Africa School Assistance Project

As many people know, for as long as I can remember, my  dream has been to start schools in developing countries.  In an effort to prepare for this, I have led various mission trips and continued schooling to learn how to organize and lead a school.  As I was finishing up my educational administration degree last year, I started to research non-profit organizations that might help me  achieve this dream, and I eventually discovered Africa School Assistance Project (ASAP).  Over the holidays, I finally had time to connect with Sue, the ASAP director in Denver, and she verbalized my thoughts completely when she said that this is "a match made in heaven." Essentially, we will be traveling to Tanzania in June for a couple of weeks to help build a school in a rural community near Arusha, Tanzania.  Sue and I are also trying to figure out the best way to implement my other skills to work together with teachers and head masters in other schools built by ASAP. Unfortunately, Hans is unable to travel to Tanzania because of pre-scheduled weddings.  We briefly considered waiting until next summer, but I have experienced a new sense of urgency and intentionality with my dad's passing away last summer.  I feel called to move forward with the trip this summer, and Hans is hoping to join us another time. Both Karl and Kaya are adament that they want to come, and ASAP is very excited to have all three of us during what they call Friends and Family Week.  I must admit that I am super pumped to bring the kids along on this trip knowing the significant impact my first trip to Africa had on me...how I was inspired by the faith of the Tanzanian people and motivated to help others. One requirement of ASAP is that each volunteer contribute $1,500 towards the construction of the school.  These funds will go directly to ASAP and towards the construction of the school that we will help build in June.  (In addition, we will purchase our own airfare and pay $1,000/person for room and board while we work.) If you have a moment, please visit their website -  http://africaschoolassistanceproject.org/ - where you will find inspirational information and videos that explain what they do and the tremendous positive impact these schools have on the lives of the community members who will be building the school along with us. If you have any questions about our trip, please contact me, and I will be more than happy to talk about it!  As mentioned earlier, this trip is something I have dreamed of doing for a long time...and the time has finally come!  Thank you so much for your support, be it in the form of prayers or money or anything at all:) Asante sana ('Thank you very much' in Swahili), Erin, Karl, and Kaya Anderson