Vote for Global Volunteers in the Full Page Project!

From November 15 - November 21 the Star Tribune newspaper is holding a contest entitled 'Full Page Project' amongst MN non-profits and the winner will receive a free full page ad in the Sunday paper!

Please vote for us this week ~ you can vote once per hour!

Here is the link where you can register and then vote for Global Volunteers (please copy and paste the link):
http://startribune.upickem.net/engine/Registration.aspx?contestid=22815

We would also encourage you to pass this link along to your family and friends, and post it on your personal Facebbok page or blog. Let us know if you have any questions, and remember voting has begun!

Thank you for your support.

September Service Program Volunteers in Action!

Please take a peek at a few of our favorite images depicting our volunteer service program in Tanzania. ENJOY & thank you volunteers!!

"Connecting" in Tanzania

It was about 10 days into our service project, around 12:15PM and my son Jack and I were walking back to the Mission House from a tiring morning of hauling five gallon buckets of water, gravel, sand, and cement around the job site of building the new kitchen at the Secondary School. As we approached the Mission House, Jack said to me, "I'm exhausted. I think I am going to go take a nap and skip lunch" (you know a 14-year-old boy is tired when they want to skip a meal!).

No sooner were these words out of his mouth than off to our left we heard the voices of little kids calling out to him, "Jackie! Jackie! Unacheza mpira???" All fatigue instantly vanished from Jack's mind as he took off full speed to go play ball with the kids! He LOVED playing with those kids.

He had such an incredible time in Pommern -- from his friendship with our team leader, Edward Mgeni, to our team, working alongside Dr. Godlove, or the friendships he made throughout the village. It nearly broke my heart watching him say goodbye to those kids on our last day :)

Thank you all at Global Volunteers for all that you do to foster such amazing relationships around the world.
- Amy Kleissler

June 11, 2010

Quote of the day: “Life’s about the journey…not the destination”

Today we left Pommern early in the morning. It was gorgeous….the sunrise was spectacular and I couldn’t resist taking the same pics I had taken on our arrival 3 weeks ago! The ride was long but fun and everyone fared well….we are so tough  We enjoyed our last supper together…it was nice to enjoy everyone one last time before retiring to hot showers where I personally rejoiced as I removed all the red dirt from my head. Tomorrow we go our separate ways….for me I’m anxious to get home but feeling weird about the transition to our “other planet”.

June 10, 2010

Quote of the day: “Be who you are because those who matter don’t mind and those who mind don’t matter” – Dr. Seuss

Today was our last day of service in Pommern (tear). We went to our usual spots in the morning and met up for lunch. We had the afternoon off to pack and then somehow made room for 2 dinners that night. The first was our “last supper” at the school where we got to say goodbye to the teachers, students and some clinic employees that we had worked with the past 3 weeks.

Later that night we had a bowl full of meat in the attic of the mission house. Mama Tony, Mohammad and Haran joined us all as well. After the grownups left we made our way to the pub. It was a great last day in Pommern.

June 9, 2010

Quote: “Remember what one dream can do. You are unstoppable” – Rascal Flatts

Today was our second to last day in Pommerini and we got the afternoon off. In the morning we went to our normal activities of the clinic, school and construction. Today was the first time all of us got to go to tea time at the school to enjoy their delicious doughnuts. In the afternoon we went on an adventure hike to see the waterfall. It was challenging and fun and in the end, worth the work. After enjoying the afternoon sun, almost everyone went to the field to watch the students play volleyball and soccer. At night, Meghan and I went to the clinic to see a circumcision take place. Not surprisingly, however, it was rescheduled for tomorrow.

June 8, 2010

Quote of the day: “Lead by Example”

• Breakfast (yum yum)
• I went to the clinic and cleaned….a lot!
• Hope and Kate painted…Hope managed to paint herself.
• Hunter puddied the windows for what seemed to be a while.
• Carrie went to the school and helped with the testing.
• Lunch time
• I went back to the clinic, not much to do so I then played soccer with kids and went to Patricia’s house and got my hair done (African style)
• Hope, Kate, Carrie, Ben, and Hunter went to lead the cheering at the volleyball court.
• Supper time (delish) with Shadrack
• Stories by the fire, hence my abs are store (cough cough Carrie!)