Surprise! I'm going to Africa!

I find myself, continually saying. Surprise, Kelly Jo! You're headed to Africa...that's right AFRICA!

I'm not sure why it seems like a big deal, but it is...At least this trip isn't just merely a trip to Africa, but an opportunity for me to grow more into the woman I know God has fashioned me to be. His plans for me this fall include: spending two months in Mozambique at the Harvest School through Iris Ministries (irismin.org).

I will be attending "field laboring" classes, working among hundreds of children, working in the bush, soaking in the presence of the Lord and exploring more of who He is and who I am in Him.

I have 6 short weeks to get my airfare, visa, read 8 books for classes, raise support, and prep! I will be keeping this blog up to date on this grand adventure God began years ago when I was still a young girl. This opportunity has been a dream of mine since I was ten. Before I knew what Iris Ministries was and life as I know it today. I was given a vision from a young age to participate in such a program/ministry and now the time has come and my ships getting ready to leave port.

Please pray for me that my heart would be prepared for my upcoming time abroad. That I would be a ready vessel for the Lord. For great health, safety, and abundant provision. And praise God that he has a heart for the nations.

If you would like to support me financially, I greatly appreciate your obedience to God, your giving heart, and your desire to journey along with me. It will be a grand ride for us if we continue to be open to all God has for us. Click the donate button below if you are interested in helping send me to Africa.

I need $2,500 by Sept. 1 and an additional 3,000-4,000 by the end of September!
Grace, peace, and joy be with you today!

California Shots Round One

West Coast Adventures Begin

What a whirlwind the last year has been! I have seen a grand portion of the East Coast...the actually coastline; traveled to the middle, and now am working my way from the south of California up to Seattle on my parent's new boat. How extraordinary it is to see so many places in such a short time.

Right now, I'm in Santa Barbara, CA sitting in the public library... yay wifi! We are awaiting for boat parts, so we can fix a major leak in the engine room. Also, we had just made it to Santa Barbara for the worst winter storm yet. We were going to head out this morning to catch a quick weather wind to head up around Pt. Conception, but alas this leak is stopping us! So who knows how long we are stuck here before we head up the coast to Morro Bay and then Monterey, the San Francisco, etc.

It is so refreshing to be back on my dear West Coast. I have missed the relaxed atmosphere. Santa Barbara is proving to be an amazing place to people watch. It has a bohemian flare to it much like Portland only there is a more run in with sophistication, sun, and palm trees. I walked into French Press Cafe and instantly knew the coffee would be great! The West Coast has terrific coffee and awesome baristas! The cafe reminded me of Stumptown in Belmont.

The public library is full of interesting characters. As people pass by and conversations are overheard, I create stories to match the flow and rhythms of their being. Definitely one of the strangest places I have ever been.

Pictures to come!

Dear Ft. Lauderdale

Dear Ft. Lauderdale,

I am on sensory overload. Your resorts are numerous. Your vessels are beyond impressive...they make me think of extravagance and excess. Finding parking isn't so hard but paying for parking is near impossible. Tickets should be the new form of parking because using your broken "Pay Here" machines is useless. Dead ends are at every turn...our GPS high tech phones don't understand your ways. Your fire ants have made rinsing the boat a chore and not just play. Thirty something degrees seems to me inconceivable, it's Florida! Why are you soo cold.

Oh Ft. Lauderdale I will tell you what I like about you.

Your waters are brilliant sapphire and turquoise. I can see clear to the bottom and your seas are not too salt for me! Your beaches are full of sand and I love them. It was in the 70's briefly. I do thank you for that. Your palm trees and whispy sea breeze bring a sense of ease. I thank you for that too. I love your canals lined with private docks and luxurious homes. Stucco is everywhere and people know how to make their nests colorful. And though it is slightly tacky, you have quite the Christmas cheer.

Ft. Lauderdale you are a trip.

Joyous Moments

America's Oldest City: St. Augustine

Perhaps, I love St. Augustine because I like the works of St. Augustine...

Or perhaps it is because they have excellent Greek Coffee. Or because it is an artsy town. Maybe it is the Spanish architecture of old? Or the nautical community... Whatever it is, I must add St. Augustine to my list of top 7 places around the world.

