the home stretch

2 weeks to go! Got my immunizations. Hepatitis A, Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid (which made me pretty sick). Also have the anti-diarrheal and Malaria pills to take with. It took me a little while to process the fact that we have to constantly be aware of mosquitos and cannot drink ANY water that isn't bottled. That's weird for me. I drink water non-stop. I guess I'll be spending a lot of $$$ on water. I don't but bottled here, because I think it's a marketing ploy, but I guess I have no choice.

As the date approaches, I'm seeing more and more coverage of other people's voyages to Africa. I can't wait to see myself in those photos...with those kids. There are so many different reasons why you can go to Africa right now. Notice I didn't say the word SHOULD. I know this is not for everyone. I don't even really know why I have such a strong urge to go...but it's not something I feel the need to work against. This is important to me. I don't know if I will commit the 6 weeks and feel an even greater urge to go back, now that I've seen it...or if those 6 weeks will be enough. I do know a part of me is looking forward to settling down here but a part of me is open to the fact that I will be forever changed by what I see in Africa and I will always be able to find more ways to help. I just read last night that Malawi "is now one of the poorest nations on Earth. It’s been especially hard-hit by HIV/AIDS, losing a huge portion of its 20 to 40-year olds. Young parents, especially. It’s now a nation of children and old people." That devastates me. To know that so many children are losing their parents and have nothing. Is that any way to grow up? Understanding human development and how critical a child's developing years are...

I know I can't save the world...I'm not trying to. This does help me sleep well at night, though. ;-) It's important to me to make small differences in the lives of others any way I can. This time it means spending nearly $4000 to fly to Africa and give 6 weeks of my life to these kids...I may do more. Maybe I'm the guy that will open that orphanage.

Do more. Give more.

Have a nice Sunday.