FAQs: are you rich? how to decide where to volunteer? what do your kids think? and YOU

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one." -- John Lennon, "Imagine"

As I continue on with my epic traveling lifestyle (for now), here are the questions I get.

Q: Are you rich?

A: Not likely any richer than you. John Lennon sang, “Imagine no possessions. . .” If you literally sold almost everything you own, you could live awhile off that (“I’m spending my children’s inheritance”). Imagine if you had no mortgage, car payment, auto repair costs, or utilities, only $84/month for a storage unit. I’m not trying to recruit anyone to my quirky lifestyle; we all want different things out of life. I’m just saying that my worldwide lifestyle may sound extravagant, but it is more humble than it sounds.

Q: Ok, so you lived in Boston (43 years), then Texas (4 years), then volunteered in Louisiana (2 years). Now you’re on an epic road trip, then planning to volunteer in Cabo Verde off the west coast of Africa for a year if all goes well.

How do you decide where to volunteer?

A: I go where I feel called. I’ve had a lifetime of listening to God’s voice, and God and I are pretty well acquainted by now. If it’s OK with God, I have two criteria: it’s gotta be warm (I did 43 New England winters. I’m done), and it’s gotta be near an LDS temple so I can keep doing work for my ancestors. I love the temple. Both Baton Rouge and now Cabo Verde both fit those two criteria. I don’t know what God has in mind for me in Cabo Verde. I’m not sure what God had in mind for me in Louisiana either, or if I accomplished what I was sent to do. But I did my best, and I’ll do my best in CV also.

Photo: AfricanBirdClub.org

Praia, Cape Verde Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, dedicated June 2022. It is the Church’s fourth smallest temple at 8,759 square feet, half the size of the San Antonio Temple (16,800 sq. ft.) and 1/8 the size of the Boston Temple (69,600 sq. ft.).

Q: Yeah, but there are 335 LDS temples worldwide, and lots of them are in warm places.

Why Cabo Verde specifically?

A: It’s hard to explain when you feel called somewhere, but I’ll tell you more of my thought process as I “studied it out in my mind” (Doctrine & Covenants 9:8). I was privileged to go on business trips to South Africa, Kenya, and Tanzania, and loved the African continent and the incredible people I met. I feel I have much to learn as well as maybe something to contribute. I googled “LGBTQ-friendly countries in Africa,” (to be sure that I as an ally and any visiting friends/family are safe). Two countries popped up: Cabo Verde and South Africa.

I just learned from my South African writing mentor Charlene Smith that South Africa’s post-apartheid constitution was the first in the world to enshrine gay rights in 1996. Having visited Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Pretoria, I’d go back in a heartbeat (especially Cape Town), but I felt drawn to Cabo Verde instead. In many ways this island experience may build on my Marshall Islands volunteer English teaching in 2009-10 through WorldTeach. But if I get to Cabo Verde and don’t feel safe, I’m outta there — and we’ll call it a two-week vacation.

Q: Why don’t you just serve an LDS mission like everybody else?

A: God and I are doing just fine on our own over here.

Q: What do your kids think?

A: They’re used to me by now. “What on EARTH is she up to now?”

Q: I feel jealous/inspired.

A: Remember that I’m 70 years old, and have had many seasons of my life where I have responsibilities like kids, a job, aging parents, beloved pets, and a mortgage to pay. And I realize I’m one doctor visit away from hearing this line: “Game over. You’re not going anywhere.” If/when that day comes, there will be no regrets.

Maybe when you’re 70 you’ll sell it all and go where you feel called too. Or maybe you can go where you’re called right now. God’s calling me across the world, but maybe God’s calling you to go across the street and help a friend. Maybe you can talk to God and ask where you’re needed today.

“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.” — John Lennon