Being a young mum of an 18 month old and wife in a foreign land is a job in itself that requires service at all odd hours but that does not mean that one cannot progress to higher heights with your home land at heart.
Such is the story of US based Guyanese Melinda T Messiah Duncan age 29. She migrated three years ago to the USA after being educated at School of the Nations, the Cyril Potter College of Education and obtaining a degree in Education from the University of Guyana. Coming from a family oriented background her plan was to cater to her husband Guyanese Rawle Duncan but even as she was with child a call to a greater purpose and Nationhood kept her mind and heart occupied as did her baby Rachael.
While Ms. Duncan tends to her original plan she’s got now opted to answer the call as she has recently graduated from The Protocol School of Washington with training and certification in ‘Corporate Etiquette and International Consultancy’ and Guyana is on her mind.
“My desire to study such field is as a result of me having a ‘servant’s heart’… I love to serve and doing it the right way was learning the best of etiquette protocol and hospitality (they all are different) at the best institution so that I would be able to deliver quality, effective and efficient training.
She recalls the sore experiences of attending official functions where teenagers and even adults weren’t aware of ‘good’ and correct table manners.”
But the seed was planted while on local soil thanks to Ms. Dianne Hermonstine who made it her duty to teach protocol and hospitality since year 2000. Admittedly Messiah Duncan says “I’ve never had a desire to train otherwise but now that I have completed this stage I’m preparing to facilitate training in Guyana at churches (leadership) and even government officials.” Tending to her baby Ms. Messiah Duncan further states that she believes she’s now ready to spread her wings “… helping to make our home a more sociable place as I strive to bringing back the Queens standards of ‘dining like a diplomat,’ business and social etiquette.”
She is ever grateful to her Guyanese Church family at the FIRST Assemblies of God Church and says she strongly believe in the word of God which is her mantra that she hopes will catch on in days to come “to whom much is given, much is required.”
By Mondale Smith