Happy New Year!

Well, the day has finally arrived! I've said my goodbyes, packed my life into a suitcase, gone through the tedious visa application process, and done my best to prepare myself for the great year that lies ahead. I have so many thanks to give I don't know where to begin. My family, for starters, has been absolutely wonderful, family friends have shown such love, and my friends have made my last few months simply perfect.

I've had the best time living with my grandparents the last couple months (though I was rarely home except to shower, eat, and nap). It was great hearing stories from their youth and their travel stories.

My brothers have had nothing but encouraging words for me along the way. For those of you who don't know... Donny and I were at St. Cloud together and when I transferred to North Dakota I was lucky enough to be with PJ! This will be the longest I've spent away from either of them and that will be tough.

My parents have been wonderful. They have been at my side the entire way supporting me 100% and that couldn't have been easy! My dad has spent so much time making sure that everything works out in the smoothest way possible and I can't thank him enough for all of his help. My mom has held it together far better than I had ever expected, even when I had let my nerves get the best of me. It's very reassuring to know that I have two of the best people looking out and taking care of me. I love you guys!

To everyone who has donated to help support making my dreams a reality (with words of advice, prayers, and those who donated money to help fund my trip)... I honestly will never be able to thank you enough for the love you have shown me. Thank you thank you THANK YOU!

All of my friends that have spent time with me these last couple months... You have no idea how much it has all meant to me. Whether we spent just a few minutes together or a few days it really meant so much to me to be surrounded by people I love. I made so many new friendships in such a short time and strengthened many old ones. You all better skype me or I'm going to drop kick you upon my return.

I know that I haven't had too much to write about (and I'm really not much of a writer anyway) but the wait is over and it's all starting to unravel. I'll land in Cape Town around 9:40pm (8 hours ahead of Central time) and then I will meet up with the Africa Jam 2014 group! From there my true journey will begin and I expect it to be a year of lessons, memories, and great friendship. Keep following and I'll keep you posted! Happy New Year!!!

Thanksgiving

Hello everyone! 

Since my last post much has changed in my world, but first I would like to extend my gratitude to all who have donated to help me fund my trip, without you this trip may not have become a reality.

 I've moved back to Minneapolis from Grand Forks to be closer to my family during my last month in the states. Since my parents have made the decision to move up to our lake place and rent out our Lakeville home, I've been living with my grandparents in South Minneapolis. It's been truly wonderful spending time with them(not to mention grandma cooks dinner every night and who could say no to that?!).

 I've also booked my flight! I was sitting in the Caribou Coffee near my grandparents house and spent about 25 minutes with my finger hovering over the "book flight" button. After I finally booked my ticket I looked up to a coffee shop of people staring at me which is when I realized I was crying(probably because I thought of how many pairs of shoes I could have bought for the price of a plane ticket to South Africa) Just kidding. Purchasing my ticket was my first wave of realization that this was all really happening and it's overwhelming to me how fortunate I've been. 

I will be taking off out of Chicago O'Hare at 5:30AM on the 30th of December, and if any of you know me you know that I am not a morning person. Although, I doubt that I'll be getting much sleep the night before I leave. My next stop is in Washington DC where I will have a 9 and a half hour layover... What a drag. If all goes smoothly I may get to take a stroll along our nation's Capitol, but we'll see! Next stop is in Johannesburg, South Africa then straight on to my final destination in Cape Town, South Africa where I will welcome the New Year. With a total travel time of 33 hours and 5 minutes I'm open to any and all suggestions for good books to bury myself in along the way.

It still has yet to fully hit me that this is all really happening, but I predict when I am boarding my first flight the excitement will consume me. I have been so blessed to have such a strong support system behind me. I have been lucky to have my family by my side throughout all of this. My brothers, Donny and P.J., couldn't be more excited(or jealous) for me. My dad, Paul, has been his usual "hard to read" self, but I like to think that under that strong exterior he's secretly freaking out to let his little girl go. My mom, Doreen, on the other hand couldn't be more opposite from my father. She's expressed just about every emotion there is from excitement to nervousness to jealousy to smothering me with love.... and I'm really going to miss that over the next year. 

I'm excited to be surrounded with my family over the holiday season, as I won't be around for the holidays next year. I'm also eager to see all of my friends who attended distant schools over the winter break. I'll be taking advantage of every minute I get to spend with my loved ones. I feel that I have so much more to be thankful for than I have in previous years. 

Keep following as I begin my year abroad, and happy holidays to everyone! 

Much love, 
Maggie 

**If you are interested in helping sponsor me, you can donate using the pay pal button on my first blog post, or you can mail your donation to my home address below.  For more information on the Rockland's Centre, visit:  www.rocklandscentre.weebly.com

Home address:  c/o Paul & Doreen McGinty - 36953 657th Avenue; Watkins, MN  55389

Three More Months

It still seems surreal to me that in three months I will be taking off to live in another country for a year. Everyone asks me if I'm excited, and while I am completely thrilled, it still hasn't quite hit me yet. I've been trying to keep my head in the present and just make the most out of these next couple of months. I get pretty sad when I think about leaving all of my friends behind for a whole year, but that goes without thinking of the new friends I will make over the upcoming year. When I look back to freshman year of college I remember how I went in knowing only a few people and within a few months I had an entirely new group of strangers who became my new family. I'm hoping that I find something like that.I've never been away from home longer than a few months without seeing my family so I think that's what makes me most anxious, but with today's technology I can imagine that it will be less difficult if I can have a face to face, or screen to screen, conversation with them. Video chatting will make it easier to stay in touch with my friends as well, though I think it may also make me miss them more. Until I leave I have no reason to give any of this stuff more than a moment of thought. I'm going to carry on keeping busy with work and spending time with my friends, roommates, and my family. For now, the only thought that will consume me will be what I should be for Halloween this year....

My Africa Internship and Journey

I am so excited to share with you that I have been selected for an internship in South Africa! The internship will be for 13 months at the Rockland's Centre as a member of the Solid Ground team. Rockland's Centre is located on the eastern side of the Cape peninsula in Simon's Town, South Africa. While I am abroad I will be working with a new group of children each week. During the weeks we will be doing all sorts of activities such as; rock climbing, hiking, swimming, archery, tomahawking, and gaining a closer relationship to God.

I have visited South Africa once before in January of 2012 as a part of the Africa Jam program. With Africa Jam I traveled with a group that toured townships, spent time with children and teens living in poverty, and spent time at Rockland's Centre for a week-long faith based camp. In my short time I spent there I grew so much, not only as a person, but spiritually as well. I am more than excited to see the person I become after spending over a year in another country and becoming a part of another culture.

I am looking for sponsors for my trip, as the internship is volunteer and not paid. Any amount would be greatly appreciated!  Volunteers work very hard under all sorts of conditions, and unless they’re able to find sponsors, they pay all of their own expenses. I will be leaving December 2013 and won't return back to Minnesota until January 2015.

I will be keeping a blog throughout my time spent away so that I can share this adventure with you. I would love to send you postcards or letters in order to keep you updated if you prefer a more traditional communication.

If you are interested in helping sponsor me, you can donate using the pay pal button on this blog (below and to the right), or you can mail your donation to my home address below.  For more information on the Rockland's Centre, visit:  www.rocklandscentre.weebly.com

Thank you and I look forward to sharing my journey with you. 

Maggie


Home address:  c/o Paul & Doreen McGinty - 36953 657th Avenue; Watkins, MN  55389