Peace Corps "Worldview"magazine

The National Peace Corps Association puts out a quarterly publication that I find in the office in Kiev every now and then, and every time I open the pages I am humbled and honored to be part of it all. Some of the volunteers have done work that I consider astounding. Take one woman, for example. There was a volunteer many years ago that was sent to an impoverished village in South America somewhere. This village didn't have a school and don't you know...she built one?  It was in a remote mountainous village not easily accessible from anywhere. Today this school still thrives and is considered one of the best schools in the country!

I read stories like this in Worldview now and again and I always reflect on my own service here in Ukraine. I start to wonder...have I done enough? Could I have done better? Could I have done something special and more profound for my community? I have done a lot of small projects here but nothing on such a grand scale as building a school and in fact, what I have done doesn't even cause the slightest ripple in the grand scheme of things.

But...

I have reached people. I have encouraged and promoted and instilled in a few people the power of believing that their lives can change for the better. I have reached out and given the gift of hope. It may not be a school and it may not be grand, but it is all I had to offer this time around. And I do mean, this time around. I am still young enough to serve as a PCV again, and not so old that maybe next time around, I can build that school.



Veronica, me and Julia