I wasn't sure whether or not we would make it to St. Augustine, but the weather conditions were so favorable for going offshore that we made awesome headway on our trip to Ft. Lauderdale. So we ducked back inside and docked at St. Augustine Municipal Marina. After fueling up and washing the boat down, I took a much needed stroll around St. Augustine. Old town is just behind the harbour entrance.

Everything is beautiful in this archaic town. It was bitter cold, but the people were warm. I stopped into Gaufres & Goods, this amazing Polish/Greek cafe in Old Town. Why? Because I'm Greek...and really curious about my Greek heritage. So I tried Greek Coffee! It was great! However, not half as impressive as the family who owns the cafe. I talked with them for a good while. They told me I have to try smoked halibut next time I go fishing in Alaska. Apparently it beats smoked salmon!

Here are some photos from St. Augustine!

Old Town:

Ponce de Leon Hotel now Flagler College:

Day-Five: Wacca Wache to Charleston

Another wonderful sunrise and brisk day in the ditch! When I think of a ditch, I generally think of muddy water or a gravel trough alongside an old country road. So naturally I thought that the ICW was going to have somewhat unpleasant scenery. I mean who really wants to travel via a ditch? However, I have found it incredibly wonderful. The landscape changes frequently. For instance, this morning we left the Waccamaw River which had an eery barren and backwoods feeling...then this afternoon we passed several towns and homes along the channel that were distinctly South Carolina...later the water became a warm blue and on either side of the ditch were canals, bays, and sounds tucked away behind long sea grass blowing in the winter breeze. Besides the cold spell we seem caught in, we spotted many palms standing tall along the channel banks. Dolphin sightings are getting more frequent. I think laughing dolphin-like squeaks of joy sound from me with each sighting...Today they were feeding right in front of our bow. It was so exciting that I did my happy dance!


The last ten to fifteen miles to Charleston were a little nerving. Our whole run down seemed to perfectly coincide with the leaving tide making for some really shallow spots along the ditch. At one point our depth sounder read 2.6 ft! Wow! I'm not sure I would ever want to run the ICW at night. Glad we are doing it during the day...and that I have a solid captain. I watched others scream on by...maybe that is why so many end up grounded.


Charleston is a neat historic city. Lots of young people and lots of beautiful boats! I bet it is wonderful in the summer months.

Day Three: Morehead City-Wacca Wache Marina

Whoot!

Sunrise and dolphins outside my window. What a gift. I can't believe it...I really believe Mark Twain to be right when he said to throw of your bow lines because the adventure I am on is grand.

We pushed 180 miles down the ICW today. Just missing two major fronts and gailing winds, we decided to head on the outside. Along the ICW there are many inlets you can run in and out of depending if you want to travel inland or offshore in the Atlantic. Sometimes you can make a lot of time if you go on the outside and skip all the bridges along the ICW. So we decided to go out at Morehead City and it couldn't have been a better day for us. We passed Frying Pan Shoals and Cape Fear with no sweat. So many vessels are now at rest all around the shoals. The area is now known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic according to one of the dock masters in Morehead City.

Watching the weather we continued on until Little River Inlet at the North and South Carolina border. Another boat we met on our first day continued on and got hammered on the outside as they pushed it to Charleston.

We saw a lot more dolphins and some pretty stellar homes along the ICW in S.C. I love the bright colors and shutters on most houses down here. It is by far the most attractive scenery yet. Wacca Wache is a quaint marina...I will look forward to a day off...

Today's firsts: (1) The eery feeling of barren and backwoods bayou. (2) We thought we saw a log in the river...but it was a RACCOON swimming across the water. I'm sure glad we slowed down other wise that little fellow wouldn't have had much of a chance in our wake.

Day Two: ICW Coinjock to Morehead City

After getting some well needed sleep we headed out of Coinjock.

150 miles down the ICW we ended up docking at Portside, Marina in Morehead City, NC. It was a lovely and yet chilly ride down. I really enjoyed the scenery.

Morehead City, is known for its sport fishing. After many hours on the boat, we headed up the boardwalk right near the marina. There was a myriad of fishing boats, pubs and art shops. I really enjoyed this stop over.



To add to my list of firsts: Dolphins! I saw dolphins! These off the Richter Scale intelligent creatures have been a favorite of mine since I could walk. I can't believe it only took me twenty some years to see one.

Ahoy from the Inter-Coastal Waterway (ICW)

Today marks the start of our second day down the ICW on a 56' Sea Ray. The more endearing term for the ICW is "the ditch." Some of you may be wondering why on earth am I on a powerboat and what the heck am I doing...I am a capt-in-training!

