As I sit here on the plane departing from Ethiopia headed to Frankfurt, I still cannot believe our time in Africa has come to an end. Time flew by! They say time flies when your having fun, but honestly, Africa wasn’t always fun.
The World Race is hard, and being in Africa was very hard. I know I personally was romanticized with the idea of traveling to 11 countries in 11 months. Travel, see the World, help some people along the way. This is going to be fun! I knew it wasn’t going to be a cake walk, but I had no idea it was going to be this hard.
On the World Race they have this thing where teams are deemed either the “Beach Team” or “Bush Team” based on their location and living conditions. Lets just say my team has been the “Bush Team” for the past two months. I have lived in a tent the past two months, which has been infested with ants (several times), flooded and almost blown away (try camping during Africa’s rainy season). I have eaten shema, or rice, or cabbage, or beans for almost every meal. I have had to walk half a mile downhill to a well to get water, then turn around and walk half a mile uphill with the water. I have had to use very interesting bathroom facilities (mainly consisting of holes in the ground). I have gone without showering for periods of time longer than I wish to admit (thank goodness for baby wipes!) I don’t think I have stopped sweating since I have been in Africa.
Lets just say the past two months have been uncomfortable. Honestly, quite a few times I have found myself having a negative attitude, but then I realize this is only temporary. I only have to live this way for two months, but the people who live here have to live this way forever. I didn’t sign up for the World Race to be comfortable. I signed up for the World Race so I could be pushed outside of my comfort zone, to be stretched beyond what I am used to and to be challenged in ways I never imagined. (Lets just say Africa has succeeded in doing that!) Im here to sacrifice the everyday luxuries I have become so accustomed to and to live simply and in order to serve others. Its been a hard two months, but it has also been a very humbling two months that have taught me to appreciate every little luxury in life, and everything that I have been blessed with! So thank you Africa for pushing me outside of my comfort zone and helping me realize that life is so good!
We are now headed to Estonia and will be in the city of Latise working with the Village of Hope which is a drug and alcohol rehab center for men. Stay posted for more news from Estonia!
Peace,
Caroline
ALSO.. I am only $1,200 away from being fully funded.. Thank you to every one who has donated! I have to be completely funded by July 1. If you have any questions about how to donate please feel free to contact me!
