.let us love the world to peace.

So I know you all are aware of the fact that I am quite in love with Africa. I also hope you know how much I love my kids at my school. I truly would do anything to help them and I can’t imagine a day without seeing their smiling faces. It is the type of thing that makes you realize your heart has incredible depth and capacity to love. Coming to Africa has truly made me realize that I can love even more than I thought possible, that I am able to achieve things I saw as distant dreams and that it truly is possible to love the world to peace.

            Last week we took one of our students, Ramsey, to Upendo. Ramsey loves to draw and is a very talented artist. The most incredible thing about Ramsey is his passion for art and the way he lights up when he draws. He is also very smart, very polite and loves to learn! Becca and I talked and we organized for Ramsey to meet Sibo and go to Upendo and paint. This was one of the most rewarding days I’ve had here. I brought Ramsey back to CCS from school where we ate lunch and he got to spend time drawing and hanging out with the other volunteers. Everyone loved meeting him and complimented his art skills. We also had Amani come and stand by Ramsey because they look like they could be father and son haha. It was great to see Ramsey having a good time at home base and to be able to just spend time with him. Katyann and I took him over to Mzungu bar and got him a soda and while we were walking he said, “I am so happy”. This made my heart so happy to hear and Katyann and I were so excited to see Ramsey having an amazing day.

            When Sibo came to pick us up we showed him Ramsey’s drawings and he was thrilled to see a new budding artist. I couldn’t have been more excited to have the two meet each other. I knew that Sibo would love Ramsey and I loved that we could bridge the gaps between Faraja and Upendo. I loved that we could be a part the beginning of a connection between two different placements. It is so important to be able to connect the places we work and help Moshi become more integrated and a community that can grow together and support each other. Ramsey had an amazing time painting. He created a picture of his favorite animal – simba – in the grass with Kilimanjaro in the background. It was so beautiful!! Sibo helped him with the background and guided him in how to draw and paint his lion. Ramsey added grass and painted his name and “Afrika Animal” on the top of the painting. I have never seen a bigger smile on his adorable face. We took a lot of photos and I got teary, of course.

            After our painting adventure Becca and I met Amani and Susan and got ready to take Susan to the airport. I wish I could say goodbyes get a little easier just because I’ve gone through multiple, but that would be a complete lie. Saying goodbye to Susan was too hard. Her sweet spirit and beautiful heart really permeating everyone that she was with. It was so strange to feel her leave; I miss her everyday (along with the other people that have left). On the way home in the car the song “I’m Coming Home” came on and I just cried and cried!!

I can’t believe the days keep passing and I move along with them…closer to going home. However, I now have left a part of my heart in Africa, which means I am definitely coming back. I have been given a wonderful opportunity to head volunteerism and aide to a new orphanage here – which means I also have an opportunity to return here and create a tangible project in Moshi with orphans!! Though this is exciting news, this leaves a lot of work for me to do – the proposal for my school, the work with and for the orphanage and finishing the profiles for my kids – and I feel like I don’t have enough time! I do know that I will be able to get it done, however, and that this is definitely not my first and last time here.

I am so grateful for the love and support I have been given prior to and during this time in my life. My mom is my role model and my hero – if she had not given me a chance at life and provided copious amounts of opportunities for me I would not be here. I am fueled by her love and guidance even when she isn’t with me – so thank you mama for being you. My sister and grandma – both of you have shaped who I am and I am so thankful for your continual strength! My other friends and family back home – I am always in awe of how you continually change and grow and I love that we can remain close despite any distances. And my friends here in Africa- you all have shown me how to love in many different ways and how to face all kinds of circumstances. I feel so lucky to have met people with hearts that mirror mine in many ways and people who really understand where I am coming from. I know that together we can change the world and become ambassadors for those in need.  Last but certainly not least I would have to put my kids and the people of Africa – I cannot put words to this experience nor to the amount of times they have stolen my heart! Coming to Africa has proven to me that I will be serving children forever and that helping people in developing countries is going to be a part of my life permanently. It is as though I finally did the thing my heart was waiting for – that sounds oh so cheesy – but it is definitely the truth. Asante san asana Afrika, una iliyopita maisha yangu milele.

Upendo and amani. Ninakupenda sana.