Two weeks.

In just two weeks, I’ll be on a plane headed to Tanzania. I haven’t made it well known that I’m going to Tanzania – partly because I’ve been focused on finishing my MSW program, but I think mostly it’s because I don’t want the “OMG, you’re going to Africa?!” reaction. I’m not going to save the world; I’m going to volunteer for one month. I hope I make a small difference for someone and I know that my four weeks there will matter. But I also know I’m not going to change the world in four weeks.

I got an email today telling me about my specific volunteer placement. I’m going to be at the Hope Center in Arusha, Tanzania. Hope Center is an orphanage that houses 13 double orphan (meaning they’ve lost both parents) children who have no related family or connections to other family. According to their website, about 30 more orphans come to the Hope Center on Saturdays – some of these orphans live with extended family. I’m still not sure exactly what I’ll be doing there, my email said a combination of teaching the children English, playing, cooking, and gardening. The Hope Center’s website says children meet for counseling and Bible teachings on Saturday – I’d love to get to be a part of those things too.

Everyone who does already know about me going to Africa keeps asking “How do you feel; Are you nervous/excited/anxious?” My answer: All of the above.

• I’m nervous to travel out of the country for the first time ever by myself.  
• I love flying, but I’m nervous about twenty-five hours travel time.
• I’m scared that I’m not going to be able to find the agency rep at the airport in Tanzania.   
• I’m scared I’m not going to like the food and have to survive on peanut butter and crackers for four weeks.
• I’m scared about the suffering and extreme poverty I’m going to see.  
• I’m excited to meet lots of other volunteers from all over the world.
• I’m excited to experience all that Tanzania has to offer, including a trip to Zanzibar and a safari in the Serengeti.
• But most of all, I’m scared I’m going to love it, that I’m going to fall in love with Tanzania and its people, the kids I’m volunteering with, and it’ll break my heart to leave in July.

You can check out the Hope Center’s website here: http://www.hopeorphanagearusha.org/

(Photo taken from Hope Center's website)