Nancy
Markovich
Biography
Nancy
Markovich
Nancy
Markovich has worked as a Legal Assistant, Office Manager, Secretary --
various levels of administrative support staff since 1961. Ms. Markovich
lives in Kennesaw, Georgia.
Ms.
Markovich became a Baha'i on 27 December 1967, after nearly two years of
intense study. "I was raised in a very conservative environment," explained
Ms. Markovich, "where we were basically taught that if you weren't white,
Anglo-Saxon Protestant, you weren't anything..." She went on to say, "We
were never exposed to ideas outside of the realm of that thought. We
weren't exposed to other cultures, ethnic groups, which were viewed with
suspicion and fear. Finding the Baha'i Faith opened a whole new world to
me -- one that included all of humanity and answered the questions I had
never been able to answer as a Christian."
After
becoming a Baha'i and serving as a Baha'i missionary in South Carolina
for nearly 20 years, Markovich was invited to go to Israel and work in
the Office of the Project Manager for Mount Carmel Projects at the Baha'i
World Centre, the 10-year, $250 million project undertaken by the international
Baha'i Community.
Markovich
departed for Haifa in July 1991 and worked for seven years, not really
understanding the magnitude of what she was a part of at the beginning.
The entire staff at the Mount Carmel Projects office was made up of international
experts in the fields of architecture, engineering, soils, irrigation.
Markovich was the Assistant to the Project Manager, as well as the
Office Manager. "At one time," Markovich explained, "I counted 21
different nationalities among our staff, from all corners of the globe,
coming together to assure the buildings were built to North American specifications
by our Israeli contractors."
"I
knew the projects would be dedicated as promised, but it was only a dream
that I might be among those few who would be selected to attend," Ms. Markovich
explained. "When I received word in February of this year that I had been
invited, I just wept. I was the only female former staff member, the
only American [that she is aware of], the rest being professionals from
all over the world, and being the Administrative staff -- it just didn't
seem possible."
As
years went by, she now has a greater appreciation and understanding regarding
the magnitude of the project and its meaning in Baha'i history. "I don't
know that I can profess to TRULY understand the spiritual significance
of this event. I know that I watched the transformation of that mountain,
which is symbolic of what we as mankind have to go through to achieve our
spiritual destiny. I know that this is the time of the beginning of
the promised 'Peace on Earth,' and that the completion of these projects
is paramount to that process beginning."
"Every
Baha'i in the world would give their teeth to be able to go to this
special occasion," continued Markovich. "There are approximately 5 Million
Baha'is in the world. Out of that number, 3,300 have been invited
to attend this inauguration. Out of those 3,300, approximately 19
delegates from almost every country in the world have been invited to attend.
Additionally, 15 former staff members of the projects have been chosen
to attend. Being one of those staff members and having actually put in
blood, sweat and tears into seeing the project brought to fruition, I wouldn't
miss it for anything."
For
more information, contact:
Atlanta
Baha'i Information Center
Office of Communications & Media Relations
E-mail: weare1@atlantabahai.org
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