2012: The Best Year of My Life.

A year ago, I was upset and disappointed with where my life seemed to be going. At every turn, it seemed I was met with failure. Instead of continuing to live like that, I knew some changes had to be made. If my life path wasn't working out, I needed to take control and find a new path. In 2012, that is exactly what I did. The past year has been full of huge risks, new places and people, trials and setbacks, joyous reunions, new discoveries, real perspective, and deep emotions I once considered my life devoid of.

Why I Don't Give Thanks.

I have always been a very grateful person. This year my eyes have been opened up to a lot, and my world has become a larger place. And at this time of Thanksgiving, I simply can't give thanks. Here's why:

My Kenyan Adventure - Journal Entry 2

4/17/12

Where to start? It's only been two days since I last wrote, but it feels like so much has happened in those two short days. It feels like it's been weeks. Yesterday morning we (the new volunteers) were picked up from Regina's house and taken to orientation. Orientation is where we finally met the entire Fadhili staff. They are the local organization that IVHQ works with in Kenya. There seem to be fantastic people and were very good to us. It was good to hear from them and finally have some of our fears settled a little bit. Beyond learning more about the organization, special projects, and rules/regulations, they also assigned us each to our project locations.

My Kenyan Adventure - Journal Entry 1

April 15, 2012

Jambo! I am currently in a home in Nairobi, Kenya. Yes, this is my real life. There is so much to say. My head has been racing since I got here. I don't know how I am going to put these thoughts and feelings into worked, but we will see how it goes.

This journey actually begins years ago. We all see the images and read the stories about poverty and death in third-world countries. Those stories always would bring me to tears. I always felt like there was so much more we could do to help. So much more that I could do. I have donated money, but sometime in my early college years, after watching another documentary about Africa, I told myself I need to do more. I made it a life goal to one day visit Africa and help these people. They were so far away, yet I always felt this unexplainable connection to their pain.

Be Mine. (someday)