Yes, I definitely titled this post with One Direction lyrics. What of it.
Anyway, as you may know, I recently went on an Alternative Breaks trip for Spring Break. I decided to spend my last break in college doing something good and helping others. It was a wonderful and life changing experience that I will forever hold dear to my heart. I met some fantastic people whom I now consider family and I couldn’t have ended my college career in any better way.
I spent my week playing with adorable little kiddos on the Fort Campbell military post who were a part of the Armed Services YMCA camp and they changed me for the better. I fell in love with each of those sweet faces and it was heartbreaking to leave them.
The Sunday after returning, I was sitting in church and all of a sudden it hit me. I love to travel and I want to help people. Right then I knew, I was being called to something bigger than myself. Right then and there, I decided to take a year to spread God’s love throughout this beautiful world that we live in through a volunteer abroad program.
So, six weeks before I graduate and had been planning to go into the career field, I completely changed my life plan and decided to volunteer instead. I have no idea where and no idea how, but I know that it’ll all work out and I trust this plan that God has for my life.
I’m terrified, don’t get me wrong. Going abroad to a country in which I’ve never been, helping people whose culture differs greatly from my own and just trusting that it will somehow be taken care of financially? Not to mention the fact that I have no idea where to go or what organization is best or anything like that. Yeah, I’m probably crazy. But all I know is that I want to go to a country where I’m needed and help children. Not only by loving them, but also in the long run by teaching them so that they can go out into the world and change it. I want to spread God’s love and I want to promote diversity and multiculturalism in this gorgeous planet that God created for us.
Like I said, I know nothing about how to go about doing this. So, any input would be greatly appreciated. So far, I’ve looked into: Love Volunteers, WWF, Peace Corps, Go Corps, Mercy Ships and The World Race. I’d love any help on turning this plan into action so if you or anyone you know has any information for me, I’d be ecstatic!
I knew that going on an alternative break would impact me but I never thought in a million years that it would change me so much that I would drop everything and alter my life. I owe this decision to those wonderful, smiling little faces at the ASYMCA and know that whatever happens, I’ll be in God’s hands.
The Wandering Sunflower 