My family, my best friend Dan and our kids (18, 13 and 5), and I are embarking on a life-changing adventure this Saturday. In two days! Our carry-on luggage (all we are allowed to bring) is packed with school supplies, work gloves, our malaria meds, a few T-shirts and underwear –– and a ton of idealism.

(My daughter is trying to bring a hula hoop – we’ll see how that goes...)

“It takes a village to raise a child” is an old African proverb. How poignant that it is to Africa that we travel to help build a village for families less fortunate than ours. To step into the Masaii Mara region and work and play and laugh alongside families there: to help build a school, to walk with the “mamas” to draw water, to sit with the elders, to learn a little Swahili beyond Jambo (Hello!), to play with the children. To watch my children play with their children. And remember the common humanity that binds us all. Especially us parents –– our love for our kids, and our dreams for their future.

We are traveling with Free The Children to see with our own eyes where the 10¢ per toy donated by every single B. toy goes.  To pitch in with our hands and hearts and minds into making the world a better place.

We will come back changed. Inspired. Touched beyond measure.

And with lots of stories.

-Gisela