Many people own boats but don't know how to operate them...thus they need a captain...and a captain generally has a crew. So for the next week I am crewing on a boat down to Florida. There are two was to get to Florida from Annapolis: head down the Atlantic Coast(going on the outside) or taking "the ditch" which is a small channel that weaves inland through several states. I will be knocking 4 states off my list of states to see this next week.

Feel free to follow our trip blog at: www.allthetoysgoestofll.blogspot.com

Yesterday were were up early to leave the docks by 05:15. At a whomping 30 degrees we untied and left harbour, following the moonlight until sunrise. We traveled at 20kts on average over the water and went 180 miles. That was 12 hours of powering till we reached our first destination of Coinjock. I think that would have taken a week and a half on a sailboat!

I love first experiences so here are some firsts. (1) Traveling through "the ditch." (2) Spotting Pelicans! (3) Seeing warships...and we saw 3 of them! (4) watching a submarine past along my port side (5) Experiencing the backwoods of North Carolina. (6) watching a ridiculously huge ship pass through an open bridge.

Photos from the day:

Revival of the Blog

I gave up my blog to start a blog with my dear friend, Beatrice. We blogged to keep each other in the loop while living our crazy adventurous lives half a world apart. I certainly couldn't keep up with it and lost the drive after joining the present realities of the 21st century when I got a 4g Iphone. Now the two of us talk much more and text throughout our days...

This is going to be my attempt at sharing my journey through my photography, stories and poetry. I hope to share my heart for the nations, for the widows, orphans and least of these. As well as for the business peoples, affluent, sailors, and like. I love people and I want to share their stories. I want to encourage you to enter into the stories of these people. To pray, to hope, to live. I believe that we have so much to hope in and find our joy in because of the life breath that God sustains us with. Jesus is the God of healing, restoration, and reconciliation. More than ever, I believe that life is to be centered on Christ. Everything that I share comes from a solid foundation in God, the great I AM. I seek to not only tell stories of people and the things I am up to, but I will share about others working toward the same end. I will share of major issues occurring in our own backyards and abroad and how you can help if that is the story you wish to become a radical agent of change in.

I have a heart for it all, but I realize that I can't do it all. So I will seek to raise awareness about things occurring globally. I am always diving into these topics and having a blog will help myself consolidate all that I am learning. I envision this blog as a creative filing cabinet minus the bulky metal container.

I invite you to join me. Contact me if you want to learn more about certain topics. I am building a website dedicated to the stories of people I have met around the world. It will be a place where images are entwined with words. My desire is to provide sobering content cushioned by the amazing hope we have in Christ Jesus.

My heart is broken for the millions who walk around empty, lonely, hopeless, and joyless. For those who walk around in shame not living from their full potentially because they live in a lie that they are not loved for the core of who they are when in fact each one of us is beautifully made at the core of who we are... junk and all we are radically loved by God.

Beach Trip, Refreshment for My Soul!

This post has been a long time in the making...meaning I have been dreaming of the Oregon Coast for the last 2.5 years. Today I actually got to breathe in the salty sea gusts as they came whipping across the sand towards me. It is incredible to watch an inch of water on the surface of sand rip across the shoreline. Sand, gale force winds, and incoming waves make for quiet the texture show of the water's journey across the sandy shore. Even in the wind, the beach was the greatest way to spend the first day of my spring break!

Though I really love people from all spheres, I have found that I don't so much understand city people, or farmers, but I get people who live near and subside by the ocean waters. Maybe this has to do with the fact that I grew up enjoying the wild waters of Alaska sailing, beach combing, and hiking. I felt at home and invigorated today, so much so that I couldn't stop running along the shore through the water. I can't believe what a few hours there did for my soul. This summer, I will be living on the Chesapeake Bay teaching sailing and working with inner city kids. I can't believe it, a gift of a lifetime. I'm alive (even more so) it seems when I dance and twirl by the ocean's curls. I can see the Creator's imagination and love overflowing in the ebb and flow of the ocean tides and the small tidal pools filled with urchins, star fish, and sand dollars. Below are some pictures from our wonderful excursion.

Look! A sand dollar! And it is alive. Don't worry, I quickly put her back after introducing myself.

