Patience is a Virtue

I remember writing a blog last August about hope. I wrote that the loss of hope is the greatest tragedy. Dante believed it was the ultimate sin, to despair. I wrote that is is impossible to lose all hope; man is made of hope. Having hope is as essential as needing air to breathe or love to function. We all live in hopes. I felt that I was despairing last Tuesday for I had yet to hear from the Peace Corps (and I hadn't slept in weeks). Yet, for some reason, I awoke Wednesday feeling refreshed and renewed. I just knew that everything was going to work out. I had faith and hope that all would be well. And shortly after making this revelation, I  received the long awaited phone call from one of my placement officers. Not the call, but a call. He called to ask me a few minor questions and to inform me that I should receive the call in the next couple of weeks. I no longer have any holds on my status; my file has been reviewed. Now I wait for the call that says "Congratulations!" Once I receive the call I wait for a letter to arrive that has the exact location details. Once I know which country has invited me, I have 10 days to accept or decline the offer. At this point, I could be placed in the middle of Antarctica and still go. (No, that won't happen.) Once you've reached this point in your application process, you know you're going. I find it insane to believe anyone would say no at this point.After all, I've had over a year to make my decision. I don't care where in Africa I go, I'm just so excited to have the opportunity. So yes, I must remain patient. But at least my hope has been restored. I know that it is only a matter of time (less than a month) until I hear the news I've waited nearly 15 months for. Now I anxiously wait to hear the sweet sound of my ringtone with the 202 area code displayed so brightly on my cell screen. With luck and prayers, my patience will finally be rewarded.

 More to follow...