Update

It's still so hard to believe that I have been home 21 months!

Last month Tinka and Michelle (the current UNITE teacher trainer) visited NC from Uganda. Tonay and I were lucky enough to get to have a wonderful visit with Tinka. I was so excited to have these two important men in my life meet each other. Since it was St. Patricks day, we got to take him to a pub for a beer. It was wonderful to catch up on all the news from Bigodi. They will be paving the main road though the village this summer and electricity will be coming as well. I have mixed feelings about the electricity as I'm afraid how it will change life for my friends. But as they say the only constant is change. I know with the possible negative consequences will come lots of amazing positive changes. I sent Tinka back with a suitcase filled to the brim with books and gifts!

I had always hoped that I'd get back to visit within two years. With the two year mark looming ahead in July, it was obvious that I didn't have the funds to go back as soon as I had hoped. However, thanks to a friends recommendation I have applied for a volunteer travel grant though travelocity. While Uganda wasn't on the list there was an amazing program working with women's entrepreneurship in Tanzania. With the help of another Jaycee friend, I made a video and got it posted just in time. In the last week I have moved up so I am now 20th in the voting, which is fantastic! I need to stay in the top 25 to be a finalist.

Please share this link with family and friends. You can vote every 24 hours till May 31st. I really appreciate all the support!
www.volunteerjournals.com/volunteer-travel-grants/entries/experienced-volunteer-tanzina

I hope to be back in East Africa soon!