This tree has been shaped by the sea breeze. A mighty wind shapes these branches and they are uniquely made. Isn't that like us?
Julie is my awesome housemate! What would I do without my adventuring friend.
Yes, I have my AK boots on with a dress! Thanks to a good friend for the boots!
Lunch time. Can you say sandy baked asparagus? (We retired early from lunch and washed the sand off our asparagus for a later meal.
Something about the sea breeze that says, "Run! Dance! Jump up and down!"


I'm a fan of the buoys in the trees!

And maybe, feet. I like to be kept on my toes, or maybe that is just a habit from growing up pretending I'm a prima ballerina.

Cabbage Patch Girl

I was recently in North Sumatra. While visiting an orchard, I enjoyed watching and playing with the children.

Farewell and Family Lovin'

Yesterday, a large part of my family took me to the airport to wish me well and see me off. It was a hard day and I still feel like I just arrived in Indonesia and I can't believe I was there for nearly 4 months. I quickly become one of the Napitupulu daughters and the love given to me from my aunties, cousins, and immediate family is incredible. Here are some photos from our last minutes at the airport. Photos are from my cousin/dear sister Priscilla! 

This is the Jatiwaringin (my street) crowd! Pak Edu and Ibu Indah (my host parents), Edwin, Hanny, Priscilla, Puji...my family!

My aunties! tante Lilit and tante Dottie.

My cousin Catlin and me.

Priscilla and me! We are a good duo!

This is Beatrice and me...we like to have fun!  One of my cousins! 

The Girl Effect (How about the child effect)

About two weeks ago I woke up with 104 degree fever, little did I realize I wouldn't be teaching for the rest of my time here in Indonesia. See here in Jakarta, no matter what I do or how much I try to prevent myself from interacting with mosquitos, they still like to munch on me or rather I should say tap into my veins looking for a little snack. That is okay if I am at home in Alaska, but here the annoying bugs have dengue fever. Well you can guess... that's what I got. Or had, now I am just recovering and trying to regain all my stamina. Laying around the last few weeks has given me much time to think about things... 

One thing I am thinking about is how I miss working with students...and I can't seem to go a day without thinking of all the children in Kampung Bugis (about a 4 hour boat ride from the popular destination island, Batam). There most boys start work and quit school by age 14 and girls are usually married off by the time they are 18. 

In Indonesia, education is not free and available for all children like it was for me growing up. I am not sure how or what it will look like, but I would love to open the doors of education to the poor and to children who are oppressed and are in need of help in the developing world. 

While resting, I don't have access to going to buy the book, but I have wanted to read Three cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time, for sometime now. I am now listening to it audibly. The author helps start schools in remote villages of Pakistan and Afghanistan.  Similarly, the Girl Effect is a campaign to provide girls in the developing world with education or support for their business ventures. I have a big heart for young girls, especially those trapped in sex-slave trade. But really I just want to see us investing in the next children of our future. 

Providing children with holistic education will not just benefit the individual child, but villages and towns will grow and develop. People will have new jobs and opportunities to live longer with a better quality for life. I have gotten to work with students in some of the most privileged of schools (including Sekolah Global Prestasi and St. Fransiskus Asisi, where President Barack Obama spent 3 years of his life studying in primary school) and also with some of the poorest kids who don't have a chance for a future they dream of and they live surrounded by trash, sicknesses and just a hard life from the beginning. I know now, that equality will not be reached in this life time...but I believe we are called to help those who need it. To help the poor, sick, orphans, and widows. 

I remember this boy, Andre, who is 14 and he desperately wants to be a doctor, but he cannot afford to go to school. I sat with his mother on several occasions as she cried about her son's lack of being able to continue school much longer and be a doctor. She cried because she was a single mother, in a shack and she was barely making it. 

This link is to a video is from: The Girl Effect but what if we thought about all children in general. 

 You can go to some colleges in Indonesia for $200 USD a year (including tuition, extra fees, room and board). Some can continue on to their completion of their Master's degree for $700 dollars a semester (at the top university). Really, I don't know if money is the issue. We can always raise money for donations for NGO's...but what about relationships. What about actually investing in childrens' lives. Maybe that means you are a teacher, a neighbor, a mentor....but holistic education equips children to live and walk through all of life's twists and turns. 

