different worlds

Well, I  survived the first week and it has been very interesting for sure. I had no idea what to really expect and now I feel comfortable and settled in a bit more. In thinking about these past days the first word that comes to mind is “contrast”. My job as a housekeeper on the ship is basically if you can see it, clean it.  I work with a sweet Liberian lady and the two of us are a team as we get all our work done. So as we are sweeping, mopping or whatever we get to chat a bit and it has been interesting hearing about her life here. Many people left the country during the 14 year civil war but she stayed. She invited me to her church on sunday and all I can say is that an African church service is something you just have to experience in person.

The other day the two of us were taking out the trash, which is a bit of a walk and she showed me how to balance the boxes on my head, which is the only way women carry things here, little things like that make me smile:) Outside the gates of the dock is where the word contrast really hit me. After leaving a ship that is cleaned daily, has fresh water and electricity, to a world of dirt roads, sooty air, and people with next to nothing, it is hard to believe you are in the same country.

Each Friday we hear a  report on what has been going on throughout the week in the various ministries of the ship. it was exciting to hear about a clinic that is being built by using Mercy Ships resources but providing jobs for Liberians that desperatly need the work. (Unemployment is something like 80% !)  They also reminded us that they have been able to help over 1,800 eye patients within this outreach in Liberia!

I am not really sure how much to say or what kind of detail to go into, so if you have questions or want me to elaborate on anything let me know, I would love to hear from you!!

Since I still have no taken the time to figure out how to put pictures on this thing, my only other idea is to put a few on Shutterfly. So go to share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AbuGTlmzYs2LyQ if you would like to see some pics!

First impressions

You know those pictures you see of a crowded African street market with the women dressed in colorful clothes, balancing loads on their heads. Well I secretly always wondered if a place like that existed until today. A few of us hopped into a rugged land cruiser (the way they were ment to be) and went to the beach, just what I needed after a long flight. The whole drive there I could not take my eyes off of all that we were driving past. It was the way I had always pictured it but I am not sure why. I could not take enough pictures so I tried to just take in as much as I could because you only see something for the first time once. (shocking) There were people walking on the roadside and among the booths selling everything from bananas to gasoline (which is sold in large glass jars, who knew). Church was an equally interesting experience in a “building” made of poles holding up the tin roof. The ladies were dressed in their bright colors with matching head wraps and we sang and sang. I am not quite sure what we were saying but it was beautiful. So far I have been in a daze trying to appreciate it all and that is just after a day and a half!

The ship is amazing and I have to keep reminding myself that I am actually here after just thinking about it for so long. This is a holiday weekend so not too much is going on but I am excited for the work week to start and see how it all happens. I have already met some amazing people and learned so much and I get to be here for a month! (which is actually rather short compared to most) Thanks for reading and praying with me! I pray that I can be a blessing to this ministry  and not miss any opportunities to take in this unique culture on and off the ship!

I made it!!!

Thank you for your prayers! So many were answered, I got here safely and had no passport, visa or flight problems! my one glitch (because its me, there had to be something) is that my suitcase dissapeared between CA and North Carolina so my wonderful friends Janet and Rich took me on a late night shopping spree to Target. I think we got everything covered including a suitcase to put it all in:)

At the moment I am feeling a bit overwhelmed and feel proud of myself that I have even found the computers, so I will not go into too much detail for now. Please check back in a few days and I will hopefully  be able to gather some thoughts by then. For now, praise God I made it!

Let the adventures begin!

Well, it was quite a process but I finally figured out my summer! I have been planning since October and I cannot believe it has actually arrived! I just finished packing so my suitcase is ready, but I think my brain is a little behind as it has not quite hit me that I will be gone for the next two months. As of today, my itinerary includes North Carolina, Liberia, Bermuda, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Utah. If you are wondering where in the world Liberia is, I would love to answer your question! This has been in the works for awhile and I am ready! (I think) I will be there for a month working with Mercy Ships, an organization that has amazed me for a few years now. It is a fully equipped hospital ship thats main service is to provide free, life saving surgeries for people in great need. Since my teaching credential does not exactly allow me to perform these amazing operations I get to do the next best thing, housekeeping! I am excited to do whatever I  can to learn and see for myself how peoples lives are transformed in the name of Jesus! I will definitely be elaborating about this once I am there so please check back and learn with me!!

