Disney’s Cinderella is often remembered for her fairy godmother
and glass slippers. Yet, she was much
more than a young girl blessed with an amazing band of mice friends and magical
mentor. Cinderella lived a hard life. She had daily struggles that far surpass
anything I’ve lived with. Lucifer alone
seemed enough to put anyone in a bad mood!
As I’ve lived in other people’s homes, shared close spaces,
cooked for groups and done lots and lots of dishes, I’ve become more and more
grateful for my “formal training**.” The
nickname “hostess with the mostest“ was coined after someone attended an event
hosted by my mother. She truly loves to
serve others, plan parties, arrange table scapes and enjoy company. I think its fair to say she even likes to
clean!
**formal training= lots of parties such as the one above, serving varieties of cake, biscuits, tea sandwiches and always punch! Then cleaning every nook and cranny after the guests leave.
The world race has taught me a lot about myself. I am in Moldova
for my fourth month of ministry and have already been shocked at myself
multiple times. One thing in particular
has been pointed out to me by others…time and time again-I do dishes. I do the dishes frequently. I do the dishes voluntarily. …I am my mother. I like to wash dishes!
My new team has figured out my compulsion for dishes. The team leader “assigned” others to do them
before I had a chance, just so I wouldn’t have done the dishes 6 meals in a
row. Yet, it isn’t that I feel
obligated. I sincerely enjoy the time…it
is kind of my quiet time, my chance to be alone. It is partially my need for activity, hygiene
and organization.
Cinderella didn’t get a choice. She was forced to do all the house work,
alone and without reward. She was used
and abused. The mice sang:
Cinderelly,
Cinderelly
Night and day it’s Cinderelly
Make the fire, fix the breakfast
Wash the dishes, do the moppin
I now sing the jingle
as I boil the water for the dishes. It
is more upbeat and glad than annoyed and sad. How is this for an alternate
version?
Sarabelle, Sarabelle
Night and day it’s Sarabelle
Make the coffee, set the table
Wash the dishes, clean the kitchen
World Race Dish Washing Experience:
-In Dominican Republic
it seemed as if I shared the position in front of the sink with one of my
teammates, and that’s it…we were the only people ever doing dishes. In a house of 21, you can imagine how quickly
dishes piled up!
-The whole squad joined in Grand Guave, Haiti
to work for Mission of Hope International. MOHI had a system in place to feed
all 45 of us as a single group. We
didn’t have to purchase groceries; we didn’t have to share refrigerator space; we
did have to do dishes. Teams rotated
domestic day (cooking and cleaning).
Domestic day chores= clean the pots, pans and plates. Meals for 45 utilize a lot of cooking
utensils, not to mention the 45 pieces of silverware, glasses and
plates/bowls! Twice a week I was one of
a 5 person team that cleaned the dishes of the 45. That is a lot of dishwashing!!! If
you’ve ever washed dishes by hand, you might understand my delight in leaving Haiti.
Quick calculation: 45 WRers+8 various missionaries+3 Gama family
(Haitian)+10 Haitian staff= 66 dishes plus cooking utensils X 3 meals a day= 99 dishes to wash by hand
-From washing our dishes in our laundry tubs, we moved to Romania. For the first time on the race, we smelled clean! J This was just the start of the
cleanness. Things that made me happy
(and I almost feel ridiculous for admitting them) are 1.Total of 8 people’s
dishes to clean. 2.Washing inside 3.Having a sink 4. Lemon scented dish soap 5.Clean sponges 6.Steel wool for the pots 7.
Drying rack 8. Designated spots for
all the cups, bowls, plates, utensils, etc!!!
-Now in Moldova
it’s a whole new experience. The water
smells and tastes of sulfur. It is not
ok to use alone. First you boil water in
a tea kettle. Then you mix the purified
water with some sink water, add in Strawberry scented Bingo dish soap and you’re
ready. Scrub all the dirties and place
them to the side-dirty. Rinse the tub,
empty the stopper, and repeat…except this time don’t add soap. Rinse, then stack and let dry.
