Butterfly girl

Saturday morning I woke up with an intense feeling of sheer happiness. The kind of happiness that comes from being snuggled deep in a yellow comforter and knowing that you have all the time in the world to sleep and write and read and drink hot cocoa. The happiness born only of time available to debate actually waking up. We had a girl's night last night. It was great. We all jammed on to a bed and watched Walk Across Egypt, (highly recommend it-very good.) We bought popcorn from the cafe and ordered hot drinks and rented tons of DVDs from the ship library. It was nice really. I think we've all had a kind of intense few days..just as far as being really busy. I think we really started to feel like sisters this week-no not in the fighting bickering way-but in the supportive way.
It has been one of those golden days, when you just feel right. We all had lunch and then sat out on the dock just talking. I fell asleep feeling the wonderfully warm pavement on my back and the sun warming my face. Snatches of their conversation drifted in and out of my awareness like the the waves and the blue sky and the birds. When I finally sat up my eyes were all blurry and everything seemed very bright.
Alice left today. It was actually a day late, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because yesterday seemed kind of crazy. Thank you for dealing with my venting during the last post. I'll miss her. She always was very quiet but was deep into God's word. She had at least 3 different translations of the Bible and I would find sheets filled with passages, the verses highlighted in different colors. It really inspired me to seek out God's will in His word, like it's some kind of treasure map, to be worked and poured over day and night.
Today I went to Benjeh (?) town. After a long time of bouncing around the metal back of one of the Mercy Ships land rovers, we finally reached our destination. It is so strange being out so far..I was almost surprised to see this village. Sarah was visiting her namesake there. This little girl had been named after her and remained in her arms most of the time As soon as we stepped out of the truck the children swarmed around us. They all fight to hold my hand and some are simply content to trap me their, their tiny arms around my waist, their heads resting against me. It is so precious. We went to church there. It was good, but it was the first time I had actually sat with the children. There was allot of dancing and singing. I felt kind of bad, because it was the children around me kept whispering to each other and asking my name. Their parents would then get mad and make huge "TSHHHH"-ing noises at them. After church I got to meet more children. One of the precious little girls had butterflies on her shirt and I pointed to them and then pointed to the butterfly clips in my hair and then drew a butterfly in the sand. Within no time they were all huddled in a circle taking turns drawing houses and cars and airplanes and then we were all spelling each others names and writing down ages and grades etc. It was so sweet. We played this game where they'd say an African name and then I'd have to guess how it was spelled. My roommates all know me as the butterfly girl.. They like the butterfly clips and socks and they've promised to tell me if they see any butterfly material in the market-I've seen dresses made out of it, but haven't actually seen where they sell the fabric. Mom, I don't know if you remember but there was this one time when you called me your butterfly girl. And as your butterfly girl, I sign off.

Cabin Crazy

These past few work days have kind of been an emotional roller coaster, but in a strange way it’s been really good. When you get ten girls in a room for more than a week it becomes apparent just how broken we are. We all start venting and it's messy and beautiful all at once because we then start to really pray together and support each other. We each can be light and girlie and at the same time share intense parts of our lives and we were all brought together by this amazing God who is speaking to each of us in our individual circumstances.
We learn to sense when something's wrong. One of my friends had a really emotional past few days. She lives an incredibly intense life at home, but she is really funny and I love having her as a roommate. She has the greatest expressions when imitating different emotions and she loves the eighties. We have “girl’s nights” were we all sit around eating chocolate and popcorn and talking and laughing our heads off and watching chick flicks.
We have allot of new girls in our cabin. We’re all just waiting for their craziness to eventually leak out. I think after a few weeks on this ship no one can help but go crazy. No, it's not really that bad, we just eventually get comfortable enough to let others see the real us when we're super sad or happy or sweaty and gross or whatever. I think deep down we all are a little bit crazy in our own way-crazy about Jesus, crazy about having fun etc.
The official Food Service director came yesterday. So the woman who was standing in for him told us all the extra work she had for us to do. It was rather overwhelming. But we're all here to serve the same God and that's what matters. Mary Lou said that she hated to tell me about more work because she knew we were way understaffed anyway. She is so incredible sweet. I rather fancy being like her when I'm old.
OK, more crazy dining room experiences. Yesterday I'm wiping down one of the buffet lines and one of the day workers, known for being more forward with his interest in white girls, approaches: "I love to see my baby working." I smiled sweetly and told him I wasn't his baby.” Don’t freak out, I’m telling you because I found it rather humorous...one of those things where you chuckle-only in Africa.
One more crazy thing to tell you all. I rode on a motorcycle with a stranger-alright don't freak out-motorcycles are used like taxis here-me and some friends paid to ride back to the Mercy Ship gate. And we did wear helmets...But we were swerving madly through packed traffic...and yes I enjoyed it.

