I’ve been meaning for some time to write a post to wrap up my trip. I’ve been back in the states for about a week now, and it’s totally surreal. It’s weird how quickly I was able to shift back into life here. I’m now working on going through this process of figuring out how everything … More Africa Isn’t Over
I’m so ridiculously happy and full right now. First, because we had chapati and bean stew for dinner tonight and that combination makes up one of my favorite meals. I think the primary reason I love it so much is because it tastes basically like a thicker, heartier version of tortillas and charro beans, which … More A Healthy Dose of Humility and Embracing Fullness
My feet are covered in dirt and my hair is officially not looking so hot. Let’s be honest, I’m dirty. Each morning after I wake up, I wash myself in a basin of hot water. So the good news is I don’t have any kind of funky body smells going on (also due to the … More Grace Isn’t Always In a Clean, Pretty Package
Great news. The bathroom has a door on it and the toilet has a seat. I moved in yesterday and had my first day on my own in Kibera (relatively speaking, considering Peter was with me all day). We’ve done a lot in the short time I’ve been here, but I have to say it’s … More Kate and Kibera (I know it’s cheesy)
I arrived in Kenya last night after a two hour flight delay to the sun setting over the nature reserve that surrounds the airport. I gazed down over the beautiful terrain with so much excitement and anticipation, and entered the airport without any feelings of hesitation. It wasn’t until after leaving the airport and hopping … More Reality Check: Beginning Kenya
Well, my last full day in Addis has come to an end and the feelings are bittersweet. I wished off a big group of country directors and coworkers this evening, and genuinely was sad to see them go. I’ve officially been invited to visit Uganda, Malawi, Tanzania, Rwanda, and the Congo with the promise of … More A Sweet, Caffeinated End to Ethiopia
Overwhelmingly good. That’s the short version of what I’ve been telling people when they ask how my day was. The truth is, the short version is bland and shares nothing. We got an early start this morning, meeting to leave at 8am, and made the 2 hour trek to Adama (also known as Nazaret) where … More Short Stories Are for the Unmoved
As the day comes to a end, I sit on the edge of my bed writing this and counting my blessings. In the short time that I’ve been here, I know I’ve already begun to be molded and shaped by the people I’ve been surrounded by. Coming to this conference has been one of the … More Lessons Learned
The power of a person’s story is one of the most greatly underrated tools for understanding in the entire world. We have formulas and theories and philosophies galore that try to explain the human condition. However, for some reason the general weight of words and the meaning they carry often is so easily cast aside … More The Power of Listening: A Story of South Sudan
I was running a little late this morning (whoops), and rushed into the lobby to a room full of country directors. The bus pulled up right as I did, so Bill (my boss) had me lead the group out to get onboard and head over to the conference center. I remembered Emily telling me a … More African Leadership Summit Conference: Day One
The Transition Artist 