When Wendy, John, and Michael first arrive in Neverland Peter asks them "Would you like an adventure now, or would you rather have tea first?" Like Wendy, when I was invited on an adventure I too chose to have my tea first. For the past few months, I have been working at a tea shop in a quaint little tourist town called Sackets Harbor.
Working in a tea shop is not quite as relaxing as everyone who walks in the door insists it must be, but it is pretty awesome. I spend my days hosting tea tastings, helping grandmothers and mother's of the bride plan tea parties, packaging teas, reading about tea, and sipping, or rather, oh so gracefully slurping all kinds of tea. Another nice perk- I get to dress up like I'm going to a tea party every day. Who knew having tea with my stuffed animals so many years ago was actually job training? I love my teashop, but in just about a month I will be off on an adventure with my mother and sister to Cameroon. A country on the west coast of Africa that is just a little bit bigger than California.
While ma mere (they speak french in Cameroon) is working in a hospital Tam and I will be headed off to local villages to work with children who are orphaned due to HIV/AIDS. Now, AIDS is not something I've ever given much thought to, I don't actually know what it stands for (acquired immune deficiency syndrome by the way). According to Cameroon Health Services 40% of their population is infected with AIDS. 210,000+ children under the age of 14 have lost at least one parent to this incurable disease. This leaves a lot of children without help facing malnutrition, poverty, homelessness, and often their own medical needs. These children need to know that they are not alone, that someone in this world cares about them, there is help available, and they are loved. This is what the staff members at Chosen Children do every day and for nine weeks (Oct 20th-Dec 19th) I will be able to too! Through post-adoption co-counseling, I'll be able to make sure medical needs are being met, school fees are paid, food is on the table, and encourage/support the caregivers. I'll be able to show children and caregivers that, despite any discrimination (and there is a lot when it comes to HIV/AIDS) they are so loved-by me but also by someone much bigger than myself. It will certainly be an adventure. Like all good adventures there will be many unpredictable twists and turns so please follow along with me and add to the script when you'd like.
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