Sierra Leone: Pre-Departure

I recently returned from two weeks in Sierra Leone. I traveled with 12 other college students and three adults to the Child Rescue Center in Bo. My Dad first went to Sierra Leone in 1997 during the Civil War, and my Mom and sister have both been multiple times, so I have seen 15 years worth of pictures, heard the stories, and watched the CRC transform from a vision to a reality. I also did a final Model UN project on the Sierra Leone Civil War for one of my AP classes and did research on child labor in Sierra Leone for my Dad this summer. The research I did was not easy- it is hard to believe that the horrifying statistics and reports are true when they are printed on paper. I needed to go see it for myself. After years of waiting, I couldn't believe it was finally my turn to experience this place that had become so dear to my family and I. I was excited for this trip all semester, partly due to the Feed a Child Campaign that our team participated in. During our first team meeting back in August, Tim said, "Once you arrive at the CRC, meet these kids, and experience the love they have to share, you are going to want to know that you did everything in your power to help feed them." That really hit home with me and I went all out for the campaign- requesting to speak to service clubs, fraternities and sororities, and my classes. This was terrifying and very out of character for me as I do not have my Mom and Dad's gift of public speaking and have terrible stage fright, but I felt called to get over myself and raise awareness and support for this amazing cause. I probably became known as the box girl on campus, as I carted around a giant box of tshirts wherever I went. I was blown away at the generosity of my family, friends, and fellow Hokies and raised $2,749, which contributed to the $49,710 that the Feed a Child Campaign raised as a whole. God really does provide. Once the Campaign ended, finals took over my life and I sort of forgot that I would be leaving for Africa in a couple of weeks. Over Christmas break, my friends and relatives kept asking me "Are you excited?" and it hadn't hit me that I was really going. My older sister and I are really close and she was on one of her few visits home from her job in Memphis. I was leaving and she still had a week left of vacation, so I was bummed that I was missing so much time with her. I was also a little nervous because I didn't know the majority of the team and am pretty shy. Like my sister promised me, I had nothing to worry about- this trip was incredible. I kept a journal on the trip, so I am going to write down some of the highlights from each day so you can get a glimpse into the amazing work God was doing in Sierra Leone, the CRC, and my life the past two weeks!