Water Side Market

Yesterday was absolutely amazing. I got to sleep in till 10:00am. Had a leasurely quiet time over toast and tea and then Sarah and I went to Water Side Market. It was so different compared to Dwahla market. We were able to get a lift to the market. Sometimes it's nice not riding in a taxi because the people that stop are usually well-off business men and the cars are cleaner. But you have to be wary because you don't know that they're going to stop where they say they will. The taxi drivers have to; otherewise they'd have a car full of angry people. Sarah said she felt more secure after more people had been picked up. Water Side actually has concrete buildilngs instead of just makeshift syhacks and wheelbarrows and tables set up on the road. Allot of the shops there were actually run by Lebanese men. And they had allot more variety. I got Christmas presents for Jordan and Kaytlin. :) That is if I don't get too excited and send them before hand. And I have an idea for Dad, and Mom and Hannah. I suppose it is rather early to be shopping for Christmas presents, but sometimes it's just one of those things where I see something and I know that I right then and there otherwise I wont be able to find it again. I also got two lapas, or four yards of materials for a shirt and skirt. I'm hoping to go back to several of the shops. The tailors here are amazing. They're really good at making clothes just from a simple drawing or description; A-line skirts and tighter skirts that flair out below the knees and beautiful shirts and blouses. And then allot of people have these cute capri/shorts that the tailor can make from scraps of material. I really enjoyed Water Side because I actually had money to get things. And I was seeing stuff that would actually be of use in America. It's sometimes hard to find stuff that is handmade and of Africa, but also good to use when I get home.

As usual, it took hardly any time at all to become hot, sweaty and sticky, but it was fun. Plus, it's the cool season for Liberia, so there generally more rain and wind. I don't think I've ever appreciated a breeze so much in my life. It was nice just taking our time and chatting. Sarah showed me several of the shops she had visited before and she got this beautiful hanging basket and several plain colored lapas from one material shop. I'd like to go bakc there, it's hard to find plain fabrics. She also introduced me to to her friend Comfort who sells material. She was lovely.

While we were waiting to meet Comfort, I got my first marriage proposal. I suppose I should have been more prepared. It was rather comical. His name was Prince and he was probably twenty-something. Of course, the usually enthusiastic Liberian handshakes that end in a kind of finger "click" go all around. He asked where I was from, if I lived with my family ect. He kept saying he loved my name and I kept say that so did my mother and father. And then as if it was entirely common place he simply asked me to take him to New York.

"You take me to New York and we get married."

"No I don't think so."

"Yes, yes, you take me to New York. OK? OK."

Well I gave the usual list of reasons to say no:
My father would not be happy
too expensive
I need to go to university
What if I want to stay in Liberia

In retrospect it was rather comical, but I was very relieved once the whole bizzar ordeal was over. It's one of those things that only happens in Africa and you just have to grin and mover on.
By the time we were nearing the Mercy Ships port, we were both exhausted and ready to stop and take a break. Did you know they actually sell ice cream in Liberia? Yep, we stopped and bought ice cream. They sell it in these square metal carts and then use these ity-bitty cones. It was like it was too cold for my mouth. I could hardly even taste the flavor in the sheer heavenliness of the coldness.
And then we stopped at the Love restaurant and had the Liberian soda. They sell it in these 50's looking glass bottles, except they're taller and thinner. We also had some of the water sold in bags. I still feel rebellious when I eat in these restaurants. We had Rice with palm oil, as usual and some kind of mystery meat, which I avoided, as usual.
And then we went back to the ship and I am still so excited about Jordan and Kaytlin's presents.
Adios for now!

Keep in touch.

Young Life!

It was Sunday. After a slightly hectic morning shift in the dining room I was scrambling to prep for church and club. It was one of those many moments I have where I begin talking as soon as I enter the room whether or not someone is listening. It's a way of venting in a rush and driving my roommates crazy at the same time. Frankly it must have been hilarious to watch.

Door opens.

"So this morning one of the coffee machines wasn't working and that same electrician guy talked to me about the dishwashers, but they were both working this morning. You know how one was working and one wasn't and they kept switching so we'd tell him the left one and then by the time he came it would be the right one that wasn't working? Well, yeah, now it's just one of the coffee machines. "

Pause for breath.

"Need to fill water bottle, OK super packed...laptop for the overhead...yeah it's with this outreach to unchurched teens called Young Life. I really don't know what I'm getting myself into...supposed to be a leaders meeting..definitely a God thing...I live on a Young Life camp...randomly met this guy over the buffet line who's trying to get Young Life started in Monrovia. I'm leading worship...OK! See ya!"

Door slams.

30 seconds later: "right, my ID and key...adios"-

Door slams.

A minute later: "So I rush up there and he kind of strolls up. Need a water bottle. Don't rush around like me!"

Door slams.

They definitely think I'm crazy.



He had booked a taxi the day before with one of the leaders involved in Young Life. After about 30 minutes we stop, the smell of sewage permeating the car. It was in Monrovia, the capitol, but apparently not the better off part. We take this dirty path weaving between buildings and shanties...up the stairs and we enter this concrete room filled with about 20 or 30 African college students. Once we got out of the street it didn't smell. We make some quick introductions, I can feel them all watching me...but with curiosity, not the usual quick-way-to-get-rich-white-girl stare. We set up the power point for the songs.

They had a key board there. Some where playing on it and I sat and listened. They would get this beat going and then play chords and at one point they were singing with it. I could tell it was all by ear. It was cool.

