There are days when words fail you. Moments when you feel bombarded with images, emotions, and experiences and you can’t possibly do any of them justice.

In only five days, Tanzania has opened my eyes, broken my heart, and stitched it back together again. There is so much more I could say, but wifi is limited and sleep beckons as I will be up and volunteering in only a few hours. For now, please join me through these images on Instagram and A Fresh Chapter Facebook. The story continues to unfold and there will be so much more to share, but I have to share the hi-light of my day today when I met Esther.

Esther was diagnosed with breast cancer 24 years ago. She is now 84 and living with metastatic disease and has no money for drugs to manage the pain, yet still welcomed me into her tiny one room house where she spends most of her life on a mattress on the floor. She and I compared battle scars and she still found the ability to laugh and show gratitude for the neighbours who come and help her.#fcafafrica is all about perspective. I am in awe of her strength and will carry her with me.

I will leave you with the words from a fellow volunteer today: “Learned today that one of the women who runs Good Hope was forced into marriage when she was 14 to a man who already had 3 wives. Also, she has not drawn a salary for 2 years, because she uses all donor funds to keep the organization running. Yet she shows up to work with a gigantic smile on her face. What was my problem again?” ~ Jen