Ebeye Perspectives .

Stazy Manueke | Student Missionary | Ebeye | La Sierra Univ.

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That doesn’t look good… storm coming! The view from the tallest building on the island doee! ☁⚡☔🗾 #ebeyeSDAschool #lateupload (Taken with Instagram)

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On the third floor of Ebeye SDA School. (:

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Flying high up in the clouds. ✈☁🚀✌ (Taken with Instagram)

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HNL (Honolulu) --> KWA (Kwajalein)

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Getting There .

Flying to the islands wasn't a problem. Getting to Ebeye was a bit complicated.

So after flying to Majuro from Honolulu, I stayed on the plane for the connecting flight to Kwajalein. Kwaj was known as a US Military Base and they were pretty strict on who can and cannot stay on their island. I was supposed to be on Kwaj because it was the only island that had direct ferry ride to Ebeye. 

It was Saturday morning, September 22. Everyone got off through the side of the plane and we actually walked down onto the runway (my first time ever doing that). Once I got off the plane we were brought into this briefing room which had an even mixture of US Personals and local people. After that I went through an immigration process and was sent off to baggage claim to pick up my checked baggage. That was when I first felt the humidity that flowed on the islands. I began to regret the jeans, flanel, and sneakers I was wearing due to the fact I was sweating everywhere. 

Once I got into baggage claim was when I encountered my first set of problems. My baggage was no where to be seen. I double-checked, even triple-checked to see if I might of walked past it by accident but it was still no where to be found. I ended up talking to the baggage claim people about it after seeing a couple complain about their lost baggage as well. I filed a baggage claim report and they said that they would contact me once they find my baggage. I had no signal so I gave them my email address hoping I'd find some way to get internet wherever I'd be at. I was freaking out a bit because the only luggage I had had minimal amount of clothes and barely and hygiene materials. 

After going through problems at baggage claim I had another set waiting just for me. I had no idea where to go now. Linda told me that there would be someone waiting to pick me up at the airport but yet there was no sign or anyone that looked like they were from the school waiting to pick me up. I began to pace myself, looking at random people to see if they were looking for anyone but everyone seemed to be in place. I walked back towards the briefing room and asked a random guy if they were looking for someone for Ebeye. He mentioned that he actually was and told me that I was to go upstairs and to meet for briefing with some sort of commander. I stopped him right there and asked exactly what he was talking about and realized quickly that he thought I was a recruit of some sort. I went back to baggage claim and said that I had no idea where I was to be going but knew that I had to go to the docks to go on the ferry for Ebeye. The people directed me to this guy named Lee. He was the postman in Ebeye and told me that I could walk with him to the docks. I started walking with him and he said that we might miss the ferry since it leaves in about 12 minutes and the dock was about a mile and half away but to our luck a car drove up that was friends with Lee and she was willing to drive us to the docks in her car! It felt good to not walk in the humidity and her car was blasting with AC. 

Once we got to the docks we went through a little security checkpoint where I was stopped by a certain individual who asked if I was a missionary going to Ebeye. I said, "yes" and he replied back saying, "Welcome to the Marshall Islands!". I felt relieved to be greeted by someone I was supposed to know. It was actually the principal of the school that came to pick me up. His name was Mr. Alamo and he explained about the strict rules they had on Kwaj and how people aren't allowed to leave the docks without proper paperworks and all. It was just a sigh of relief to know that after all those troubles I was put on the right track.

After the 20-30 minute ferry ride from Kwaj to Ebeye me and the principal was greeted by my roommate, John. We rode on the principal's ATV to the apartments were I'd be staying at for the school year. I was tired and exhausted but church had just finished and there was a special potluck for me that afternoon. I got to meet most of the teachers and faculty and fill my stomach which was grumpy from not eating enough. After potluck I settled in and finally caught some zzz's. I have finally reached Ebeye.

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"Don't judge an island by it's appearance, judge it by it's people."

Stazy Manueke

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Better Late Than Never .

So I know I'm a tad late on making this blog and I apologize! Slug-slow internet and Dengue fever slowed me down on making this site BUT it never stopped me.

It has been 23 days since I've stepped foot on Ebeye and lets say I've already made myself feel at home. The first couple of weeks was a bit rough to get used to but it all turned out for the best. I've met a lot of new friends and that's always good. There are three other SM's (Student Missionary) here from Union College. The locals are nice and friendly people which is always good to have. The weather here is spontaneous which makes it indifferent and unexpected at the same time. Overall, the vibe on this island is great even though most of the people here live on undetermined futures. 

This blog will contain different perspectives of the island through photography and text to help grasp a understanding of the culture that lies within Ebeye thru a student missionaries birds-eye view on things. 

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LAX (Los Angeles) --> HNL (Honolulu)

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A Small Introduction .

Yokwe (Hello)! My name is Stazy Manueke. I attend La Sierra University and this school year I've decided to dedicate it to Missions and become a SM (Student Missionary).  I've always wanted to get back to the fields of missions due to my high school mission trip I partook in. I was a Senior attending Puget Sound Adventist Academy and that mission trip was the first one I've ever gone on. It was a two-week mission trip to Mexico. Our mission was to build another orphanage for these orphans that lived on top of a hillside. It was the first time I've seen miracles and God's call for me to do missions sometime in the near future. 

For this next school year I will be on the island of Ebeye. It is a part of the Marshall Islands located in the middle of the pacific ocean. It is a mile and a half long island with a estimated population of 15,000 people. Over half of the population are kids. I will be teaching mainly 6th Grade at Ebeye Seventh-day Adventist School.

In this school year I hope to learn the teach the students, learn the culture, and overall.. magnify God.