And then we all got taxis and went to church. It was the biggest church I have seen yet. Crazy, like a normal church, just with a tin roof ...but with pews and everything. And we sang loud hymns and listened to a sermon on "our changing world." And how it has so easily become perverted. At some points the pastor would start yelling, but it was mainly and the front pews in the right hand corner where the children sat. They showed no inclination whatsoever that this was new. After a while I became used to the occasional bouts of yelling...but I got the gist of the sermon and it was good. The microphone was passed around and we all introduced ourselves. And then suddenly a thousand hands were thrust forward for the shaking and I felt very welcome.
Afterwards, we went back to the concrete room. And had a delicious African lunch made by Jame's wife, Rebecca. It was delicious. Rice, of course, with chicken in a palm oil sauce. I was very impressed, usually it's some gross looking meat-fish heads or something.

After lunch we just hung out. It was so refreshing to not only know that these people didn't want something from me, but also that they were Christians and I felt safe. It was this kind of (for lack of a better word)...chummy atmosphere. Within no time I felt like I had known these people for a long time. People would sit with their backs against the wall or lay sprawled out on the floor chatting and laughing. This time they were all goofing around on the keyboard and were making up this spur of the moment Christian rap. It was fun. Before long all our heads were bobbing to the music.

And then we all sat in this loose circle while Tim Batt (the guy that first invited me) told them the ins and outs of club and leadership and financial things. Yes, it was kind of boring. But I was happy. It felt so much life family. It's normal for everyone to sit close together...and we all were brothers and sisters in Christ. And every once in a while a finger would point with a small smile and someone would be nudged awake. And several asked questions and James and Tim did their best to answer them.
Afterwards there was a small break. I met these two leaders who had come from Sierra Leone to train in Monrovia on their off time. It is so awesome to see how God draws people from everywhere. It was neat because they were super attentive during the training, but also totally willing to dance around and be crazy during the club part. Tim and I did music. We ended up using a CD, while we sang. We were basically demonstrating what an American club was like. We sang songs like, Sweet Home Alabama, Brown Eyed Girl, Amazing Grace, and this one song called Jabulani Africa. The first song we did one of the guys got up and did this crazy dance and we were all following. And then when we did this kind of disco Lean on Me, they were all dancing and cheering and they loved the skit. And Tim's talk was really great. It was about how he had always wanted to jump out of an airplane with a parachute and how when he finally did it he had to put all his trust in this guy strapped to his back to make sure he pulled the parachute at the right time. And that's how it is when we accept Christ into our lives. Even though they were all already Christians, I think it was really good for them to understand the simplicity and set up of a club talk, how it's not really a sermon.

And then with many hugs and goodbyes we went home to the ship. John was working my super shift. It sounded life it had went smoothly. Everything was working. But today he's in the IC. They think it's heat exhaustion. Apparently they had gotten lost, while going to a church yesterday and they kept getting directions to different churches and then they finally called the ship and the person that was supposed to come get them never showed up. Somehow they managed to get back. And then they were working in the hot dining room...He hadn't mentioned it at all...Please pray that he gets better soon. I feel guilty. Thankfully though Ellen is on their team so they're not entirely short staffed.

Well, it's a beautiful day and a day off so I'm going to savor it outside.
Please keep in touch. I'm missing the e-mails.--Love you all!

Dinosaur Hair Clips :)

Hi, I'm back. Our new roommates Cindy, Mayellen, and Ellen arrived this week. Of course they're still just adjusting and working on opening up, but they seem friendly. Cindy's from Canada and Mayellen's from the Netherlands and Ellen's from Norway for Sweden or something like that. We watched the most hilarious 80's chick flick last night. We all brought our pillows and made one of the beds into a couch. It's call Girls Just Want to Have Fun. Some of my roommates were reminiscing about the side ponytails and poofy hair etc. Frankly I was ever so thankful that I had not been born in the 80s, but it was fun hearing them talk about it. Sarah who's English, kept talking about the amazing dinosaur hairclips in the movie. She wanted them. It was great.
There was some babysitting drama this week. This time I was babysitting both Luke and his sister. Time wise it wasn't bad at all. I just wasn't prepared for them challenging my authority. And then it was one of those mental things were I began to question my own ability to take care of them, even though I often babysit for several children at a time at home. By the end of it I was an emotional wreck. I didn't even know what to say. I ended up just telling them I was really tired and left as soon as possible. I rushed down to our room with this huge lump in my throat, on the verge of tears. I sat in our little sitting area, head in arms, leaning against the wall and enjoying the sheer misery and tasting the hot angry tears. Mayellen finally approached me and asked if I was alright and like a little child I shook my head. Between sniffles and half-hearted laughs I blurted out every injustice that had happened that day. It felt good to get it out. I was later approached by their mother about it. It was really good to be reassured about the whole thing. And I assured them that I was still willing to babysit: I hadn't been scarred for life...yet :)
A few days ago I was approached by a worker here from Ghana. He said that at lunch time he had something "of African culture" for me. I warily agreed to meet him. At lunch he gave me this amazing African bracelet and necklace made with black, red, yellow and green sead beads; the colors of the Ghana flag. I was really touched. As it turns out, Cindy is really into making hemp bracelets, so she had brought supplies. I think I'll make a hemp bracelet with the colors of the US flag for him. I'm also excited because it widens my horizons present-wise for crew on the ship. I also just found out that Geneen was homeschooled all the way through highschool. We've started walking in the evenings and just talking and talking. It's very uplifting and refreshing. I have the coolest roommates
Oh, and more exciting news. I met this guy over the buffet line a few days ago and as it turns out he's involved with getting Young Life started in Monrovia! He used to work at Lake Champion before coming here where he works as the pharmicist. It was really a God thing. I kept meeting people that had heard of Young Life but not anyone that was actually involved in it, so this was really exciting. He invited me to an all-day meeting this Sunday where he'll be giving the leaders in training a taste of what a Young Life club is like in the US. The problem for me was that I work Sunday. I was hesistant to approach any of the other team about taking one of my shifts untill they had had at least one day off. And then out of the blue someone offered. And it was like a confirmation from God that He did want me to go. I'm going to help lead songs, so we're gonna be meeting after work today to practice. He said it's a pretty small group. He's still figuring out the technical things and needs someone that can play guitar. Please pray that God would lead us to the right person for the music. Pray that God would provide strength and smooth all the details out. The captain, who also used to be involved with Young Life will be there (aaaah!)
Adios for now. Keep in touch. I love and miss you all!

