FUNDRAISING UPDATE
CURRENT: $1425, GOAL: $6350

Thank you Sandy and Mike. This is amazing...I'm just taking little steps to get to Africa and it's actually working. People are responding to the letter campaign with donations. How do you thank people for supporting a cause that is so dear to your heart? I'm coming to believe more and more that the greatest gifts this universe continues to give me are the people in my life.

Yuck. I'm having one of those days full of doubt. What if it doesn't happen, what if I can't go for one reason or another....blah, blah, blah. Intellectually I understand that what will be, will be. I just get to do the footwork and let go of the outcome. But somehow knowing that, doesn't quiet the doubts today.
It kind of makes sense that I would have days when I feel like moving to Africa isn't going to happen. It would be nice if life was a process of setting a goal, then acheiving it the next day. But my experience has shown me that some accomplishments take thousands of little steps and many days. Some of those days you're feeling it...other days you just don't.
So here's the question...do I go forward faithfully in the direction of my dream or do I dwell in the possibility of failure?

Weird, writing this has actually lifted my spirits and answered that question for me today. Journaling rocks.

FUNDRAISING UPDATE
CURRENT: $1275, GOAL: $6350

Thank you Beth for all of your incredible support! My friend Beth taught in Africa for two years. She was not trained as a teacher and her area of study was biology. They had her teaching chemistry and physics in French (after 3 months of language study). In spite of these obvious obstacles, she continued and believes that her experience in Africa was amazing.

I am sending out my first set of fundraising letters today. My friend Gioia is an artist and she helped me put together a very unique fundraising letter. I'm hoping people see it and think it's so fantastic that they cannot help but donate to the cause.

I'm on my way....

FUNDRAISING UPDATE
CURRENT: $775, GOAL: $6350

I asked the Program Director of Grassroots Uganda what she felt were the impacts made by volunteers, this is some of what she had to say...

"the absolute best legacy you leave behind is exposure to your culture, language, attitude, etc. you're also part of a very long term chain of GVN voluteers. you wouldn't make half the difference if you came on your own, spent a few months, then went back. we have a sustained presence in the community where africans can learn the truth about out culture and countries. you'll help to dispell the myths spread by media, such as american television programs. we are not all seriously rich, and we are able to work for our successes!"

Interesting, I hadn't thought of that at all.

FUNDRAISING UPDATE
CURRENT: $600, GOAL: $6350

I have been pestering the program director in Uganda with all sorts of questions. I think she may be frustrated but I would like as much information as possible to prepare myself to teach these kids.
Here is what I have learned...the students will range in age from 5 to 15 years old. I am allowed to teach whatever subjects I feel comfortable teaching with an emphasis on math and english. Somehow I don't think my years of teaching American History and World History (from an American textbook) are going to do me much good in smalltown, Uganda. The teaching skills themselves might, subject matter-maybe not.
My schoolteacher friend Jill has offered to help me out...I will go in with some basic lesson plans and whatever else I can think of. My other schoolteacher friend Erin has suggested a class pen-pal exchange, I love it-what a great idea. Apparently Erin has made the giraffe her class mascot because it has the largest heart of all the land animals-so I'm supposed to hunt down giraffes and take pictures with them. Can you ride a giraffe?

I was speaking with a friend tonight who lived and worked in Africa about 10 years ago....Wow, this could be one wild adventure. Bucket showers, big bugs, snakes, huge cultural differences....as much information as I have, I still do not know what to expect. I don't even know if Uganda has an accepted curriculum that I will teach. My friend suggested collecting elementary school teaching materials before I leave and shipping them ahead of me. It might behoove me to read up on Ugandan culture as well. As scary as this all is, overwhelming too-my excitement grows alongside my conviction that this is the direction that I need to take. What if I actually have the opportunity to do something amazing there-be of real service in the world. And what will they teach me, what will I learn about myself and others.

The funniest response I received was from my very unique friend Nico who lives in Australia-


Sooooo..... Africa, Since I live on the other side of the world how do I donate? I can either;

1. Transfer funds
2. Post money order
3. Post nude pictures of myself for you to auction on ebay
4. A combination of the above Please specify your preference...

Or I can try and organise some kind of generator that runs off giraffe meat that will generate electricity for you to charge your ipod.... (The ipod has too changed my life).