In 52 days I am leaving the only place I know to be home,
Baltimore, MD and traveling 29 hours away to Botswana. What am I feeling? The word of the week ambivalent! The journey has been amazing and I can't believe that it is actually about to happen. A little more than a year ago the Peace Corps was just a website that seemed interesting.
Let me give you some background on how it got started. While attending Morgan State University I encountered a professor who was very open to travel and thought that everyone should get a chance to experience life outside of the United States. The Peace Corps was coming to Morgan and she had our class go to the open house. I remember saying, wow that would be really hot to live in another country for two years. That thought came in and out of my brain as I was preparing to leave and go to my next class (so I thought!). Two years past and I was nearing the end of the first semester of my senior year in college. I began to have desires to move away and experience something new. I had my heart set on moving to New York and living the high life (much like the women on Sex in the City or Girlfriends). Well as a woman who trusts Jesus and prays a lot, I find that what we want or think we need and what God wants for us doesn't always line up, especially when what we want, has more to do with selfish desire and not purpose.
On that note, one day I found myself surfing the net. Hmm, I should check out the Peace Corps website. Divine intervention or coincidence (you decide for yourself but I know the answer). I was in awe. I watched a few video clips and was like wow that would be awesome-the same thought that I had two years ago but didn't pay much attention to. Next thing you know I was telling all my family and friends that I was going to go serve in the Peace Corps (for a host of reasons which I will go in detail about later but know this- it is definitely a spiritual mission for me!) I filled out my paperwork, got my recommendations, and prayed that soon I would be somewhere in Africa serving those with HIV, living out my Peace Corps dream (that was January 0f 2006 when I submitted my application). I was interviewed in April and had to submit documentation that I would have my degree in the upcoming month. I got an email update from the Peace Corps and I was officially a Peace Corps nominee.
The Peace Corps has this really long process though I now see it is worth the wait! The next step was to get all this medical testing done. I was tested for things I had never even heard of. I sent that paperwork off in September and was finally medically cleared right after Thanksgiving. I was excited because once you are cleared the next step is to get your invitation. Right before Christmas this year I got this packet in the mail one night. It said you have been invited to serve in Botswana. I ran downstairs to get my map of the Continent and saw that Botswana was right over South Africa.
I was so overwhelmed that I picked up my friend the phone and got to calling all my number ones and telling them Botswana April 15th 2007. My community was so happy for me! They got me books, sent me emails about Botswana and just showed me much love (Thank You!). Now it’s coming down to the wire. I'm starting to get this as Janet Jackson says "Miss U Much" feeling. I'm finishing up grad school (Big Ups Morgan State University Masters of Social Work-1st Graduating Class), trying to fix my house to rent it out, at an internship (big Ups to The Stone Foundation), staying connected to God with my church family (Big Ups to New Covenant Tabernacle) , working an overnight spot two days a week (Blessings to Project PLASE) and loving so hard on my Family and friends cause they keep me afloat! It’s a bit much but my God holds me down and I praise Him just for who He is!
So stay tuned to the adventures of Martha in Botswana. I still have to pack my whole life into an eighty pound bag (for those who know me that is near impossible when I pack that just for a week trip). I guess I gotta get used to some new things after all I am Changing!
Peace and Blessings
Martha
