Newsflash!!!

¡Hola Amigos! Wow, where did that month go?? Great News - I can finally answer one of the burning questions!!!

 On Sunday I skyped with Dany in Argentina and he told me about the great project that I will be part of! So, I will be based in Salta in the Northwest of Argentina in the foothills of the Andes (I seemed destined to ever live in mountainous regions)!! I will be working alongside a group based in an area of the city affected by poverty that provides child care to young children enabling their abandoned or widowed mothers to work and I'll also be supporting the education of 5-12 year olds through homework clubs concentrating on language and maths! The centre supports around 50 different children and provides a meal for them everyday. I'll also be part of the church that meets there consisting of 30 adults and 80 children!!! I'm so excited-if you put Salta into Google images it looks beautiful!!!


 I want to say a huge thank you for your continued support and interest, special thanks to everyone that was part of the Chinese Auction last weekend and others who have given so much! It's good to know what it's all going towards now. There is a slight delay between giving online and me receiving notification so if you do give online please drop me an email or Facebook message so I can make sure you get a big fat Thank You!! My email is joanne_la13@hotmail.com

 Come back soon to hear news of more fund-raising adventures and further developments!


  ¡Hasta pronto!
       
      Jo     xx


Disclaimer; this information was correct at the time of going to press but remember I am going to South America where plans change often, a month before, on the plane as you travel there, on arrival or even a month into the project!!! ; )

FAQ's

Hello! It's about time I updated you on what's happening and answer some of those frequently asked questions (and some you were too polite to ask!).

1. When are you going?
    Sometime in September. It will probably be the date when flights are cheapest!

2. Where are you going?
    I will know within the next month or so. I am fairly certain it will be Argentina but it's possible it may be somewhere else and being South America plans often change at the last minute. So basically it's wherever I end up!

3. What will you be doing?
    One of the desires of Latin Link is to match people, their skills and passions with a need so, as I've grown to love working with children and am now rather good at teaching reluctant British kids to embrace the opportunity of opening their minds, to put in some hard work and learn a whole new language and culture (!!!) I'll likely be working with children, possibly in education or helping a church develop its kids work or the two combined. This will also be clearer within the next month or so.

4. Will you be paid?
    No. Working makes visas complicated and also I'm conscious that I don't just want to move the life I live now to another place-I want to be able to commit fully to a project and give my all to seeing change happen and lives impacted at least for the next 2 years.

5. Why aren't you terrified?
    If I was going on a trip abroad alone depending solely on myself I would be absolutely terrified but right from the start this has been something I am confident is a God thing and it's cheesy but true ''where God guides, He provides''-whether it's somewhere to live, money, friends, joy,...! Over the 2 years it will cost about £15,000 which seems rather a mountain until God steps in! And He has! Literally the week I decided I've got to run with this I got a letter from the Tax Office saying I'd been paying too much tax and a cheque for £3,700! Wow! Then, the day after that a friend that had been visiting gave me £100 saying 'use this to be a blessing to others'-at that time I hadn't even told anyone what I was thinking of doing. Amazing! At the moment I have £5,000 with another £2,000 already promised leaving £8,000 to raise.
    I'm not saying that the night before I leave I will sleep well and be butterfly free. I think I will probably be questioning 'is this really what I want to do?' but I have had so many other crazy but beautiful reassurances that I've got to go for it and be excited and expectant!

6. How can I help?
    I love this question! The messages of support and interest people have shown has been so encouraging so please keep them coming : )

    If you are a pray-er then that always has a huge impact. Pray for the right placement, medical checks to be fine and money to be raised.

    If you are willing and able there are also many ways you can support me financially. You can donate online via the Latin Link website www.latinlink.org.uk just click on 'donate' and you can specify for your donation to go to me (Joanne Williams-Stride), you can make a one-off donation or set up a regular monthly direct debit. I also have forms that can be filled in and sent to Latin Link and I can even email these to you (I am becoming incredibly computer literate!!!).
    Over the next few months I will also be organising a few fundraising events which I will post details of on here so you can get involved!
    A lot of people say 'I can't give very much' but I am literally so humbled by every penny that makes me feel so loved and supported.

    Please, please get in touch if you have any other questions, comments, suggestions.
    Facebook me, email me (joanne_la13@hotmail.com), or grab me!
  
    Thank you wonderful people!

    Enjoy the sunshine!!

    Jo xxx

The Beginning

Hola!

     Thanks for taking the time to visit my brand new Blog Page-never thought I'd be doing one of these! I thought it would be a good way to help me raise support for the big South American Adventure and keep in touch with all you lovely people.

     My journey to South America began in 2002 when I spent my university year abroad with Latin Link volunteering in an orphanage in Peru. I went out there ready to change the world but ended up being changed myself. I realised that the images of poverty we see on tv are actually real life for some and there is a world out there that is in desperate need of so many of the things we take for granted. Most of my time in Peru I felt fairly useless-I'd never even changed a nappy before I went there (!)- but I returned with a resolution to become someone who could make a difference to lives.

     Through trial and error I ended up training to become a language teacher which was just as challenging as spending a year in Peru(!) but seemed the perfect balance of having a good and purposeful career and opportunity to spend the 6 week Summer holidays helping out on a Latin Link project in the continent I had developed a love for- South America. Sorted.

     That was until I spent 4 weeks on a Step project in Argentina. This time I suddenly didn't feel so useless. Becoming a teacher had taught me how to communicate and being a Whizz Kids leader at church had taught me how to make church accesible and exciting for children and I loved every minute of it (although lasting 6 days without a shower after working all day on a building site did stretch the love a little)! I caught a glimpse of what God could do to impact others even through a little life like mine. I began to doubt that 4 weeks a year was really going to be enough and started to ask if longer term may be the next step.

     On returning I soul searched for a while, asked burning questions like, wouldn't it be easier to just live a quiet, settled life and how on earth am I going to give up this growing wage?! However despite my doubts I knew inside this wasn't just something I wanted to do-it was something I had to do.

      I eventually sent off my application form and found a date I could attend an interview and in March signed a contract to spend 2 years in South America with Latin Link. Wow!

     I don't yet know details of exactly where, when and to do what but I know that I have the opportunity to step out of the boat, have an adventure and see what's possible when faith and action come together! I know I'll be using the skills that have been built up in me through all the amazing influences and examples I've had in my life and I know those skills are also about to be stretched beyond belief!!

     I would love to invite you to join with me on this adventure through your support. I have already so much evidence of the power of prayer and your praying is going to make a huge difference. Make sure you keep in touch too-as much as I'll be keeping you up to date with my news, I'd love to hear how you are doing!

     Also these two years will be completely voluntary meaning I need to cover living costs, flights, insurance, injections, visas and admin charges and though I am madly saving I am going to need a little help (the two years will cost £15000)! If you feel willing and able to support me financially as a one off or on a regular basis that would be truly incredible. Just let me know or visit Latin Link's web page www.latinlink.org and click on donate where you can specify where your money goes.

     Thanks for reading this (you deserve a medal!)

     Love you lots, Jo. xx

     www.latinlink.org