Vocabulary Lesson...

Wow, this Tanzania thing is getting so real!! Every day I become just a little more excited! :)
Today, I wanted to let you all know what the name of my trip/class is exactly.

Poverty, Hope and Altruism in Tanzania.

That is the full name of my class that I will be taking during my lovely month in Africa. Now, does anyone actually know what Poverty, Hope, and Altruism mean? And who can point out Tanzania on a map? I know I couldn't until I decided I wanted to go there. So today, is going to be a lesson from our long lost friend Webster and his trusty book the Dictionary.

Poverty: [pov-er-tee] the lack of basic human needs, such as clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter, because of the inability to afford them. This is also referred to absolute poverty or destitution. Relative poverty is the condition of having fewer resources or less income than others within a society or country, or compared to worldwide averages. About 1.7 billion people live in absolute poverty.

Hope: [hp] a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life.

Altruism: [al-troo-iz-uh m] the principle or practice of unselfish concern for or devotion to the welfare of others.

Tanzania: [tan-zuh-nee-uh] a country in central East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean. Dar es Salaam is the capital (until 2005) and the largest city; Dodoma is the designated capital. Population: 39,400,000


So there is your vocabulary lesson of the day.
Now for a test!!!

1. How many people in the world live in absolute poverty?
a. 1.4 million
b. 5 million
c. 1.7 billion
d. 3 billion

2. What do I need in order to be able to prepare myself for this trip?
a. Hope that I will receive all the funds I need to go on this trip.
b. Altruism for the people of Tanzania and openness to devote my month trip to be their benefit
c. An understanding of poverty
d. all of the above

3. How can you help?
a. Check back on my blog for all my updates.
b. Contact me if you would like to sponsor me
c. Pray
d. Check on my etsy site soon for things to buy! (All the proceeds go to my trip) - I'll be sure to let you all know when it is up and running.
f. all of the above

Answer Key:
1. C 2. D 3. F

Enjoy your day/night/week/month/year/life.

Tanzania

Life, my friends, is a blessing. Today is a day that started out so routine. A test in my first (and only) class, homework for tomorrow, checking my email... But checking my email today was possibly the best part of my day. Well, maybe not the best part, but by far the most exciting and the reason God is so awesome. Today, I found out that I was accepted into my study abroad trip to Tanzania, Africa next January. I am ecstatic. Next January I get to spend the entire month researching and serving the people of Tanzania! Now, this trip to Africa isn't free, it is actually quite expensive... somehow... I have to pay for this amazing opportunity. $500 by FRIDAY. Wow, this is all happening so quickly! I have so much to do to get ready for this learning adventure!
God may provide, but not if I don't work at it as well. It's time to start writing letters, applying for scholarship after scholarship, saving my spare change, getting an epic job this summer, praying harder than ever before, and trusting that God gave me this opportunity for a reason and he will provide.
I am ready to tackle this mission head on. I can't wait to see what I learn from this experience. Just getting the money to go to Tanzania will be an adventure in and of itself. God. Is. Awesome.
"If a woman is sufficiently ambitious, determined, and gifted - there is practically nothing she can't do"
-Helen Lawrenson