Final Interview!

Today we have officially completed everything we are required to do.  Our job is over, and now we wait.  Its liberating knowing that we can’t do anything further, but at the same time frustrating because it will still be awhile before we have any definite answers.

If you have watched the news there have been some changes with Peace Corps.  Along with budget cuts there have also been cancelled programs.  Meaning everyone who was supposed to leave in the next couple of months for El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras have to now be re-assigned to different countries.  Apparently the security risks have escalated in those countries and Peace Corps has decided to pull out.  Good thing for those new volunteers, bad thing for all of us waiting.  Now, all invitations have been put on hold and we have to wait until the offices find homes for them first.  Our Placement Officer said couples programs should not be affected but couldn’t give us anything specific.  So now, we just wait until the water settles.  I am hoping it doesn’t take too long… I can’t wait to get this journey started. :0 ) For all of you S. America volunteers I am so sorry your dreams have been put on hold! Hopefully they will have answers for you soon!

To those of you who still have the final interview to go, don’t sweat it! I was a little nervous because I couldn’t find any information as to what to expect – but I found there is a reason for that.  It’s not something to worry about. Basically you get to talk to you new “life line” ask any questions, and she reviews information with you.  Basic catch up conversation and then she gives you a run down as to what to expect next.

It was nice to speak with her, and get an update – but now we just wait again.  Seriously, when they say learn patience – they mean it!

Kisses From Katie

When someone puts this in your lap, you can’t just sit back and not change your life. Even if its just a little bit. Kisses from Katie is a book written by a young woman who has uprooted her life in our comfortable America to suffer, struggle, and share in the joys of Uganda life. This book, and her compassion and love for those we choose to ignore, has excited me to move to Africa with the Peace Corps. I can’t wait, and I thank her for changing my way of thinking.

Here is a brief synopsis:

What would cause an eighteen-year-old old senior class president and homecoming queen from Nashville, Tennessee, to disappoint her parents by forgoing college, break her little brother’s heart, lose all but a handful of her friends (because the rest of them think she has gone off the deep end), and break up with the love of her life, all so she could move to Uganda, where she knew only one person but didn’t know any of the language? A passion to make a difference. Katie Davis left over Christmas break her senior year for a short mission trip to Uganda and her life was turned completely inside out. She found herself so moved by the people and children of Uganda that she knew her calling was to return and care for them. She has given up a relatively comfortable life—at a young age—to care for the less fortunate of this world. She was so moved by the need she witnessed, she’s centered her life around meeting that need. Katie, a charismatic and articulate young woman, is in the process of adopting thirteen children in Uganda, and she completely trusts God for daily provision for her and her family.

Despite the rough conditions in which Katie lives, she has found a life of service to God to be one of great joy. Katie’s children bring constant delight and help her help others by welcoming whoever comes to their door. As the challenges grow, so does Katie’s faith and her certainty that what she’s doing in Uganda, one person at a time, will have far-reaching rewards. It isn’t the life she planned, but it is the life she loves.

A New Assignment ….

On December 16th we were emailed by our new Placement Officer.  The wait was difficult to bear and I was SO relieved to finally hear from someone!! She explained that because of medical reasons I had site specific support guidelines.  Basically, I have a Paragaurd and there are some countries that wouldn’t be able to help if there happened to be a problem with that over the 27 months.

Based on these medical guidelines and our skills sets we were transferred to a different program. In French Speaking Africa!!! The exclamations make you think I am excited, and I guess now I am but it has taken me the last 2 weeks to feel this way.  I was looking forward to Asia mostly because I felt like it was more accessible.  Or rather, more of a destination spot that friends and family would be more likely to visit.  For lack of a better way to describe it, I felt less trapped there.

Now, 2 weeks later, and with a lot of help from Brett, family and friends I feel great about this new assignment.  Its important to concentrate on why you want to join Peace Corps when you start getting placed.  Quickly you can get wrapped up on the location and the pros and cons of that rather than realizing you are taking on this challenge to help and love others.  And what better place than Africa?

With the new location we also have new job titles. This is the best part! Before we were both assigned to teach English.  Now, our job descriptions are much more our style and skill set.  As of now, I will be in Youth and Community Development and with my background as well as my passion this is going to be perfect for me! Brett was moved to Water and Sanitation and he couldn’t be happier as this has been in his heart for years now.

All in all we are thrilled and can’t wait to start our new adventure.  We still have the final interview with our new placement officer in the next couple of days and then that’s it! Shortly after we will be given invitations and then we can start preparing!