is giving ever truly selfless?

now that one week has gone by and i start dealing with the difficulties of adjusting to a shoebox-sized uninsulated apartment, ice-cold toilet seats and flooring, really slow and limited internet and - oh yeah! - no salary, i start asking myself "am i having fun yet?" where's that euphoria of "i'm going to help the poor"?

i recently read a study on "why do people give?" and stumbled across the following:
"Giving is an intrinsically good thing to do.  It makes people feel good about themselves and makes them feel like they are connected to a greater cause that does good things in the world."

huh...

mission jo'burg

tomorrow i'm getting on a plane and moving to johannesburg, south africa. this is a thought i have to repeatedly tell myself to believe it's actually happening…(especially because i'm not completely packed). i've recently given up my job to spend two years in south africa volunteering. on the outside, this move may seem really crazy and/or radical, but on the inside it feels just about right.