Fri-Tuesday-catchup

I have become more and more aware of just how much this is a land of contrasts. People with nothing in the way of furniture sell rows and rows of leather couches. People wear these intricately woven and embroidered clothes; these dresses of beautiful bright vibrant colors-but they go home to shacks smaller than my bedroom. Shacks that flood every time it rains. Shacks made of tin and rags and palm branches. Some of the really nice ones are made of cement blocks. These people live in such squalor and yet they have a kind of grace about them. The way they carry themselves. People walk with a purpose and sit without any. We go to the beach and pass people sitting on the side of the road talking. Or sitting with a small radio pressed against their ear. Or sitting and staring with a kind of blank expression at the passing traffic. 5 hours later we pass them again on our way back.

Friday: Before going to white sands beach there was this announcement that "all crew of the Africa Mercy are to report to the International Lounge immediately." Just minutes before hand the captain had been notified that the minister of health of Liberia was coming with some members of the press to refute a rumor that has been going around about Mercy Ships.

About a week ago an article was published in a newspaper here that Mercy Ships kills people to take vital organs and then sell them. One of the people that screen people had a little boy come up to him saying that he had an uncle that wanted to sell his kidney. When they went to investigate, they realized that they were planning on selling the kidney of a retarded child. The minister apologized profusely and stated that it was an embarrassment to Liberia. he also reminded us that people who are used to a land filled with war sometimes have mentalities that are out of wack. Please pray that God would keep all the people involved with Mercy Ships safe as well as stifle this rumor that threatens to prevent people coming for help.

Afterwards, we went to White Sands Beach. It was insane. We passed through this refugee camp filled with chickens and children and puddles and dust. But when we got there it was like a resort. Waves crashing against rocks that seemed to guard the beach. A single fishing boat. Tables and chairs and umbrellas and cokes.

Geneene and I had a blast. We spent hours splashing in the waves and talking. I'm very thankful that she's staying for 6 months too. My current cabin mates include Geneene, Sarah, Alice, Cindy, Dorothy, Amy and Emily. And two more are coming in a few days. Despite the constant ebb and flow of people we've definitely had some roommate bonding experiences. Like the time there were seven girls squished on to my bed to watch a chick flick. Or last night when we were all planning to watch a movie but we ended up sitting around till twelve swapping funny stories. Sarah told us of how she used to scare people by lying in the hallways imitating someone fallen from an air vent. She does a really good impression. It's hilarious. Geneene told us of their crazy neighbor. It went on and on-I think by the end all our stomachs hurt from laughing so much.

Saturday: the Craft market. They advertise their wares with a kind of desperate energy and make us promise to come back. But they don't believe that we will. They have these amazing hand carvings made of ebony. At some points it shines a deep impenetrable black and at other points there is an abrupt change to a blond color wood. They have these carvings of women carrying water jugs on their heads. These carvings are so thin and tall-with flowing lines. There is no denying it is an art. They also make these miniature hippos and elephants and turtles. Some paint: I was struck by a particular one. It was of this beautiful woman. Beads around her neck and her dark hair shining. And her face (all but her eyes) is covered by this wood bowl. It was Africa starving.

They also sell various kinds of cloth-some embroidered with sequins-others with designs and flowers and some are just plain. Bone napkin holders-necklaces made of shells and glass beads and chips made from fried bananas. I bought nothing and plan to go back now that I know what they have. What do you all want for Christmas?-seriously

After the Craft market we went to Mama Fatu's orphanage again to give the children the pictures that Lydia had taken. They loved it. They remembered my name! I played soccer with some of the young boys. And then we played this game where you toss the ball to each other. They kept dropping the ball to somehow give me more points. I started dropping the ball to give them more points. It didn't work. They wanted to hear more about where I lived on Mercy Ships and if Lydia was in an airplane and all the little girls tried to plait my hair. I love them all and will come back.

That night there was a talent show and all the dining room staff walked in with trays of candy to hand out to the tune of "Be Our Guest" from the little Mermaid and the boys (aka John, Bates and Dotty) filled bowls with shaving cream and pied three people in the face. They also did this crazy sailor song for another act.

