Pre-Journey Thoughts

I haven't got to Africa yet, but thought I would provide a little background for those of you who are confused about who I am and what I am doing...

I graduated from Fraser Valley Christian High School in 2008, and through that school, recieved the oppurtunity to volunteer in Sierra Leone, West Africa. When I signed up for the trip, I expected heat waves, spicy food, & poverty...but I never could have prepared for how my life would be changed through this trip. Before I first traveled to Sierra Leone in March of 2008, I knew this country was devestatingly poor, filled with injustice, and had just been through one of the most brutal civil wars in this century. I knew nothing of the incredible hope that lay in this country, and the unimaginable happiness people found in relationships with God & each other. I was totally and completely captured by the incredible love that was shown to me by each and every member of the community I stayed in - they welcomed me into their homes, and their families, with arms more open than I would have ever dreamed possible. The school I was helping at in Sierra Leone was one that Fraser Valley Christian had fundraised to build in 2007, and I was able to help teach there the first year it opened. This school truly awakened me to the possibility of a hope and a future for this tiny country in West Africa, a country that had been through so much - yet still had so much hope. Kids at the school would tell me they dreamed of becoming doctors, politicians, or teachers - all so they could help their country become a better place. From the moment I heard these heartfelt dreams, I knew God was calling me to be a part of making those dreams a reality. This year, I will be working with a non-governmental organization in Sierra Leone, CES, helping them plan for further development work in schools throughout the Koinadugu district of Sierra Leone. I will also be helping out at the school & with the kids whenever I can, as well as at the local church in Kabala. I will be arriving in Kabala on Monday, April 27...so keep checking in, as I will be writing about my experiences mid-next week. Thank you so much for reading.