AHADI means promise

I've been picking up a few Swahili words in my spare moments, since Swahili and English are the official languages of Kenya.

Ahadi means promise.

Tumaini means hope.

Uhuru means freedom.

Amani means peace.

Upendo means love.

And finally a simple sentence: Maji ni maisha. Water is life.





A few inspirational/motivational quotes (all in English of course =D )that I've come across in the past few weeks that I'd like to share follow.

*Mankind's greatest error is to try to take out of the mind that which will not leave the heart.
...If you're passionate about something, go for it! Even if it's not easy.

*Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain.

*When the world says, "Give up," Hope whispers, "Try it one more time."

*Forgiveness: The perfume a flower leaves on the shoe that crushed it.

Expanding horizons

I plan to depart for Kenya on May 30th--although I won't arrive at my destination until 2 days later. Sometimes I am really excited about this opportunity to explore a new culture, an unfamiliar country (not to mention continent) and new languages, but I must admit that that isn't how I always feel.

I've been asked, "Aren't you scared?"..."Aren't you nervous?"..."Why would you want to go there?" The answer to the first two questions is "yes": Yes, I am scared and nervous, but I also feel like it is what I need to do. Why go to Kenya...to rural and impoverished Kenya...to a school where several of the children likely have HIV? There is so much in this world that I do not know or understand and so many who are less fortunate that I am.

When asked about the specifics of what I will be doing, its exact location and my other arrangements...my answer is, "I don't know." Lame, right? For a person who likes to be feel in control of things and to know what is going on, that seems bizarre. Yet, although I have anxious moments, I feel at ease about this journey.

In May I'll graduate. 1 1/2 weeks later, I will put my education and other experiences to the test to see how well they serve me in the "real" world.

Below are two websites that will give you more information about Kimori Academy and AHADI if you are interested.

http://www.bridgetgallaghersfairtrade.com/Gallery.html
http://www.ahadicommunity.kbo.co.ke/