Hey Y’all,
And we’re back for the third Wednesday of #WhyIWentWednesday ! After the hustle and bustle of last week’s Fall 2019 OHA Update live-stream (link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1402461786578236/?active_tab=discussion ), we are happy to get back on track with our regularly scheduled happenings. This week’s is written by PJ Tuohy, enjoy!
“My first thought when I was invited to go, was “I need to go anywhere bu
here”. Thinking more upon this, I figured, “I can go anywhere in the world – so what makes this trip different?” I started to think about all of my friends and all of the places I have seen them go on social media. Many come back with stories; but what was striking to me about this thought was that most people come back with stories about themselves.
It was an amazing trip. I did in fact come back with a story full of beautiful countries where nature is absolutely breathtaking. I came back with the stories of the lions, elephants, rhinos, and giraffes. The stories of the fun nights with good friends. The stories of new foods, and culture. But there was also so much more.
This was when I started thinking of trips from people who have helped others. Their stories were always about others and how they could be of use. Not only was this a trip where I can come back and talk about the things I saw and the things I did; this was also a story about other people – and a view of life that was not my own. I knew this trip would be one that changed me, but I had no idea what that meant until I was on the plane ride back.
I am a pretty carefree person, but I wanted to change that. I wanted to care about something – and I wanted to know that I would not be the only one who cared about this “something”. I know I have talents, but I haven’t seen myself use them in a way in which someone else was inspired to not even listen but replicate. On this trip, I felt this way. Whether I was learning about sustainable farming, or talking to people about their lives, teaching others what I know, or physically working on something – I was doing something that would make an impact that would last beyond the dates I had taken off of work.
This is the trip that people ask me about most. Others are eager to learn more, and glimpse into a life, where they too can help. Many people are debating to themselves, “When or how can I go on a trip like this?” If that is the way you are thinking already, I urge you to dive headfirst into this world – because regardless of what you have to offer, absolutely everything you do helps and will continue to help for others long after you return.”
Want to be like PJ and dive headfirst into our OHA family at our programs in Eswatini and Mozambique? Join us on our upcoming trip this Decemebr / January or apply for a volunteer position (located under oneheartafrica.org/give). For more information about the upcoming trip please visit oneheartafrica.org/go or email jami@oneheartafrica.org.
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