I leave on Monday and am stopping in North Carolina to visit friends. On Thursday I am off to Liberia, Africa (where the ship is docked) via Washington DC, New York, Brussels and finally to Monrovia, Liberia. So PLEASE PRAY that I will have safe and worry free travels and that the Lord would continue to show me the apropriate heart attitude with which to enter into this adventure!

(I will have internet access for most of the time, so if you need it, my email is nicolemacbeth@yahoo.com)

A little update…

So I discovered that you can see how many people read your blog and apparently more than two people actually read this thing, who knew!! Therefore, I figured I should keep up my writing at least once a month routine that I seem to have fallen into. Lets see… I have two weeks of school left which is bitter sweet since I have really enjoyed this group of kids, but I think they are ready for a new first grade teacher since some of them have grown immune to the sound of my voice. Luckily no more wet pants, but we did have a barfer which was eventful, especially when it landed on some unfortunate kids and ended with Miss Macbeth getting to wash it out of the students hair. 

Outside of “Miss Macbeth” world I have been able to enjoy a few trips to Mexico with Rock Harbor including being able to build a couple houses last weekend. (I have added a wafflehead titanium hammer and a drill to my birthday list, fun stuff:) Another recent big event was going to Pepperdine graduation for my little brother and cousin. It was a beautiful and fun day, but I could not help being amazed that it has already been four years since I too was baking in the Malibu sun with many friends that I now miss so much. It also gave me a moment to reflect on how amazing the last four years have been and all that has been accomplished. I am not exactly traveling the world with my hubby while we solve world hunger and telling everyone that Jesus loves them, but I can’t complain too much:) Maybe some day… I think I have finally figured out my summer extravaganza schedule, but its not for sure yet so I guess you will just have to wait until next month!

 

something to think about…

I know it is not nice to show favoritism among social causes but I can’t help it. I have been following this organization from its beginning and they have been able to do some amazing things! They have the blessing of creative generous people who, I think, have done an amazing job at creating awareness and addressing the pressing need of getting clean water to those who need it most. I have a new appreciation for something so simple and I hope you will too. Feel free to check out their story. (Charity at the top of my blogroll) I am happy to support them since ALL of the funds go directly to the water projects. They do not advertise themselves as Christian but the guy who started it is. I personally think that is a brilliant move, maybe I will save that for a future topic.

Secondly, an issue that has been on my heart is the way the church has neglected those with disabilities. I had not given much thought to this until I was confronted with it through a graduate class I am taking. The professor has a great blog about it called disabled christianity. Its good stuff, I promise. Basically there are few churches who have a ministry that is appropriate to those with special needs, especially mentally disabled adults. Why is that?!

On a side note: yeah! for my first video on the blog, skiing for spring break and beautiful weather:)

 

I can read!

“Miss Macbeth, I can read my juice box! Crrrap” (Said in a cheerful, innocent voice)”What?!”"Crraapp”"Well, that’s a good try, but it actually says Capri Sun”"Oh , OK”  As you can see we have a little ways to go in our reading skills, but it is amazing to see how quickly the kids pick it up! I love watching them progress from learning the letter sounds to linking them together and making meaningful words. Then they are able to join those words to form sentences of complete thoughts! They get so excited when they discover they can read! I can easily share in their excitement because reading is something I can never seem to get enough of.  I seem to go through phases of asking everyone I know if they have read any good books lately because I am on the hunt for a good one, to having so many I can’t keep up with them! I am currently in the later dilemma.  I have A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, The Kite Runner, Why Guys Need God, (I thought it would answer some questions) The Undomestic Goddess(I am embarrassed to admit) a series by Lynn Austin called Chronicles of the Kings (its a good one!), Reclaiming Christian Education and the latest copy of Relevant. Those are only the ones that have made it to the table next to my bed!(Hopefully joined soon by Into the Wild, Jesus for President and The Revolution) If you have anymore suggestions feel free to add to the list! Even though it has been awhile, I do not have any big news to report, so I will bore you with the little news. I have been able to have lots of girl hang out time, finished one out of my two classes, been teaching my students about Mexico (they can sing an inspiring rendition of I’m in the Lords Army entirely in Spanish) and the downstairs of our apartment flooded, wohoo! I got to have two ski weekends (my token athletic skill) and may be going again for spring break! Coming soon: what will Miss Macbeth do with her summer?? (Know anyone who wants/needs to go to Africa or Asia?)  Hope you like the picture, and who says Utah isn’t beautiful!