at home. She even had a teacher who liked to look up girl's skirts and some that punished her severely.
Instead of a dog, Amanda took a sheep on as a pet which gave people cause to ridicule her even more.
She became very quiet and withdrawn as a result of her childhood.
Amanda's relationships were difficult as a young adult and because she was naïve about a lot of things in life, she conceived at a young age. She also miscarried and was afraid to go to the hospital. When her mother found out, she scolded her even though she hadn't told her about sex or childbirth.
Amanda did marry someone but was unhappy and stayed with him for 20 years.
Fortunately missionaries came to her town and they told her she needed to accept the Lord Jesus as her Savior and she did. Because of that she suffered more ridicule from family and friends.
Amanda said that her hearing grew worse, lthough she did use a hearing aid. However, later in life she received a miraculous healing which she attributes to her Savior, Jesus Christ. People in her small town of 2500 people did sit up and take notice.
Before she died, her mother received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.
To Quote Amanda:
“I have survived sexual abuse, harrassment as there were several other incidents as an adult before and after I became a christian that left me feeling 'what had I done to deserve this' and then working it through that I did not do anything wrong. I also survived verbal and mental abuse for years. I had to learn that the relationship I could have with Jesus would be much different to my earthly father, that Jesus would not 'zap' me when I did wrong, that I could ask forgiveness and be forgiven and move on. I am stronger because Jesus is right there beside me cheering me on.
I returned to New Zealand to start legal proceedings for my divorce and settlement and I have completed a 40 week course in Care Giving for the Elderly level 3 - the highest qualification I could get in NZ and I understand is equivilant to L.P.N. (Licenced Practice Nurse) in USA.”
Thankfully she met a Christian man and developed a relationship with him, her husband James.
She was able to move to the United States and soon her life improved greatly. Of course there are still difficulties but she knows God will bring her through them.
Amanda said she is happy with just her organ and guitar and has trained herself to work on her computer.
She and James were living in Wyoming but now live in Nebraska and she is content there. She says they aren't so isolated now.
James is an over the road trucker and Amanda travels with him once a week and is a full time network marketer. She is, of course, a valued member of our community here in Adlandpro.
Amanda, you have our love and congratulations! God bless you!