Even though I have a mere 4 weeks of in the classroom teaching experience from Jakarta, I have spent more times with lots of children from various villages and islands and I realize now how important it is to be with these kids. Teaching I believe is one of the hardest, overwhelming/stressful, frustrating, rewarding, fun, and enlightening jobs I think someone could have. I will learn a lot more and have more adjectives to describe "teaching" as I continue to work with students. 

I get excited to think about working with kids such as those in Kampung Bugis, or on the streets of Jarkarta, Cambodia...the girls without education in Ethiopia...the struggling students in my neighborhood of 82nd and Glisan (USA). I don't know what or how, but first it starts with getting to know kids individually. What is their story. 

I had my students keep journals and I was impressed with the creativity these used to express themselves and paint a picture of their lives. It was a joy to get to know them. Even tykes and little munchkins have a story. I have met many....

 

Indonesian Presidential Election

Last Wednesday, Indonesia came together to vote for their next president. Presidential terms are 5 years in length and serving Indonesia for the last 5 has been SBY (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono). Over 60% of the votes were in his favor and SBY was re-elected for a second term. I had the chance to accompany my host brother, Edwin to the polls for his first time to vote. Here you can vote when you are 17. It was really exciting to see how many people took the opportunity to vote. There were 171,265,442 voters and maybe more ...which is about 74% of the total population of Indonesia! How cool is that! What's even neater is that a lot of the people who voted are considered the uneducated peoples of Indonesia, but they still take their voting privileges very seriously. Each ballot has a picture of each presidential and vice presidential candidate, so even the pre-literate peoples of Indonesia can vote.

After each person votes by checking one of the pictures, the voters dips a finger into purplish-blue ink to show that he or she voted.

Like Edwin:

These are other photos that I thought were neat. I think they reflect a spirit of Indonesians that is strong and that desires to continue to see change brought to their country. SBY has done a good job at minimizing corruption and providing economic growth. And many are excited that SBY will be in office for the next 5 years. The following photos are from the Jakarta Post.

Prisoners' voices: A number of prisoners at Purbalingga, Central Java, show off their inked fingers after voting at the Purbalingga Penitentiary on Wednesday. JP/Agus Maryono


Voting from bed: Dina Sofia, a resident of Pondok Indraprasta in Semarang, Central Java, votes from Elisabeth Hopsital in Semarang on Wednesday after just giving birth.


Made their mark: Incumbent president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (second left) and his family show their ink-stained thumbs after casting their votes at a polling station near their residence in Nagrak village, Bogor, West Java on Wednesday. Unofficial quick count polls show he won majority of the vote.



Pole dance: Child dancers entertain voters at the Patuk voting booth in Yogyakarta on Wednesday.

Ambonese Cuisine: Ikan

Ambon is the land of fresh fish!

I ate ikan (fish) every day in Ambon! My friend lives right off the ocean and the fisherman unload their mornings catch near to her house. I loved to wake up early and watch the fisherman out on the water fishing and then watch as they come in and start selling all sorts of fish.

Unloading the fish...come and get a looksy.

I am not sure what kind of fish these little guys are, but I am pretty sure they resemble herring...which I have only used for bait in the past, catching nummy salmon...however, I actually really like these fish...I think I like pretty much any fish. 

More fish and traditional Ambonese food there is mixed vegetable and jack fruit in the large bowl and sweet/hot sambal for the fish in the other bowl. 

Fascinating Children

Welcome to Jakarta! I am living in East Jakarta with the Napitupulu family and I am also teaching English at two different schools. Lucky for me and my love for children, the house is conveniently shares land with two schools full of anak-anak (children). I have found that with the lack of people I know in this big city, I am making fast friends with the children and teachers at Pilar Bangsa, one of the schools here...and I don't even teach there!

 

 

These are some of the primary school students and the K-2 class (in white shirts) I have gotten close to. While I was away for two weeks, the K-2 class drew pictures and wrote corresponding captions and then gave them to me. They were about Ms. Kelly and Ms. T (their teacher and a close friend here in Jakarta. I love to hang out with these kids during their recess!

Be a Modern Day Abolitionist of Slavery

Seth Johnson recently took a trip to SE Asia with friend and photographer, Fritz Liedtke, and together they witnessed first hand the repulsive treatment of women and girls trapped in the sex slave trade.

