10 days to go...

Am fully in panic mode now as I scurry to prepare for this journey! I seem to have enormous decisions facing me about what to pack. Do I take the extra T-shirt? How much shampoo will fit? 6 pairs of socks, or 7? These are the questions that nag at me each day. And with a baggage allowance of 44 lbs (for 7 months!) I think things will only get worse.

In addition to packing woes, I'm trying to figure out where to put my car, get my taxes filed early and deal with other strange logistical issues. Frankly, getting on the plane will be a great relief. If it's not done then, I guess I won't worry about it!

My Volunteer Africa team was just informed that we will now be supporting a second orphanage, this one mostly younger primary school-age children. I think this brings the total number of kids to about 100. I've got a huge pile of teaching aids and toothbrushses; just hope it all fits!

Departure date is December 1st. I hope to have one more pre-departure post out before I go

Volunteer Africa

What will I be doing in Africa, you ask? From December 4th - February 28th, I will be volunteering with Volunteer Africa at the Hisani and Watoto orphanages, both located just outside of Mwanza. Teaching is the primary duty; heaven help me that math is one of the most important subjects. It has been years since I touched algebra and/or geometry. I keep reminding myself that any little bit of help I can lend is better than none at all!

The month of March will be a travel month for me. I hope to go on a safari, go to Rwanda to see gorillas, head to Gombe to see the chimps, and I guess go where the day takes me.

April, May and part of June have me at the Open Arms Infant Home in Malawi helping to care for children affected by HIV/AIDS. After Malawi, I hope to travel a bit more in country there, and then go to Mozambique for a bit of exploring.

I plan to head home sometime in late June/early July!

Home from Romania; preparing for Africa

My second trip to Romania was as fantastic as the first. My three weeks at the Failure-to-Thrive clinic in Tutova touched my mind, my heart, and my spirit. I remain even more dedicated to pursuing adoption in the next few years. I don't feel quite as sad upon my return home (as I did last year). Perhaps it's because Africa is looming in my near future. Each week now is a flurry of paperwork, banking, collecting teaching aids, and spending as much time with family and close friends as possible.

(Pictures: Lorna and Sylvia at the clinic; in Brasov town square)