Sheila Gwendolyn Breckman

It is a great privilege to be blessed with meeting and spending the little time l had with Sheila. She shared pictures and memories of missions times. Sheila loved and cared for her family members. Comfort in knowing we will meet again.

(Donated to Heritage College and Seminary)

(Donated to Heritage College and Seminary)

Sheila was always so gentle and sweet to everyone. Her eyes were full of kindness. It was a blessing to have known her. She served faithfully as a volunteer at Compassion Canada answering phones and processing sponsor letters. My heartfelt condolences to family and friends...

In Memory of Sheila – A Race well run The TEAM Chad family extends our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Sheila Breckman. We retain the sweetest memories of her life and her service for Christ in Chad. She contributed significantly to the lives of the children who attended Palmview School at Koutou during the years of her ministry among them. She was up early and in her classroom every morning by 7:30, and taught until lunch time at 1 PM. Most every afternoon she would return to the hot and sultry classroom to work until evening preparing lessons for her students. She would emerge around 5 PM and frequently take a walk through Koutou village for exercise and to greet the many church friends. She knew the Chadian children by name and traced their steps into adulthood. Sheila was a gracious hostess and shared the responsibility of feeding and housing colleagues who came through Koutou's guest house. Koutou Station was a busy place with a steady stream of families, new arrivals to the field, and churchmen coming for various activities. Sheila was remarkably even tempered and sweet spirited. She lived through many troubled years of political instability, arriving at the time when the atmosphere for foreigners was precarious as Chad received independence from France. She hung on through the disastrous years of the Cultural Revolution in the 1970s when Chadian Christians suffered and died because of their faith, and missionaries endured pressure, grief, and loss. Still trying to recover from that shock, the country slid into civil war and insecurity through the 1980s. Sheila was courageous. She drove one of two vehicles on the night of September 3, 1982 when 8 women and 9 children evacuated Koutou and took refuge at Bebalem, 85 kms away, leaving three men behind to protect the station. The road was flooded at the climax of the rainy season. At every mud hole Sheila would pause, consider her options, and then gently plow through the water to the other side, again and again until they reached their destination. Through those years of trouble Sheila represented a measure of stability for the MKs and their families, continuing to celebrate birthdays, graduations, holidays, and mission events, participating cheerfully in an endless progression of coffee parties and potluck suppers. When it would have been very difficult to recruit and maintain teachers for Palmview School, the Lord gave us Sheila Breckman and Audrey Lawrence who carried on faithfully year after year. Sheila and Doreen Barrie shared a house at Koutou Station for many years. Their faithful house helper, Levi Nésso kept them clean and fed, and was much loved and appreciated by Sheila and Doreen. They are all together now in Glory. "Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage ...For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless." Ps 84

My husband & I send our deepest sympathies to the family. She was my Sunday School teacher at Wortley Road Baptist Church on Wortley Road near Bruce St. I always loved and respected her. As was previouslyl said, "She walked the walk" She is now safe in the arms of Jesus. Thank you Sheila!

I was a brand new missionary from France doing my orientation in Koutou - Chad - for 6 weeks in 1986-87. I remember Sheila's kindness and welcome, her smiley face and sense of humor. I always felt welcomed into her home. I could share with her my difficult times or frustrations as a new missionary trying to adjust to so many new things. Over the years we met occasionally in Koutou or N'Djamena and her friendship was always warm. She was a woman who loved the Lord and everybody could feel it. May the Lord comfort all her family who will surely miss her dearly.

It was my privilege to be associated with Sheila as a fellow teacher and as a member of the same church. Sheila was one who truly "walked the walk!" Helen and I wish to extend our heartfelt sympathy to all her family.

WELL DONE my good and faithful servant... our faith indicates that is what the Lord says when He greets us as we pass from this earth's pains into His glorious presence. Sheila's earthly journey is completed and she is now with her Lord and Saviour. We will miss her, but in a little while, we will all be together again. It's a pleasure to be a small part of her life. Our prayers for comfort and assurance are with you all.

Dear Aunt Sheila was a precious gem, she was more than a teacher to me and many others. She was a beloved aunt, a gracious role model, and a wonderful instrument of the Lord. Though it's been many years, I hold on to many dear memories involving her. To her family, may God's peace be yours. To our Chadian family, another is gone, but we will all be re-united one day!

Could you please correct my error of 'Shirley' to 'Sheila' throughout my note? Thank You!

I so appreciated Sheila's friendly support when I lived alongside her a while in Koutou. Her open door and listening ear, plus sense of fun, were so special in a period that was stressful. Her calmness helped me keep my eyes on the Lord and feet on the Rock Christ Jesus. Praying for you her family in your sense of loss but so glad that Sheila is now rejoicing in her Lord. God bless you.

Dear Sheila .... was one of the best volunteers I'll know, when working at Compassion Canada office back when I was Receptionist. I needed to have someone to come in to answer the phones for me when I was on lunch break or other. I was given permission to ask. Somehow, Sheila's name came to mind and I always liked the sound of her voice. So, when I asked her about it, she was surprised to be asked. Her answer was YES and from that first time she came into the office, she fell in love with the Reception area and loved talking to people over the phone. We were privileged to have her ... with such an outstanding background she had. Not to mention her years as a missionary over in Chad. She was well loved and every time I spoke with her after I had finished there, she couldn't help but tell me how much she was still enjoying being in such a place as Compassion Canada, among the wonderful people she worked with. She was an incredible, gifted Godly woman and I'll never forget our friendship over these years. We rejoice with her in her Going Home, to be with her Master. ~ Lovingly His .... Sharon & Richard

Thinking of all of you with Sheila's sudden passing. Rest assured she is in Jesus's arms where she is free of all her pain. She was a special lady teaching the missionaries children in Chad all of her working years. She was always so pleasant to be around as I had the pleasure of doing her hair for a lot of years. I will miss her also and I am grateful for having spent time with this inspiring lady. Sincerely Doug & Jeannette

Dear Aunt Sheila this is your niece and I want to say that I had a good time with you whenever I was with you at your place, and just sitting with you, and also when we would play Skip-BO together and it was nice just to be with u. I'm going to miss your cards and letters u wrote me. And also when my mom and I were at the cottage with you we had a good time sitting in the sun room, and talking, and having tea and biscuits, I will miss you. And I Love you so much your niece Tammy. I liked it when we had supper on the beach with all of us, and it was nice to sit and watch the seagulls. and going to church together.

Our deepest sympathy to all of Sheila's family. God's blessings!

I'm going to miss you, I love it when I would call you and we talked and shared stuff. I love You and I will keep u in my prayers. Your niece Tammy.