Fritz took this picture. There are more on his blog and website. He is a gifted photographer.

www.fritzphoto.com/art

www.fritzphotographic.com

In grade school, I learned that slavery was an awful time in history. What I didn't learn was that slavery wasn't history, slavery is still occurring today and it is worse than the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade I studied about in textbooks. Slavery isn't something to read about in a book, it is reality, a treacherous reality where books can't contain the depths of human depravity that would even be responsible for such an act. Yet here I am talking about it. I wish so much that it could just end, but change and loosening of chains is a process and requires the many caring compassionate hands. 

I have so many more thoughts and concerns on Human Trafficking, but I wanted to post this quick blurb about it and later I will return to share my heart for those that are caught in the monstrous hands of the devils snare, slavery. Seth Johnson is a friend of mine who is proactively taking initiative to bring about a change, to see the chains loosened for the 27 million individuals enslaved globally (including girls from local high schools in my Portland backyard). Seth will be running a marathon in a week and he is raising money to go towards Transitions Global, a local anti-human trafficking organization in Oregon. I ask you to check out their efforts and give. Seth is hoping to get 1000 pledges of 27 dollars each. This is for the rehabilitation of girls who have been brutalized and trafficked from our own neighborhoods.  

Our economy maybe in shambles, but if we don't put human lives' first, we will only see more and more people falling victim to slavery. Human Trafficking is the second most lucrative illegal money making industry in the world. We spend more money enslaving people than saving them. Help those who don't have a voice. 

Go to this website to learn more: http://www.firstgiving.com/seth_johnson or http://www.transitionsglobal.org/

Bilingual education

“Our languages may be different, but our hearts are the same…they beat.”

Sharon Geinett

Yearning to Learn 

(courtesy of Gov. Hill) 

What's a girl to do on her day off in the frigid North? Of course, go spend time with a bunch of 4-8 year olds at one of the local primary schools. Just the other day I was hoping that I would be able to connect with a friend's mom who teaches at Government Hill, which is an Spanish-English Immersion primary school in Anchorage. Unsure of this happening, I was pleasantly surprised to run into Star at the grocery store the other day. We talked and she said that it would be great if I wanted to stop by and check out the program and the classrooms...but that they would put me to work. What an amazing program they have going on. It seems to be the best kept secret, that shouldn't be a secret. I am not sure why the school districts and others don't model education off of the program that is in place at Government Hill. Recalling my elementary school days, well I don't want to think about them and I don't remember much in the way of meaningful education. Walking into through the doors it was refreshing to see the walls of the halls covered with art and writing projects featuring both the Spanish and English language. Not only are native English speakers learning Spanish, but native Spanish speakers are learning English and there is also the neighborhood program for students who are from the area, but who are not involved with the immersion program. The kids are so eager to learn and the classrooms are filled with beaming pupils representing so many ethnic backgrounds...and all of them are shown respect, attention, and given a great opportunity to learn at his and her own pace. The teachers seem to have developed a real community and it is evident in their teaching and helping one another out in the classroom. I was greatly privileged with the opportunity to help out with various activities. My favorite being working with 2nd graders in their Spanish classroom, playing La Lotería (bingo) Navidad style (Christmas). I was surprised how much Spanish I have retained and I seemed to forget my rustiness while enjoying "teaching" these girls and boys some Christmas vocabulary.
I am so excited to see these kids exposed to a new language at such an early age. Whether they go on to use their second language, they have been exposed to a different way in which to view the world. The have additional lenses that they can wear to see and think about the world in a bigger sense, yet at the same time narrowing the world down to the fact that we are more similar than we are different.

Read more about the ongoing programs at: http://www.asdk12.org/staff/singleton_martin/pages/Welcome.html

I find myself being more drawn to wanting to teach literacy, both to those in some far away land I have yet to venture to, and to those right here. I want to learn more languages, and serve in anyway I can. The grand gift of education in my life is precious and I want to pass that on to the next generation and to those who give up the hope of having an education or learning how to read.

I find this quote inspiring and yet thought provoking. Something that seems so natural to me, to those I grew up with in school...it is sometimes hard to imagine children around the world not sitting in a classroom for a good portion of childhood. I hope to reach out and extend the gift that has been given me to many around the globe. 

"Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope...It is a bulwark against poverty...a vehicle for the promotion of cultural and national identity. Especially for girls and women, it is an agent of family health and nutrition. For everyone, everywhere, literacy is, along with education in general, a basic human right..."
~ Kofi Annan

With teaching as a developing passion, I am stoked to see the HS mightily work in the lives of those I can reach in and out of the classroom.