Breanna’s Postlude

For most of my teenage years I dreamed of traveling on a mission to Africa. It was an ultimate goal which I thought would be fulfilled later in life. I prayed nightly that God’s will would be done in my life, that I would pursue his amazing journey for my life, that he would send me to Africa and lay his passions on my heart. I believe that all are equal, that it is the duty of those who are blessed to share those blessings with the less fortunate, who are no less worthy to receive them than we are. When I found out I had been selected to be a World Vision Youth Ambassador I was absolutely ecstatic, humbled and honoured knowing that I would be embarking on an incredible life changing journey to a place I was so passionate about: Africa!

The three week incredible trip to Tanzania totally altered my mindset and the way I think about life. Ingrained in my mind is the beauty of Tanzania, both in landscape and people, inside and out. Immersed into the spirited, colourful and joyous country of Tanzania, I tried to remove my Westernized thoughts and typical outlook, truly devoting my every effort into humbly understanding the way of life for Tanzanian people.

The Tanzanians were my favourite part of our experience; they are hard to miss with their energetic, loving and determined faces. After a conversation with a Tanzanian you can’t help but leave feeling inspired and joyful. Yet beneath the surface, for many, their lives are scarred with hardship and destitution. They are faced by unfathomable issues such as 1/3 of Tanzania’s population lacking access to safe clean drinking water or that currently nearly one million children have lost their parents due to AIDS/HIV. It is absolutely mind boggling to see the sheer determination and will power of the Tanzanian people as they rise above their strong restraints.

The highlight of the trip for me without a doubt would be having the privilege of meeting my sponsor child Naligawa. That is an experience I will never forget. I learned how very little it takes to dramatically transform a child’s life and I saw the result of the weakening of the obstacles of poverty in Naligawa’s life. Provided with food, water, shelter, medical attention, HIV/AIDS awareness, and education among other things, Naligawa is freer to dream, to reach his potential.

The trip to Tanzania left a permanent mark on my heart. I gained a profound understanding and personal appreciation for those in countries like Tanzania. I left Tanzania ignited and forever impacted, eager to get home and share all I had experienced and learned. These realizations have turned into goals I strive to implement on an everyday basis. Lessons such as being an encourager, making an effort to be joyful and lift others up, focusing on being selfless and reaching out to others, and trying to mindfully be thankful for all I have and use all my blessings to their full potential.

Being home in Canada, surrounded by our immense blessings which we constantly take for granted was an unexpected emotional difficulty. I felt like I was drowning in Canadian society for many weeks.I found it so difficult to be in my house, in my room, enclosed by assorted material things. Yet after a long time of reflecting, resisting normality, many realizations and insights have begun to overpower the heavy-heartedness. I saw so many ways in which we can make a life altering difference, thus I am so excited to take my next step acting as a global advocate mobilizing and inspiring others to take a stand against poverty, hunger and injustice. I want to utilize every lesson I learned by focussing them in stirring a passion in the hearts of Canadians and beyond. Through programs like 30 hr Famine, The Gift Catalogue, Child Sponsorship and other awareness initiatives we can be the generation that evokes global change, removes the deterrents of impoverishment from the paths of those with so much promise.

My goal of becoming a nurse was solidified while in Tanzania. I want to devote myself to an altruistic servant life, a life committed to making a difference and bringing peace and hope to those living in poverty. I hope to continue to reflect and be impacted by my journey to Tanzania and to give my position of being a World Vision Youth Ambassador my very all.

The youth from Tanzania and Rwanda were so optimistic, passionate, and driven to come together as one, fighting authentic hardships. Every time I get discouraged or overwhelmed by an issue my thoughts flow back to the Tanzanian youth phrase that puts everything into perspective: “KWA PAMOJA TUNAWEZA! (together we can).We all have unique gifts and God-given talents and we must remember that anything is possible when we work together. May we leave a legacy of change. TOGETHER WE CAN!!!