I feel a calling.  Again.

Last month, I spent five days helping to run a camp in the Dominican Republic. I need to do more.  Now I know. I need to go back. These kids, this community, they touched me.

When I was in high school, I knew I needed to go to Mexico – to live, to learn, to meet these people I had studied. It wasn’t a whim. I knew I had to become bilingual – I didn’t want to just learn textbook Spanish – I wanted to understand everything about the culture too.  Street Spanish. Everyday Spanish.

In college, after spending six months living with a family in Morelia, Michoacán and traveling throughout Central Mexico, I dreamed of going into the Peace Corps or becoming a missionary in Latin America. My professors talked of living among the Mayan Indians in Mérida and of studying civilizations across the globe. “I’m going to do that too,” I thought.

But, life happens. The last 21 years happened.

• Finish college at 21.
• Get the phone call NHS needs a Spanish teacher
• Fight it! “I’m not ready to be an adult yet!”
• I am hired.
• Grad School in Mexico = Grad School Debt
• Marry the Mexican man of my dreams
• Kids (2 beautiful bilingual boys)
• Decide after 21 yrs to leave teaching
• Travel to the DR as a volunteer

Now what?

My heart needs to help. I dreamed of teaching in the inner-city.  I dreamed of building schools in rural Latin America. I want to help build lives, give love, provide skills.

Can I afford to follow my heart? Can I afford to ignore this ache again? I think I know the answer. Can’t wait to see what powerful things are going to happen!

If you are interested in reaching disadvantaged kids in Latin American or would like to find out more regarding Basketball as a Mission. Contact us here or go to http://www.basketballasamission.org. 

If your company is in the Metro Detroit or Chicago areas and would like Puente Cultural Integration to provide consulting, cross-cultural or diversity training for your staff, please contact bridget@puenteci.com for a quote.