Couple land in Mali for Peace Corps work
| Sunday, July 20, 2008
Sioux City native Ashley Wollersheim, and her husband, Joseph Wollersheim have accepted a Peace Corps assignment.
The couple were scheduled to depart for Mali earlier this month to begin pre-service training as education Peace Corps Volunteers. Upon graduation from volunteer training in October, Ashley, 26, will be developing and implementing education programs and activities, while Joseph, 28, will work on environmental education projects.
Ashley Wollersheim, the daughter of Randy and Debbie Martin, is a graduate of North High School in Sioux City. In 2003, she was graduated from the University of Montana in Missoula, Mont., where she earned a bachelor of arts in elementary education. She previously worked in Washington, D.C., as a second grade teacher.
''My husband and I have desired to live abroad for a few years, but we wanted to live abroad with a purpose,'' Ashley said. ''With the Peace Corps, not only will we be able to do this, but it also let's us serve others.''
Joseph Wollersheim is a graduate of Xavier High School in Appleton, Wis. In 2002, he earned a bachelor of aArts in communications from the University of Montana, where he met Ashley. Prior to joining the Peace Corps, he worked in Washington D.C. as a legislative assistant for a member of Congress from Colorado.
''When contemplating our decision to join the Peace Corps, our family members were very supportive,'' said Joseph. ''We were both brought up with a sense of adventure and goodwill.''
During the first three months of their service, the Wollersheims will live with a host family in Mali to become fully immersed in the country's language and culture. After acquiring the language and cultural skills necessary to assist their community, the Wollersheims will serve for two years in Mali, living in a manner similar to people in their host country.
Ashley Wollersheim joins the 102 Iowa residents currently serving in the Peace Corps. More than 2,006 Iowa residents have served in the Peace Corps since 1961.
More than 2,235 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in Mali since the start of its program in 1971. Currently, 147 Peace Corps volunteers are working within Mali to confront imminent food shortages due to a rapidly growing population and frequent droughts. Volunteers strive to improve domestic food production, as well as find solutions to difficulties in water availability, environmental conservation, and micro-enterprise development. Volunteers are also providing education on preventative health care and HIV/AIDS awareness.
okay...you guys are totally celebrities now...I mean the SC Journal...now that IS "livin the dream!" :-) Watch out for the paparatzi, I'm sure they are looking for the famous couple.
ReplyDeletelove ya,
aubs
Hi Joe and Ashley,
ReplyDeleteIt's alot of work trying to keep up with your blog. It's a good thing you have this because this is the only way I can communicate with you. Very nice artical,Ashley your sister is so funny.
Every Sat. morning I have been going to the Farmers Market. The last two times I have bought corn on the cob. I haven't had that in ages. It's really good. The walking is good for me and I enjoy the weather too. Did you get the pictures of me that mom sent?
I feel big and i cant sleep at all anymore. The time is getting closer and closer. I can't wait until i can see and hold this baby.
Ashley,I know you haven't felt good and i hope things are better for you.
talk to you later
love Ben, Body and Baby B.
Hello Joe and Ashley --
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update! You two are amazing. We will pray for the tummy troubles -- when we were in India, they called it "Delhi belly." :o)
Love from WI,
Nancy and Peter Leschke
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHLEY,
ReplyDeleteJust a little note, to answer your question---whether we saw your article in the Journal--oh yes!!!!I did and cut it out and I am very proud to say we are your grandparents. Just even tho I wished you the best in my e-mail I just sent, I hope you are having a great day again I send love and prayers and all great thoughts.
Love you,
Grandma & Grandpa
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SMASH!!! LOVE YOU!!!
ReplyDeleteLOVE, AUBS, CLINT & TRINITY
Smashley:
ReplyDeleteHappy B-day:
As i think and ponder the life you have lead thus far in your journey there are many things in which i may recall from your ever continuing journey up the mountain we call life:
I would love to share with you on your birthday just few i recall:
1. At a very young age you were a dancer, now some may find this suprising since you do not often talk of your dance career, but i think it was a wise choice to leave the career of dance with a wonderful little number with a tutu on your head, so you could look like a flower!
2. I remember the days of sharing a room with you, although in your later years you gained a spirit of sweetness and compassion I would have to say your younger years were a different story: for example asking me "Amy" to clean our room in exchange for a piece of candy from your "candy drawer", I would thus clean the room only to find out some how mysteriously during the time of my cleaning all your candy had disappeared and there was none for me, but we had a clean room :)!
3. But as you have aged you have so graciouly continued to mother me and made sure i never went with out dinner when we lived in missoula...and well let's just say i(amy) so nicely put on some puff.. oh heck lets be honest i blew up!!
4. And on a more serious note:
You are the best second to oldest sister a sis could ask for, and whether your right next to me or in timbuktu...(ha: aka Mali) I love you very very much and I am so glad you have a sister as cool as me!
Love you smash:
Happy Birthday!!
Just few memories to make you smile:
sista spamy
Ash, I tried calling your and Joe's cell phones to wish you happy birthday. I tried each line 2 times and got 3 different beeping tones. I don't know what they meant. But anyway, Happy Birthday!!!!! I'm loving your blog and the pictures. Hope you are feeling better. Can't imagine having diarhea there, glad it's not me!!!
ReplyDeleteTake care and keep up God's work! Thanks for representing the family in such a phenominal way.
FAD (favorite aunt Debby)
Hi Ashley,
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday
Is it on the 10th of Aug? I got the impression it was.
Take care love
Jody
Hi Ashley & Joe,
ReplyDeleteI'm excited!!!I got your package off today. If you can let me know when you get it, I know it will take weeks, Yes honey I sent you guys dominos. I found a 91 piece, set of twelve, so you teach someone else the game too--maybe. It is in a metal case, so that should work, I got alot of snacks and they wouldn't all go in the box, [next time].
It was so great talking to you Ashley, and to hear that you are feeling good and like the doctors there.
I got a package of pictures of "our little fluffy marhmellow" she is so adorable. We would love to see them again, maybe this fall.
Randy calls everyday to see how Grandpa is doing, he had that "crud" too, but didn't have the same kind you had, I'm sure
Makalya,Maci & Ann Marie came out to have Peter Piper Pizza with us for lunch. They also are so cute, I'm glad you got to see all of them before you left.
I'll sign off now,
Take care--our prayers,love & thoughts
Grandma & Grandpa
Hi Ashley & Joe,
ReplyDeleteI'm excited!!!I got your package off today. If you can let me know when you get it, I know it will take weeks, Yes honey I sent you guys dominos. I found a 91 piece, set of twelve, so you teach someone else the game too--maybe. It is in a metal case, so that should work, I got alot of snacks and they wouldn't all go in the box, [next time].
It was so great talking to you Ashley, and to hear that you are feeling good and like the doctors there.
I got a package of pictures of "our little fluffy marhmellow" she is so adorable. We would love to see them again, maybe this fall.
Randy calls everyday to see how Grandpa is doing, he had that "crud" too, but didn't have the same kind you had, I'm sure
Makalya,Maci & Ann Marie came out to have Peter Piper Pizza with us for lunch. They also are so cute, I'm glad you got to see all of them before you left.
I'll sign off now,
Take care--our prayers,love & thoughts
Grandma & Grandpa
Hi Ashley.
ReplyDeleteSorry I don't think you want to read my letter twice.
Don't really know what happened.
Love Grandma
Gotta love hometown newspapers! You guys are so famous! I'm so proud of you. Maybe they will ask you to be parade marshall of a town parade or something when you get back--that would be awesome. Love you!
ReplyDelete~Jess