Thursday, December 23, 2010

Thanks to Everyone!

I just wanted to start off by thanking everyone for supporting me!  Over the past few months so many people have offered words of encouragement, advice and financial support when it was needed most.  I could not have done this without you.  I feel extremely blessed to have this amazing opportunity and the support of a great community.

January 5th 2011 I'll be leaving Edmonton to make my way to Honduras.  After orientation in the capital city, Tegucigalpa, I'll be living in the town of Catacamas.  In partnership with the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) and Diaconia Nacional, I'll be working as the Training Program Volunteer in a variety of community development initiatves.  I am especially excited to participate in the Catacamas Micro-Credit Program.  This community-building initiative invloves more than just dispensing loans- it includes workshops on improving business strategies, self-esteem training and assistance in household management and family relations.  Personally, I find this micro-credit program fascinating.  It embodies transformational development through its combined focus on generating economic self-sufficiency and fortifying social relationships within the community. 

At this point, I've been taking about this volunteer position for months and now I'm ready to start this new adventure.  The final details of this trip are falling in to place and I'm glad to have this Christmas break to spend time with my friends and family.  There's so much to be thankful for and a lot to look forward to in the New Year.