From Story Cottage to The Gambia: Sarah talks on Caregiving with Purpose
Story Cottage Interviewer:
And just from how you’ve talked about Africa and how much you loved it, I can only imagine how much you’re going to love spending 15 months there.
Sarah Johns:
It’s going to be great. It’s going to be challenging—that’s for sure—but I feel so ready for it.
Story Cottage Interviewer:
Fifteen months is a big commitment, but you’ve talked a lot about overcoming boundaries and pushing yourself. We’ll definitely have to bring you back when you finish your Peace Corps service so we can hear what it was like!
Sarah Johns:
I’d love that. The Peace Corps is very different—you’re fully embedded in the local community. You have your host team, but outside connection is basically cut off. I’ll be in a rural Gambian village with no running water, no electricity, no refrigeration, and no air conditioning. I’ll sleep under a mosquito net every night—which I’ve heard becomes your best friend. It keeps out the rats, the snakes, the spiders, and of course, the mosquitoes.
Story Cottage Interviewer:
Wow! That’s going to be such a unique experience. After your service, how do you hope to use what you’ve learned abroad to make an impact back home?
Sarah Johns:
That’s a great question—and honestly, I’m not sure I’ll be coming back to stay. In the next five years, I’ll serve in the Peace Corps and eventually want to finish my nursing degree. Whether that happens abroad or in the U.S., I’m open. My long-term goal is to return to Africa and serve on the Mercy Ship—a floating hospital that provides life-saving surgeries and palliative care along the African coast. It’s challenging work, but that’s what draws me to it.
Story Cottage Interviewer:
That’s amazing. I can only imagine the impact you’re going to have.
Sarah Johns:
I’ve always had this internal calling—since I was a kid—to go to Africa and help people. When I arrived in Zambia, it felt like a dream. Even now, it still feels surreal. I’m finally doing what I always felt pulled to do.
Story Cottage Interviewer:
It’s so inspiring. Your story really shows that everyone’s timeline is different, and when it’s right, it just clicks.
Sarah Johns:
Exactly.
Story Cottage Interviewer:
I want to shift a bit and talk about your caregiving philosophy. What does being a caregiver mean to you personally?
Sarah Johns:
I’ve thought a lot about this question. To me, caregiving means putting yourself aside—even if just for a moment—to help someone in a meaningful way. It’s about love, patience, and attention. It’s the quiet moments—like helping someone brush their teeth or go to the bathroom—where you realize how important your presence is in their life.
Even in Zambia, I helped someone shower. That person would have gone without that care if I wasn’t there. That sense of responsibility and impact is something I carry with pride. Caregiving is a gift—one you give of yourself to others.
Story Cottage Interviewer:
That’s such a beautiful way to describe it. For those considering a caregiving career, what qualities do you think are most important?
Sarah Johns:
If you’re even slightly interested—try it. Curiosity can turn into passion, and passion into purpose. You need a true desire to care for others. The most important qualities? Patience, love, and attentiveness.
You have to be selfless. Yes, you gain pride and fulfillment, but that’s not why you do it. You do it because someone else truly needs you.
Patience especially is key—whether you’re working with someone who doesn’t speak your language, someone who’s confused, or someone who’s agitated. You have to meet them where they are, understand their mental state, and care for them with empathy.