(Myself and a boy at the IDP Camp in Kenya.  He is wearing a shirt that says "Haverhill, MA" which is where I am from!  Really random and awesome!)

Hello!!!  I am Hannah Joy Olsen and I will be one of your Trip Leaders for Uganda!  Oh OH!  I am so excited to be heading back to Africa!  I went on the World Race back in June 2009 and God completely wrecked me!  He gave me the most loving and amazing community, and many of those I traveled with remain my closest and bestest friends!  A lot of that “wreckage” I experienced happened in the 3 months my squad was in Africa.  We traveled to Swaziland, Mozambique, and Malawi, and God moved in some hard but completely needed ways.  Those months were incredible months of growth for me.  I honestly didn’t really know what it meant to have my identity in Christ before the World Race and now I am obsessed with it!  Seriously, identity in Christ is the message I feel God has placed in my heart to share across the world!  In the fall of 2010 I lead a Real Life team in Kenya.  I LOVED it.  My team was amazing, my co-leader remains a good friend and encouragement to me, and Kenya itself is an incredible place.  It was there that God really confirmed my heart for Africa.  There is something about that continent which speaks to my heart and soul in a way no other place has.  I am pa-zumped (that is like pumped but better) to be heading to Uganda with you all this summer!  Seriously, I can’t put into words how excited I am!  Please feel free to find me on Facebook or to check out my blog: http://hannaholsen.theworldrace.org/  I totes don’t mind being stalked. 

A few other things to note:  I love the color yellow.  Flip-flops are my favorite footwear.  I love to sing, I sing A LOT.  I always have a song in my head, even if I am not singing it out loud.  My favorite foods are sushi, burritos, or a really good salad. I have 2 tattoos- one on my wrist and one across my feet.  We WILL have many dance parties this summer, be prepared.  One of my theme songs is “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus and I am not ashamed to admit that.  I am from Massachusetts and therefore I am a HUGE Boston Red Sox fan.  I use the words totes, obvi, and holla frequently.  I LOVE Africa. I am FREE from shame.  I am LOVED.  I am a DAUGHTER of the most HIGH KING!  I am FORGIVEN.  I am ROYALTY.  I speak TRUTH.  I am here on this earth to bring the KINGDOM OF GOD and to BE LOVE.   My life is not my own: "Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it." Matthew 16:25

If you want to be my friend please bring Dr. Pepper, Peanut Butter M&M’s, a Bounty Bar, or something really cool/yellow to Atlanta.

Can’t wait to meet you all and do life together for 2 months!  It will be rad.