"After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb" -Nelson Mandela.
So. Onto the next hill. As most of you reading this blog probably know, last summer I biked across the United States of America from Virginia Beach, VA to Cannon Beach, OR to raise money and awareness for affordable housing efforts such as Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together, stopping to build along the way. This journey from Atlantic to Pacific Ocean affected my life in ways that are hard to explain, and you can read more at the blog http://peacelovebikebuild.blogspot.com/ but to put it simply: it was a great hill-both literally and figuratively. Together as a team we biked over mountains-the Appalachians and Rockies. We fought the affordable housing crisis. We overcome great mental obstacles. We pedaled from coast to coast. We climbed "a great hill"
Huh, so those who know me probably aren't surprised that I've gushed about Bike & Build yet AGAIN! And you may be wondering, "what in the world does this have to do with Africa?" Bike & Build gave me the courage to take on the next mountain in my life, and I shall name this hill "Africa"
Africa has been on my heart for YEARS. I feel that Africa is a continent that is in need of some peace and love; and I have some peace and love I can share. But how to get there? And in what capacity? and what to do? I should have learned by now, that what is meant to happen will happen. Someone on B&B suggested study abroad, so when I returned to CMU for my final semester of Undergrad, I began to research different study abroad trips. I was also looking for a way to complete my second minor: Global Justice, because CMU didn't offer enough classes for it. Lo and behold appears this Service Learning program in Capetown South Africa! Not only will I be both volunteering with communities in need AND taking classes about poverty and social justice but this program also works with Habitat for Humanity AND there is a mountain I can bike up and down: Table Mountain! I will be serving and learning, biking and building, and most importantly...LOVING.
I believe I've rambled on long enough. I shall try post to this blog about once a week and share with family and friends the work I am doing, the people I am loving, and the things I am learning.
peace&love
kristen