I was so exhausted but ended up swapping stories with the other girls in our cabin. And then blissful sleep...

Sunday morning....I was working with their dining room team (Bates and I traded so he could work today while I babysat for the Davies.)

I roll out of bed stumble around trying to get ready and eventually show up at seven for work.

7:00...No one there

OK I can deal with this...start the dishwashers..load a tray of snack dishes...

7:15...No one there

This is a really bad practical joke maybe they got up and got everything ready and went back to bed

7:25..No one there

AAAAh...ok..ok..I can't call there rooms-I don't know last names-are they all going off of one alarm?...the cupboards are still locked...where's the key?! In a nearby room:

"Amanda, I'm sorry I now you're leaving today... your not working..but no ones up there and I traded with Bates and I don't know how to contact them and....

Well I'm alive to tell the story. That night there were 50 people arriving so the dishes just kept coming.

Monday was my first day being team leader. Becca left that day. It was a long weekend so we didn't work lunch and we all went to this really nice restaurant. They served African food. But it was all very westernized and the music was English. I have to admit that i enjoyed the experience of a "real African" restaurant better. Maybe it was the crampedness or the way it smelled or the thatched walls etc. But it was a very nice restaurant. It was kind of a goodbye party for Becca. Some of the staff at my end of the table began telling how they got involved in Mercy Ships. it is so crazy how god has pursued all of us. These people remind me so much of the Young Life staff. Their crazy sense of humor-their tendencies of throwing things at each other-their love for God.
Oh, speaking of Young Life...I met this guy here named Tim B...b something or other. Anyway-he's going to this Young Life meeting here and invited me to come next Sunday. It was really exciting for me. I had met people who had heard of Young life but no one that was actually involved with it. I had told him that I live in the Adirondack mountains in New York. and I told him about Saranac..Well eventually we realized that he had been weorking at Lake Champion. It was so cool to think that there's Young Life here.
Well, I survived my first day being team leader...

Today, Tuesday I had a day off. Bates was working my shift all day since I was babysitting for the Davies family. That means I got to sleep in. :) At least till 7:00am. I babysat this little boy named Luke. He is two years old and very good. He can get crazy at times, but he is usually very mellow. We took a walk on the dock and he splashed in puddles and then we spent several hours in the Library playing with their little Noah's Ark toys. He's very cute. I ended at lunchtime. It was really nice to have the rest of the day off. Thank you so much for your letters. They're so special. I've been writing some back. I guess it just seems more personal when it's a letter. But warning: don't send me letters if you want me to read it within two weeks. But I did love them. It doesn't even have to have writing in it-just a drawing or a fun quote. Love you all so much..Don't get too scared..most of my posts wont be this long :)

I love the rain

I will love the rain. As if a sheer act of will could possibly lift this lead cloud. This impenetrable black board or should I say whiteboard of sky that threatens to suffocate my very existence. This merciless weather that laughs as it as it pounds out all color blending everything into a gentle grey. The kind of gentle that gets just enough on my nerves to feel like Chinese water torture. No amount of pleading with myself will lift the greyness that is slowly seeping in.

Yesterday I ate for the first time at an African restaurant. About the size of a bedroom with space for sun to come in between the thatched walls and the roof. I loved it. The hot rice and spicey palm nut sauce. It was delicious. I could feel my whole mouth burning as I ate it. I liked it because I was eating a meal off the ship and it made me feel so wonderfully rebellious. Besides fact that I was with two of my roomates that have been in Africa before and are quite well versed in the African lifestyles and what is safe to consume.
After that, we went to the malnutrition center again. Time passes so quickly there. When the children were done inspecting my hair and skin the mothers would hand off their tiny babies for me to hold. These little black hands rapped around my fingers and I would just stand their swaying gently afraid even to breath lest the sweetness of the moment be somehow inevitably broken. I could tell that some of them hadn't been there very long. I could still feel tiny ribs and fragile skin that hung loosely off their bodies. Some of the children would be afraid. And for good reason, it must be terrifying to see a human being of a different color for the first time in one's life-and white at that-were there more? purple and green? :) The shy ones would giggle and peek from doorways and chase eachother around in front of me.
Today was my second day in training. yesterday I spent most of it wondering why on earth I was there. They showed some movies, but non of it was very informative. However, today I felt like I was actually getting some information, if not an overload. They talked of how to stay healthy on the ship-good coping methods, and bad coping methods. Dealing with conflict. Safety procedures and international laws the ship is supposed to follow, crew pharmacy and safety drills on board the ship. I actually really enjoyed it. Yes, I was very stiff after several hours of sitting, but in a way it was soothing even if I didn't soak up all the information. I was thuroughly convinced of the safety of the ship as well as the fact that people are here to listen to and help crew members.

I am sitting here at the computer and suddenly everything seems very loud. Someone shaking their knee impatiently. Someone humming the same tune over and over. The sound of the engine. The sound of the Olympics going on in some screen in one of the adjacent lounges. People laughing by the ship shop downstairs. The sound of the machine they use to make the hot drinks. The occasional click of the mouse. I think it's the rain getting to me.

OK I might as well face it. I am Corina Gochenaur and I am a chocoholic and I do NOT love the rain.

