Tanzania: Final Days

You can’t exist in this world without leaving a piece of yourself behind. There are concrete paths, like airplane tickets, credit card receipts, appointment calendars, and promises you’ve made to others. There are microscopic clues, like fingerprints, that stay invisible unless you know how to look for them. But in the absence of any of this- is love. The way you can make someone feel is not what is bound by your three-dimensional earthly existence; it’s so much more than that.

There is a quote: “People will forget what you said and what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” This, I believe to be true. My time here in Tanzania has taught me just this as well.  Working with those kids everyday has shown to be a unique experience each and every day.

Saying goodbye is always so extremely hard, but all good things must eventually come to an end. Seeing the children’s smiles fade and each hug getting tighter as the sun went down, made me realize that the time we were able to have with these kids is irrevocable and I would not trade it for the world.

Being able to come to Tanzania is an incredible blessing, and I cannot thank the people that have been by my side and helped me get here enough. Everything I was able to do here is because of the people that donated, helped with my fundraisers, motivated me the whole way and of course, CGA. Thank you. I am going to miss this country and its culture so much, and I am grateful to have been able to experience what I have these last two weeks. 

Tanzania: Day 5,6,7

If it had been easy for Ghandi to spread peace in India, nobody would have cared. The same goes for Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, and their respective paramours. Change does not come with just a simple idea. Change must be kindled, cared for, worked on and brought to fruition by hard work and dedication. This has been such a resounding lesson with CGA. Working months and months in preparation for this trip has been well worth every minute and it’s only been one week. Working in the orphanage, school and sports program have been intense and draining, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.

From teaching science at LOAMO to teaching handstands and front rolls at the sports camp, every day is a new experience. These children are so amazing; they constantly take in every new morsel of information that you are able to provide them. Ansley, Ava, Jake and I teach the gymnastics station and the kids love it. All the children are taken from a few different orphanages and from different situations, so each child has their own stories to share with whoever is willing to listen. Two children, Collins and Robby, have both stolen my heart. They both have mothers that are prostitutes and their fathers have left their families. They both lived with a family member but would spend their day’s being “street children”, and would have to fend for themselves. They were found and sponsored to go to a Medium English Boarding School and when they aren’t in school, they stay together with people from the community. They each have such huge hearts and I love them so much. Being able to teach these children new things and give them new unique experiences is so incredibly fulfilling. Tomorrow is our last day at the sports camp, and I can’t even believe this trip is almost over. This country has so much to offer and I absolutely love it here. 

Tanzania: My mission statement

My mission behind everything I do is to use my fire and passion to spark change in every life I touch. This is something I have thought about and encountered for years- more specifically 3 years ago when I first went to Nicaragua with Children’s Global Alliance. When I shared my stories and experiences with the people back home, I saw how incredible it was that they were touched by the stories I saw and lived, even if they weren’t able to be there. My passion and love to help other people went beyond me- I was able to see how it inspired the people around me as well. When I went to Cambodia, I saw the same thing. I told my aunt about my trip and experiences and months later she told me how she shared my stories with her students at the school she works at and they had a class discussion on how important it is to help other people. The idea that MY experiences and stories can influence and affect other people astonishes me.

Since learning this, I have tried to use this in my everyday life, and when I am not relating my experiences, I have learned I can do this with my energy as well. Sharing my positive outlook, and my values and decisions can influence others in the same way. I have learned that something so simple as radiating positive energy can change the course of someone’s day.

In the future, I will continue to share my experiences to benefit others. When I return from Tanzania, I will share the love I have been shown by these kids to everyone I come in contact with. I plan to continue to share my own experience along with other’s to spark passion and a fire in everyone.

Currently, I am relaying the love and the compassion shown to me by the kids at LOAMO on to the children we are working with in the sports program. I am excited to see where the love will carry out and transfer on from here. 

Tanzania: Day 3 and Day 4

DAY 3

I am in awe as to how I was able to feel so much after being at LOAMO School for so little time. We only spent a day and a half at the school and still those children I encountered have left an imprint on my life and my heart. Although the time we spent at the LOAMO School was limited, it pushed us for our best. We strived to take everything completely in; learn the children’s names and stories, teach as much as we possibly could in 2 days, and make and build relationships that have such strength and character that they will always be remembered.

One of my students in class five, Junior, told me “You only are here for a short time but you make our hearts happy!” Each child I met during my stay was so unique in their own ways, but each had their own set of big, eager eyes and incredibly huge hearts, which made it impossible not to fall head over heels in love with them.

Saying goodbye to the students at the end of the day was tough, and explaining to each child that when they return from break we will not be there got harder and harder each time. I am so grateful we were able to leave our mark with the LOAMO School, and touch the  lives of each child.

DAY 4

At the beginning of our trip, Lisa Marie told us what we will need to focus on during our time here is being selfless. If there is one thing that this trip has shown me so far, it is just that. Being able to put yourself in situations to solely benefit others is something that is a lesson for everyone, everywhere. Being compassionate and understanding are traits learned by the actions of others and I believe that showing these actions every day is the best way to build your own character and help other people. This is something that Tanzanians use and practice in their daily lives from what I have already seen during my time here.

Today we went and visited the Save Africa Orphanage about 30 minutes away from our guesthouse. On the van ride there I watched the trees go by and focused on the word ‘selfless’ and what it means.

Today at the orphanage was a day of cleaning, which was much needed. Every moment we spent there was devoted to making the orphanage a better living environment for the 20-30 children that were there. Scrubbing desks, walls, cleaning bathrooms, and scrubbing floors were tasks that we were able to complete in a few hours and already our small group was able to help the orphanage more than other volunteers were able to in weeks and weeks of working there. Our hard work incredibly paid off when we were able to see the finished product before we left, and we were able to turn the entire place upside down and vastly improve the lives and I am so grateful to be a part of it.