Introduction

Hello,

My name is Rebekah Powell and I am from central Texas. I've lived in Texas my entire life and I love it there. All of my family is from there. My parents live in Florence (between Georgetown and Killeen), my sister and her family live in Hewitt (just south of Waco) and my brother in Stephenville. My immediate and extended family are great and were so supportive when I told them that I wanted to join the Peace Corps.

I wanted to join the Peace Corps for three main reasons: I love to help people, I love challenges, and I love to travel.

I was raised to be thankful for what I've got, and to help those that are less fortunate. I may not have that much, but I have clothes on my back, a roof over my head, some food in my fridge, and a family that loves me. But some people in the world don't even have those four basic things. The Peace Corps helps people in desperate need and those who can not help themselves. One reason I choose the Peace Corps is because they do not simply give people what they need for two years and then leave. However, Peace Corps' purpose is to show the community how to be more self-reliant and self-sufficient. For example, they show people how to grow crops more productively and how to make their own pesticides and teach people how to fix a computer instead of just showing them how to use it. This way the Peace Corps can leave the community, but the community can still carry on what they have learned.

The Peace Corps is a two year and three month commitment, that requirement alone places it as a challenge. Also, after your initial three month training (in culture, language, and you job), you are placed in your community alone (most of the time). Yes, you have other Peace Corps volunteers in communities close to you, but you are (most of the time) the only one that speaks English in your community. This forces you to be self-reliant, independent, and a self-starter.

Ever since I was 13 and took my first trip out of Texas (on a mission trip to Alaska), I've fallen in love with traveling. I enjoy visiting new places and seeing new things. I haven't been to too many places, but I plan to travel to a lot more over my life time. I have been to: in the US - Alaska, Oklahoma, Missouri, Virginia, Maryland, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Flordia and outside US - Germany, Belgium, and Luxembourg.

I am a little nervous about serving, but I think that is always going to be there. If I wasn't nervous, I'd be worried why. However, I know that through the obstacles and the hard days, this will be the greatest experience of my life.