Love and Peace

Peace and Love. Love and peace. The two things that bond humans together and make the world a better place. It is possible that peace and love are all we need in life. That we can survive on so little with just these two things. Unfortunately, many people in this world need much more than that, or they think they do. Even I was convinced that to live a fulfilling life it couldn’t be based on two morals. Over the years though, I have realized that if you go back to the simple things and focus on the peace and love, everything else follows. The first day we were in Tanzania, our group took a small tour around Arusha with a man named Rasta John; he was amazing. He was so passionate about everything he was telling us. Rasta John, was proud of Tanzania, proud of what they had overcome as a country and that their history is in the past. He talked about how the Germans enslaved his people, murdered and tortured them, but because of the love they have for one another and life itself, they got passed it and moved on. Then he said this, “We are suffering but that’s okay because we have each other.” This has been replaying in my head ever since I heard it. Of course I know that some people live in rough conditions, I had seen it in Nicaragua and Cambodia. For some reason, though, it surprised me that he said what he did. It almost made it more real for me. The African people don’t forget they live in poverty, of course they can’t because that’s how they live, but they accept it because they know that there is so much more to life than money. They love one another and treat neighbors like family and really, that’s all that matters. I have been in Africa for less than 48 hours and have already seen and heard things that I will remember and live by for the rest of my life. I absolutely love this country. It is a beautiful place and the people make it even more incredible. The love that these children and all the people carry in their hearts will continue to amaze me and shape the person I am becoming and hope to become. Africa and the people of Africa will stay in my heart forever and I will never forget the challenges they face every single day. Because of this experience I will always remember to spread peace and love. “Sometimes the most beautiful places have the greatest hardships.” – Marika Feduschak.