Sunday

Yaaaay, the end of a work day!

Tomorrow we have off.

I smiled today.

Allot.

A Momentous Occasion

Close your eyes. Now imagine it is Friday. And pretend I am not so behind on my blog:




Today is a momentous occasion.



I am learning the prestigious art of bread care. Not necessarily the making of the bread but in my specific case the order in which it is taken out of the galley racks. I got a talking to today by Eddy the returned cook who takes his bread very seriously.

The bread is then placed in a terrifying machine. The Bread Cutter. With a quivering hand I pull the menacing black handle towards myself. The machine comes to life with bone-shaking roar as it opens it's great mouth. The doomed loaf is then placed in between this monster's jaws. I let the handle go. The now sliced bread slides out from the dark depths and then deposited with still shaking hands onto the buffet lines.



Today is a momentous occasion.



It has rained four straight days in Africa.



Today is a momentous occasion.



It is 8/8/08. The Olympics. I fought distraction all afternoon with the opening ceremonies playing on the televisions in the dining room. The entire thing was so awe inspiring. It was so artistic and rhythmic and and colorful. Every country's team entering with pride. And the outfits and the flags and the leaders of the countries there. I want those red dresses that the Chinese women got to wear.



Today is a momentous occasion.



I went to Mama Fasu's orphanage again and loved it. The children recognized me and I made a longer list of names to memorize. One of the little girls played a hand clapping game with me. In a sing song voice she sang with words so similar to the jump rope and hand clapping games we would play at home. We played hop scotch and they tried (unsuccessfully I might add) to teach me a game involving different teams and squares sketched in the dirt that people darted in and out of. This time Becca, our new team leader went with me. It was fun.

Today is a momentous occasion.

Splish Splash

We saw my cockroach friend again last night. I was already in bed desperately trying to fade off into sleep. I could hear Jessi, "oh my gosh it's on the curtain." And then all the others got involved and I could here them corralling it. "Oh, no now we have to move the stuff-ew, it's behind there-see it?" I could hear tons of shuffling and things scraping against the floor and someone mentioned a insect spray and for the next 10 minutes I heard them spraying and spraying and I could smell it and I was sure I was gonna be dead in the morning. And then I heard them all debating over which shoe to use and then them hitting the wall with the shoe. My cockroach friend is now in cockroach heaven.
I didn't realize I had been holding my breath untill I let it out in a huge relieved sigh. I touched the curtain around my bed appreciatively and snuggled deeper under the now familiar yellow duvet cover. I had a nightmare last night that my entire family had changed and everyone was sullen and bickering and no one was happy. I dreamt that Mom had suddenly started swearing and we had a huge fight and by the end of the dream I just wanted to be back on the Mercy Ship. I was so relieved to find I was indeed still here, and my family was still alive and happy.
As is now usual on my day offs I had missed the early breakfast. After grabbing a banana from the small kitchen in our room I had a wonderfully chocolatey cup of hot cocoa and watched the rain (yes, it's raining once again). But this time the rain makes me kind of happy. Happy to be inside in warmth smelling the coffee and chocolate from the Starbucks and hearing children play on the piano and hearing laughs from the lounge tables. For the first time I noticed how the windows on the ship have little ledges that make the rain splash up back ontot the glass. I suppose it makes up for not having ground outside to become muddy and full of puddles. That's what I miss. Big clean muddy puddles. I suppose it's rather an oxymoron, but you don't now dirty untill you've walked the streets of Liberia. the constant pelting of the rain gave the ocean this frosted look except for in certain areas. It almost looked like Our lake when it is almost frozen. It was neat.
The people are my sunshine. Thank you so much for all your prayers and support and I love you all and feel like in a way a piece of each of you is here with me.

Namesakes and marriage proposals

Today I awoke in that wonderful morning state of happy warmth and numbness. At 11:00am. :) I love days off. After having such a wonderful yesterday today seemed golden. I took a shower. They can only be two minutes long, so you just get used to turning it off and on allot. I had lunch and then went to Duahla Market again. This time with Katie and Sarah, our new roomate from England. Katie was shopping for her namesake; little two week old girl. The mother was much too shy to tell her what they needed so she got a list from the aunt. We searched around allot and eventually were able to find a baby bath that wasn't part of a package and was less than 30 US dollars. we also bought 3 cans of rice and a small bag of peppers and 5 cubes of soup flavoring and two baby wonzies. It's amazing how small everything seems here. They put spices in bags smaller than my pinkie finger. They treated me to a fried dough twist that the lady patted in a very course sugar. It tasted allot like a doughnut and was scrumptious. I also exchanged 5 US dollars for 315 LB dollars. They were purchasing lappas of cloth and some head scarves. But the exchange had totally thrown me off. Now I was suddenly paying hunddreds of dollars when I had been paying just a buck or two in US. It was dificult to gage whether or not something was too expensive. I felt more comfortable this time. I really started to appreciate. Every one saying hello. And the little children that all wanted to shake my had and give me high fives and the ione little girl in the market that reached up to touch my hair. We stopped at a shack to get sodas-they looked like 50's soda bottles just thinner. There was a little girl that jsut stood there and held my hand. It was so sweet. Katie got a marriage proposal. And there was one man who claimed to "always love Americans and British." He kept following us and told his "Auntie" that he was escorting us. At first it is very unnerving. But eventually you learn to simply apologize and say you need to go. So he proposed to Katie. We all looked at eachother-for a second-each of us thinking-what would you say?- Katie was good: "I am too young, my father doesn't want me to marry."
When I was at Duahla beach the little boys were telling me to come with them to marry one of the men. The only thing I could think to say was that my heart was already taken by God. "Do you have children?" Oh goodness...
Dad don't freak out, your baby girl's not about to come home with a boyfriend. Now Jordan is the one you should be worrying about. Tell him to e-mail me and Kayt too. I want ot hear more from them. Love you all so much-keep me updated!

