mission trip? ukraine? uganda? maybe!***

I have always been someone that wanted to get out and explore the world.  but NOT the touristy parts.  I want to see the sights, don’t get me wrong, but I want to help people… to see how it REALLY is, not how they put on for the tourists..

So i have a friend that does several mission trips per year and I am lookin into being able to go on one of them with her and a team this summer.  she has several trips planned for this spring/summer alone.. the two that i’m really looking into are…

*A trip to the Ukraine this summer to get a group of special needs children on IEP’s and to help train their teachers/caregivers how to effectively teach them..  I REALLY feel that i could be of service here..

*The other is a trip to Russia to help a group of young mothers.. will include parenting classes and just hanging out and encouraging them  (my biology teacher background could also come in VERY handy on this trip as well)

(*and a medical mission to uganda, to help organize, counsel.. whatever’s needed)

so i’m looking into these trips and any other where she feels i can be of service, i have to find out the cost of the trips/care for the girls/etc.  So i don’t know if it will happen yet.. but i really hope and pray that it does..

PS, at the moment i’m only looking at one trip, but i have a feeling that it will be the start of many, and i want it to start asap! this is what I’ve ALWAYS wanted to do…

PSS. NoJoMo 2009 – SuperTeacher – Grade F
ah well
i was just telling charles and wanted to share that this would help me to feel like i went to college all those years for SOMETHING, being able to have the skills and abilities to help people that truly need it..
it would also help me look at my (horrific) job in my (negative, oppressive) school in a different light.  the income from that job will help me to be able to do this, to REALLY make a difference..

I want to do this SO badly!!!
oh and something else, i’ve already talked to my mom and she said she’d help me arrange for care for the girls while i’m gone, but my main goal is to have them come with me someday.  To grow up seeing and knowing about the REAL world around them, to play with kids that have less than them and to see how they can too make a difference..

that settles it! i’m doing this, even if financially not this year, i’m doing this.. someway some how.. i am..
even if it means living somewhere were it costs less so i can have money to make a difference in the world and teach my children to do the same.. (hoping the boy will be on board with something that drastic… we’ll see)

but i wlll be doing something.. you’ll see… =)