Well, it's sneaking up on us quickly... We now have only 16 days before we board the plane(s) and embark on our journey to Kenya. But you know what else that means? Only 9 more days until I graduate from COLLEGE. Yes. That's right. I did it... err hopefully, still have a week of finals left ;)
With graduation approaching quickly, I have found myself reflecting over the past four years (mostly while I'm supposed to be studying, writing papers, etc). Jamestown College has become a part of me. They say college changes you-- but I don't necessarily think that's true. While at JC I have grown into the person I'm meant to be, and what I have learned here has challenged me to continue that growth, to continue learning. JC has challenged me. I have taken courses that have confirmed my beliefs, and courses that have definitely challenged them. Who I am hasn't changed, but I have a strengthened sense of belief of who that person is... and who I want to become.
Because I haven't updated in awhile... I figured I'd share a little bit of what has been going on. We have been doing various fundraisers to bring supplies with us to Chogoria. Each of us is required to bring two suitcases along-- one for our personal items, and the other to carry supplies (the nice thing is that this suitcase opens up at the end of the trip to carry souvenirs). One of the ladies who is traveling with me, Abby, student taught this semester and held a book drive at her elementary school. It was a great success and we now have many, many books to bring along with us. Another young lady, Beth (who also has a fantastic blog: www.journeytochogoria.blogspot.com she is the journalist on our trip), held a baseball hat drive at her high school. So so far- we have books, baseball hats, and.... school supplies! We have been holding a school supplies fundraiser here on campus. The donations have been overwhelming and our suitcases will be full!
Tonight in class we are fortunate to have the nursing group who traveled to Chogoria in February join us. They will share with us their experiences and although we will not be doing the same things as they did-- it will be a helpful and information evening. Next Thursday (after finals are OVER) we will be packing up our supply suitcases... Yikes.
I think I'm going to end here for the afternoon.. I have so much more to say-- but unfortunately the last day and a half of classes + a week of finals requires me to do a little bit of homework/studying before continuing writing about Kenya-- trust me, I'd much rather do this.
Talk to you all soon.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Monday, April 2, 2012
My Visa Arrived!!
Hello once again!
40 days until we leave! Yikes, that's barely over a month away and I'm getting a little bit more nervous every single day. Don't get me wrong, I am ecstatic but it is nerve racking to wrap my head around the thought that I am going to be in an entirely different country for 3 weeks.
Regardless of the nerves... Some excitement happened today: my Visa arrived! While the reality of traveling to Africa has always been at the back of my mind, seeing it printed on my passport made those feelings so much more real and I have been having a hard time concentrating on school today. 40 days... Eek!
I thought I would also share with you some thoughts I had from our readings for last week's class... (These are excerpts from my journal that I am keeping). Last week we had reading in our book, "I Laugh So I Won't Cry" which is a book that highlights interviews that a young reporter had with women in Kenya. Here is what I wrote:
"I think that this section of the Laugh book has been the most humbling and my favorite thus far. It began with HH (the reporter) asking the women of Kenya what they did for themselves, what we in the US would call our "me" time. Almost all expressed that some form of labor or service to others was their happiness factor. It showed me that as hard as people in the US do work, we are also rather lazy and selfish. We focus so much on material things to spend our leisure time with and not with other people. I also believe that this is why, when someone intentionally and selflessly pours into another person with their time, it is such a welcomed change of pace. This is also why inspirational stories move us so much-- why Christians cling so tightly to Jesus-- we crave meaning in our lives."
I go on about other things... and then this:
"I am looking forward to living amongst the Kenyan people and learning from them. I want to soak in absolutely all that I am able. Even just this week I found that I relied so much on material things going correctly that I have forgotten to rely on Christ. Learning this, and this experience in Kenya, I hope, will prepare me for the unknown my life holds for me when I return!"
Have a wonderful week everyone! :)
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40 days until we leave! Yikes, that's barely over a month away and I'm getting a little bit more nervous every single day. Don't get me wrong, I am ecstatic but it is nerve racking to wrap my head around the thought that I am going to be in an entirely different country for 3 weeks.
Regardless of the nerves... Some excitement happened today: my Visa arrived! While the reality of traveling to Africa has always been at the back of my mind, seeing it printed on my passport made those feelings so much more real and I have been having a hard time concentrating on school today. 40 days... Eek!
I thought I would also share with you some thoughts I had from our readings for last week's class... (These are excerpts from my journal that I am keeping). Last week we had reading in our book, "I Laugh So I Won't Cry" which is a book that highlights interviews that a young reporter had with women in Kenya. Here is what I wrote:
"I think that this section of the Laugh book has been the most humbling and my favorite thus far. It began with HH (the reporter) asking the women of Kenya what they did for themselves, what we in the US would call our "me" time. Almost all expressed that some form of labor or service to others was their happiness factor. It showed me that as hard as people in the US do work, we are also rather lazy and selfish. We focus so much on material things to spend our leisure time with and not with other people. I also believe that this is why, when someone intentionally and selflessly pours into another person with their time, it is such a welcomed change of pace. This is also why inspirational stories move us so much-- why Christians cling so tightly to Jesus-- we crave meaning in our lives."
I go on about other things... and then this:
"I am looking forward to living amongst the Kenyan people and learning from them. I want to soak in absolutely all that I am able. Even just this week I found that I relied so much on material things going correctly that I have forgotten to rely on Christ. Learning this, and this experience in Kenya, I hope, will prepare me for the unknown my life holds for me when I return!"
Have a wonderful week everyone! :)
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