Fun Fun Fun

Blurry eyed and still half in my own little dream world, I arose, went through the motions of getting ready for the day and then headed towards the dining room. Before I knew it, the day was half past and running rapidly towards supper time. on our break between lunch and super, Jessi and I went to Jamaica street. She went to the tailors and bought lots of African food. We bought 3 huge coconuts. They were sold in a wheel barrow and a machete with a square end was used to hack off the skin untill the white meat was revealed. The man then tapped in a circle where the white part was. It made little cracking sounds. And suddenly it was open and filled with what looked like water. Jessi apparently had only gotten it for the meat. It felt ever so exotic drinking out of the coconut. All I needed was a grass skirt. We also got sweet bread and roasted plantains and casava root. We got back to the ship and had a little African feast. I wish I had taken some pictures, so you all could see. They would hand the food to us rapped in old newspapers. I drank the coconut juice but refrained from having any of the slimy looking meat. the bread was delicious and a casava root tasted like baked potatoes. And the plantains were delicious and sweet. It was all very new to me, but I loved it. It is much more like what I imagined the markekt to be like and I can see myself eventually being at home on this street just as Jessi was.
Later I rented some chickflicks from the on-ship library for that night. After rapidly changing back into pants and sneakers for work. I dashed up the steep stairs two at a time and then jumped five feet when John, from the other dining room team jumped out from behind the dining room door. Slightly disgruntled I proceeded to work one of the buffet lines. That's definitely my favorite job. I love greeting people and asking how their day went and sharing my food preferences with them and pointing out which sauces are spicey. We actually have really good food here. Last night it the shrimp cheese sauce with pasta. There was one old man who was not having a good day. "Is there food on the other side? More? Better?" Shrugging it off I wondered to the other side and said hello. "Well, if i don't die in 30 minutes, we'll know this food is safe." I had to laugh. I could just picture that scowling face on some southern porch calling everyone "varmits." But for the most part people are wonderful about it. Someone told me that it was the first time they had been greeted with a smiling face from behind the food line. It totally made my day. As staff I think it's important for us to really focus on the positive responses (although an occasional bad one is considered for the sake of humor.) After everyone had picked the shrimp out of the cheese sauce I began advertising it as the result of overfishing. :) It is so good to see people smile.
In Liberia people think it's rude if yoiu don't say hello to them every time you pass. On the ship though, people understand the cultural differences and tend to lean towards the American social rules. On the street people will say hello, or nod, or raise their eyebrows. Greetings are just a way of life. It's nice to be able to practice my greeting skills in the dining room. Although I'm hoping to vary it up a little bit. I need to get a little more creative. I think I've said, hello, and how are you and how was your day about a thousand times.
Last night was fun. Two girls (Lydia and Jessi) from our dining room team are leaving. Apparently they have a tradition when someone is leaving and it is their last day of work they get splashed with a bucket of water. It was awesome. We were all shrieking and screaming and splashing eachother. It was fun and I got soaked.
I checked with my roomates and invited a few girls over to watch the chick flicks I had borrowed on my laptop. Lydia and I have gotten fairly close. She at first seems very quiet and occasionally melancholy. But when we were both in dishes and dead tired we got really hyper and would start sing random songs using spooons as microphones. We shared favorite movies and books and had gotten sunburnt together on El Wau Beach. I'm gonna miss her allot. She had told me about the chick-flick watching escapades with her grandmother. How they would always watch them over a bowl of chocolates. I went up and bought some at the Star Bucks and we all had chocolate to go with our chick flicks. We watched How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days. It was hilarious, and very cute. What a wonderful, busy, tiring day.

