With each step I am more certain...

Alright, so now that site visit has come and gone, I feel I should backtrack a bit and elaborate on the whole process.

Mainly… It was terrifying. The few days between site announcement and site visit involved a lot free time, and my busy mind quickly created numerous scenarios of extreme situations I might encounter at my site. For the first time since being here in Namibia I began to question my ability to be a successful volunteer. Which was really hard for me… It’s even difficult for me to admit now.

Those few days made me feel like Maria in the Sound of Music… “I’ve always longed for adventure, to do the things I’ve never dared. And here I’m facing adventure. Then why am I so scared?” I really was scared. And it was uncomfortable. But the good news is that the fear was temporary, and I am now even more excited about life in my village than I ever was before.

I don’t mean to sound like I no longer have any fears or concerns about my site. I do. I’m sure that once I move there permanently, I’ll have even more. I’m confident that there will be lots more opportunities for me to push past my moments of doubt to see what’s on the other side. But - with each step I am more certain,  everything will turn out fine.

So, here are Steph’s words of encouragement for the day. The best thing about the fear of venturing into the unknown is this: you have the power to eliminate it. Just go for it. And once you do, you may find that your fears were misplaced and unfounded. And that’s a good place to be. 

{Check back later for stories about how I turned the whole village's curtains into play clothes!}