Mzungu Rachel

I have been learning about resilience and attitude. Long days working among language barriers and cultural differences can be frustrating. While living in Nicaragua I learned that partnering patience with flexibility is all but mandatory to maintain happiness, motivation, and hope. That being said, hopelessness within development work is still very easy to feel and find. Presenting new ideas and trying to help people learn a new practice or way of living has to be done carefully with full consideration as to the wants and needs of the people. Successful and sustainable development work is all about hand-ups, not hand-outs. We are looking to give people a hand-up through programs, projects, and classes. The ideas we have may be good, but they don’t and won’t happen unless the people are committed to making the necessary changes to maintain these new practices.

New ideas, models, groups, and organizations are created with the hope that some good can be done, some pain alleviated, some issue addressed, and (in general), some life bettered. These take place because of the love and compassion people hold for the human race. I know I am a child of God and that has directly correlated with the decisions I've made in regards to my major and travels. I want to pursue a path that leads me to and through his children. I've found that I am happiest when I am working with people and trying to help them be happier. Because of my experiences I fully believe that even the smallest acts of love make big differences.

These small acts of love have been shown to me by the people here. Because of them my paradigm has moved and the way I’m experiencing every day has shifted. Humility, respect, love, and compassion all factor into the attitude I now have towards each day and this work. Though the work may be hard, though the days may be long, I can’t wash away this sense of utter hope and belief that what I am doing here with our team can and will make a difference.