Uplifted

I once again went to The Pillar of Holy Fire Church that I visited last Sunday. I was wonderful. I left feeling refreshed and uplifted and deeply touched. This Sunday we arrived earlier than before. We heardthe children repeating verses after their Sundayschool teacher. A chorus of a million small vioces, raised to recite the same verse.
The drums were faster this Sunday and I sensed people bouncing a little more. The African worship songs are so simple and beautiful. The woman next to me, who has been on Mercy Hsips for quite a while was singing harmony.
I love the sermons, desperately trying to soak up all of it. Their pastor might struggle when reading the verses but God gives him these incredible sermons that always seem to relate directly to what I am dealing with that week. This one was on what to do when you're feeling down. (Do you remember my "Rain" post?)It was based on David's struggle. He writes: "As the deer panteth for the water so my soul longs after You." The pastor related this to the war years how every material thing they had ever relied on was ripped from them. They would go hunting and the deer would make great leaps and bounds and run and run and when it was finally tired it would splash and drink form a pool of whater with no regard whatsoever as to whether or not it was good water. That reminded me of how when we as humans are searching so fdesperately for something to fill that void in our lives, we go to practically anything. He sain we said we must RUN after God and thirst for Him. And we need to REMEMBER where we fell from our first love. And to stay humber by recognizing what He was brought us up out of. Finally, we will be RENEWED by putting all our trust in God and not the things of this world.
Afterwards we once again played with the children. One older girl rushed up to me ,"my friend!" She tried to give me her bracelet but I told her to wear it next Sunday, "that way I will see it and I will know it is you." I think I'm gonna make her a bracelet to bring next Sunday and maybe we can trade. All the little children clustered around me and held my hand and looked the bag that was a going away gift. Kaytlin sewed it and it is all covered in notes and verses. I carry it everywere since we always have to have our Meryc Ships ID card and room key. They were enamored with the buttons in one corner. I said good bye to all the children and promised to come back.
So here I am back on the ship, but happier despite the continued grey weather. I will soon be working in the dining room for super. We often trade hours when one of the others want to go on a small trip somewhere. I'm still deciding what I want to do on one of my work days.

Adios for now. I love you all and hope you enjoy the day God's made!

Rainy day

Today I woke up to the beep and buz of our room phone ringing and my two new roommates scrambling madly for the door as they realized they were late for orientation. After drifting off to sleep for a while, I woke once again and, still in a state of blissful sleepiness and warmth wondered towards the window. I pulled back those deep blue curtains that, although probably installed for a home look add nothing to the overly airconditioned coldness of our room.



Rain



Falling grey and steady from an unsympathetic sky. I watched with fascination as a larger baot was guided to a nearby dock bya smaller boat. Perhaps it is the novelty of being able to look out my window and see ships; I never fail to have a strange curiosity concerning them. It was with a twinge of jealousy that I regarded those ships and their sailors. We are not moving-no scanning the water for lights from other boats or watching the bow cut through the waves or feeling the thrill of not knowing water from sky. I supposed it would be rather romantic.


Rain



I talked to a sailor yesterday and was sorely dissapointed. He didn't look like a sailor. No weathered skin or rough countenance-no piercing blue eyes or, love for the sea, like you read about in the books.

Rain

I would have preffered some horrific thunderstorm-an amazing display of lightning. But it was Just rain. I suppose you can't say "just rain." It's like saying"just getting a tooth pulled" or "just sitting for hours on end fighting monotony." There are occasions where I do get the insane urge to get soaked and shivery and then go inside tyo curl up with a good book and a cup of hot cocoa. But jthat would require Mom's big red chair and an uncooperative TV and seeing the rain drip off the eaves of our roof and a table scraped and colorful from years of children with markers and lots of steak dinners.

Rain

I am feeling rainy and grey. Claustrophobic and homesick. Yes, I am revelling in the misery of being in Africa, in the rain and having the time to pout about it. I might go walk in it. "Singin' in the rain...la..la...la"

BUGS GALORE

This morning I woke up to shrieks and yells from one of my roomates. "Aaaaah, eeeeeee-oh-my-gosh-o-my-gosh!" She had met my friend. I was pleasently acquainted with him about a week ago, but survived the introduction and thus we managed to be mutually indifferent to eachother-up untill now. The few I told regarded him as one of little consequence. So this morning we were all suddenly forced to admit his existance. We even named him. I think it was something like Lewis or George... he is about the size of my thumb and is an expert escape artist-to quick for us to catch. He is a shiny black cockroach.
I suppose being so intimately acquainted with a cocraoch could have positive aspects, but I have yet to find them. Although I must say I find him quite tolerable compared to our cereal lovers. Cockroaches are nice and big, easy to see if not find. Weavils are another story. We have a huge selection of food and about 5 choices of cereal each morning. There is a particular one that at first is unrecognizable as a cereal. It's a mix between the big shredded wheat bars and oatmeal that has been sitting in a bowl for a day or two. It's lovely. Anyways, we have to make sure that these cereals are filled every day for the next morning and the lots fell to me to refill this particular kind of cereal. I began in myown girlish way to open the first box-fumbling with the tab-and finally gave up on all pretence of having any idea what I was doing. I eventually managed to open the first box as well as the prestigeously wrapped packs of cereal. I stared at the lovely lump for a long time waiting for signs of movement. There was nothing-except for a few crumbs falling here and there. And then the first one decided to stick its ugly head out of its home of probably several years. Actually their heads are so small, you only really see them once one's entire body is crawling rapidly towards your fingers. The others followed. I was brave. No shrieking, no acrobatics, no big seen.
The next package I opened I noticed the ones swarming inside and over boxes before I even got to the individual packages. This time however, I was slightly wiser and proceeded to hold the box with thumb and forefinger as far away from my body as possible. Although it was a precarious position, I felt marginally safer, knowing that instead of instantly swarming all over me, the weevels would be foreced to proceed up my arm, thus giving me more time to observe and foil their efforts. The next boxes were carefully inspected for the tell tale holes of weavle housing developments within. I filled up a trashcan.
My skin is still crawling. I find myself forgiving my morning friend for being a cockroach.