Drum Roll Please...

And the winner is...

SOUTH AFRICA!!! Send me on my way.... I am off to South Africa (which I will affectionately refer to as SA here and there to save time and space) on January 28th. Actually, I leave for staging, which I am guessing will be in Philly, on that day; however, I probably won't leave for Africa until January 31. I got my medical clearance on Tuesday, September 11th and my invitation was sent out two days later.

I am obviously obsessed with looking up pictures, info, things to buy, etc. regarding SA. After turning in my application in January, I expected to find out where I was going by the end of the summer. In fact, I expected a lot of things from the Peace Corps. I had these dates in my head when things would be completed and grandiose ideas of where I would be going and what the process would be like. However, just the process of applying to serve has taught me an innumerable amount about the Peace Corps. I am glad that the dates I had set to find out where I was going were not the actual dates that came to fruition. I am excited that I have had the opportunity to marinate over this great opportunity. I am humbled by the fact that there are people in South Africa who I have been anxiously waiting to meet and praying about and who do not even know that I am coming yet. But most of all, I am thankful that I have received so much support from my family and friends during this process.

In my opinion, I believe the Peace Corps makes you wait for so long and jump through so hoops to test your flexibility and desire to join. They say only a third of people who apply actually end up getting on the plane....I can understand why. I am so excited to be moving to South Africa because though I may want to be the change I want to see in the world, I desire to see the change in myself just as much.

Now it is off to work on the no-fee passport application, South African visa application, aspiration statement, and resume before the next twelve days is up...ahh!

God Bless..

Prayer

So today I was looking through my notebook at work and I found this quote that I had written down a while ago and I thought it was a very poignant thought for this blog. It is a prayer in the midst of a church living with AIDS.

"Help me break down the walls of separation within our community. Help me build bridges of love and understanding. Help me sweep away the debris of isms, phobias, broken connections, and shattered hopes. Prepare my heart to prepare the way. Encourage me to think the first thought, to make the first sound, to speak the first word. Help me break the silence".

This is the prayer I am attempting to pray every night. This is the prayer that I when God hears it, will give me the strength and the means to do what I am called to do. This is a prayer of hopeful reflection and anxious patience. This the prayer that will allow me to break the silence and be the change. This is my prayer for Africa.

Until next time...

In the Beginning...

Well folks...I am officially a blogger! I never hoped to be one, but after carefully consideration and struggle with this whole sharing my life on the internet thing, I've decided it might not be so bad after all. In fact, I am going to attempt to keep up with this blog until I join the Peace Corps and return home. Hopefully, this will allow me to share information with my family and friends in a more effective and possibly more interesting way. With that said, I figure a little history to this blog is not incredibly unreasonable.

I have been applying to the Peace Corps since the end of January 2007. I believe I submitted my twenty-seven page long (once printed) application online on January 28th and the time line has been as follows...

2007

Jan. 28: Submitted application online.

Feb. 12: Had two hour PC interview with my really nice recruiter in Washington, D.C.

Feb. 28: Spoke with PC recruiter and was nominated for Health Extension work in Sub-Saharan Africa beginning in January of 2008.

Mar. 9: Receive PC medical packet.

May 7: Sent PC medical packet with dental exam, physical exam, lab reports of all sorts of blood tests, and eye exam information.

May 12: Receive dental and legal clearance.

Aug. 23: Get letter from PC stating that I need additional blood work to verify iron levels.

Sept 4: Go back to doctor for blood test.

Sept 6: Send blood work back to PC.

Currently...waiting....who would have guessed. =) I am planning to have good news soon so that I can write about something of more substance, but the point of the blog is that if you want to be a PC volunteer, you have to be patient...so stinkin patient...because if you aren't simply won't even be able to make it to the plane. Well I'm at work and its back to looking up shortwave crank radios and flashlights on eBay. Until later....