Women's Center Wednesdays

Only a couple of pictures from the past two weeks. I spent last week in Rabat for my Close of Service Conference.

More to come this Weds!

5km for Haiti

If you are still paying attention to the situation in Haiti, you will see that many aid workers have a particular concern. As with any devastating natural disaster, a lot of money comes rushing in right after the event. While this is great, sustained financial support is critical. In order to successfully bring relief to the earthquake victims, the flow of money cannot stop.

A close volunteer friend of mine, Hanneke, recognized this and decided that although we, as Peace Corps Volunteers, cannot help financially, we should do something. For this reason, my fellow '08-'10 Health Volunteers and I will participate in a 5km for Haiti on February 20.

We will be in Rabat the week prior for a Close of Service Conference, and will participate in the 5km at the end of our conference. We will be running/walking at a park in Rabat, next to the Sofitel hotel at 9am. Both Volunteers and Peace Corps staff will be involved, and we are looking for support from family and friends.

I understand that I've been asking for a lot over the past year........lots and lots of requests for women's center donations, so now I only ask for $5 to support my fellow volunteers and I running to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake. You can donate at the Partners in Health (I blogged about this wonderful organization here) website, here, under our group's donation page.

Just in case you just missed the link, here it is again:

Peace Corps Volunteers in Morocco Haiti Earthquake Relief 5km

Thank you!

1 Corinthians 13:13

"There are three things that last: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love" 1 Corinthians 13:13

This past week Wael received some very difficult news. His mom, Nagwa, was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. This came as a shock for a woman who seems healthy and full of life. While Wael and his family are showing a lot of strength and support for Nagwa, the waiting and not knowing is hard to deal with. As you say your prayers today and over the next while, please remember to say a special prayer for Wael's mom.

Trying to deal with such news alone here in Morocco has been a challenge. I traveled to Agadir on Sunday to go to mass, hoping that praying in a church would help me reach some semblance of peace. The first reading was from 1 Corinthians 13:13.

Faith, Hope, and Love.

As I listened, it struck me. Faith, hope and love are what I'm going to need to get through this time.

Faith. Every moment, every time I hear more bad news and want to just collapse with depression, I have to remember to have faith. Whatever happens is not in my hands. Its not in Waels hands, and it isn't in the doctor's hands. It is in God's hands, and He alone knows what will happen. I will pray, and pray, and pray, but ultimately, I am not in control. While I don't understand why this is happening, God does, and faith will help me to accept that.

Hope. While I can't change anything by my own efforts, I can hope. I can hope that Wael's mom will be ok, that she will heal and be here with her loving family for a long time, full of love and life. Instead of letting myself get frustrated and always thinking of the negative, I must be full of hope. Hope breeds positivity, and positivity will help me to be strong for Wael and his mom.

Love. As 1 Corinthians 13:13 expresses, the greatest of all is love. So I will love. I will continue to be full of love for Wael, his mom, and his whole family. I will love them with everything I have, because what else can I give?

So as you pray before bed, before dinner, or just in a passing glance toward the sky, please say an extra few words for Nagwa and her family.

Women's Center Wednesdays

Here's the women's center this week. I've had two of my close volunteer friends visiting, so Felisa and Michelle are featured in this week's Women's Center Wednesdays!

Michelle and Felisa!

And last but not least....per Lissa's request...Chandler and Erin in the literacy room! :)