It has been too long again

So, I don't think three weeks has ever gone by so quickly - suddenly the summer is half over and the new school year looms ahead :) Many times in the past few weeks I have thought, 'hm, I should put this on my blog' but always seem to get distracted, so here are a couple thoughts on the last weeks:
*The Anastasis left Liberia on her last sail at the end of June. She is sailing around Africa on her way to the scrapyard in India. She has been a good ship and worked hard for the last 30 years with Mercy Ships, but it would have cost too much money to bring her up to code, so there was a decision to end her service and focus on the Africa Mercy. There were lots of tears the day she left because many people had lived on her for awhile - years for some people.
*Had my first African dress made two weeks ago. I was able to get out a few weeks ago with a friend and we went fabric shopping together. I really like the color (a dark purple) but I am still wondering if the 'pattern' on it is a little much - there are yellowish sun shapes and some white lines. Everyone who saw it this past Sunday when I went to church said it looked good, so I guess it is not too bad. It has a top and skirt, so I am able to wear them separtly as well. I worn the top with jeans Sunday afternoon on the ship and it worked out nicely. I am still hoping to get something a bit tamer that I could easily wear wherever I end up after this and people would not think immediatly that I just got off the plane from Africa. I just have to get out fabric shopping again. The best part is that you can get enough fabric for about US$10 and the dress made for US$10, so I can get several things made while I am here. I don't have a picture of me in the dress yet, I will try to get one and post it sometime.
*Have been able to visit a couple churchs here in Monrovia. Everything from one church that was almost like sitting in church in the States to one of the local Episcopal churchs to the United Methodist this past Sunday that was a great mix of local African and traditional Methodist. The Episcopal was fimilar, but very traditional, which was a little long after two and a half or three hours. All the churchs have been really nice though. I have a couple more to visit and then I hope to find one that I can attend regularly and get to know people. There is also a small Sunday evening service here on the ship and one on the hospital ward in the morning. Sunday evening is usually nice because you can get off the ship in the morning, but still have fellowship with crew mates in the evening.
*Summer program is still going - one and half more weeks. Right now I have eight kids, four who are not three yet, two who are three and two who are four. It makes for an adventure some days. When the summer program is finished, I will have about a week to start sorting things out before we start a could weeks of teacher training and school on the 20th. It looks right now that there will be 15 kids in the nursery and preschool (ages 1-4) this school year which will make things interesting. The teacher for preschool will come at the end of the month which is exciting for me. I was able to meet her briefly in London and I am looking forward to seeing her again in two weeks. It will be nice to have another teacher in the Academy to 'talk preschool with'.
*Down to one roommate after yesterday. Three of my cabinmates headed back to the 'real world' yesterday afternoon leaving only Amber and I in the cabin. On the one hand, it is nice to have a 6-berth cabin with only two people, but on the other hand, I really enjoyed the three girls who were here and I have no idea who will be moving in next. One more thing to pray about and hand over to God :)