John's Next Step

I’m leaving a job with decent pay and benefits, a nice middle class suburban house, my friends, and family to live and work with people I don’t yet know in a place I don’t yet know.  I'll be gone for 27 months.  During that time I don’t expect I’ll be able to take my nice hot morning showers, will likely not have dependable electricity, and figure I'll be sick with one form a parasite or something at least until my 55 year old body becomes acclimated to the new environment. And I’m totally exciting about taking this next step !!!! I’ve applied to the Peace Corps and have been nominated to teach secondary math or science in Africa.    When the invite comes I may find out I’ll be doing something else on a different continent. Taking to family and friends about my decision I've gotten a range of response.  Most people easily pick up on my excitement and share my enthusiasm.  Some worry about my physical health and safety.  Others may wonder about my mental health.

The average age of a Peace Corps volunteer is 26 years old.  I’m in the 7% of volunteers over 50.  Let’s just say I’m more than twice and less then thrice the average.  As I write this I still have my normal computer job, living pretty much the typical middle class life in suburbia outside of St. Louis Missouri. Each person is unique so nobody is really “typical”.  I have some quirks and experiences that are atypical.  Most profoundly, I lost my dear wife, best friend and best person I ever knew deeply.  Not lost exactly, I saw her die peacefully at home December 2012 after a long illness that she did not deserve.  She accepted God’s plan and offered her suffering even as she had a difficult time though it all. Before my wife became seriously ill we volunteered together for the local Red Cross Disaster services and for our local St. Vincent de Paul Society (a Catholic charity to the poor that is typically based in the local parish).  We were going to do the Peace Corps togethe