Mission: Chenai '07

Taking Leave

As of this time tomorrow i'll no longer be in the country. Yes, that's right, it's finally, after all of this work, time for our India Trip. Scary. We put so much time into the planning that i've barely thought about anything else. And now i'm freaking out slightly. But i'm sure i'll be fine...

We're spending three weeks in South India, working with the church. We'll be spending time with orphans, the elderly and the deaf, in various locations, with various responsibilities. We've made a few plays, skits and songs (one of which involves paper sheep and a big, laminated Jesus) but we're really not totally sure what we'll be doing. I think all of us are pretty scared. Talk about walking into the unknown.

All of us are going to suffer a huge culture shock and it'll be interesing to see how people deal with it. If this trip were a social experiment, it'd be a good one - the eleven of us going are going to drive each other insane. I can think of a handful of people that ALREADY i'm worried about snapping with - and i can tell you a handful of people who are going to snap at me! I'm hard to deal with at the best of times, let alone in small, enclosed spaces with no rest from me for three weeks :P I'll take bets on who people think will last the longest without getting annoyed at me.

On my part, i'm much less worried about the culture shock than i am about what we'll actually be doing over there. I don't know how we'll manage to spend all day with kids who don't speak our language and some of whom can't even hear, when all we've planned are a few skits that last about ten minutes total. What do we do the rest of the time?!?! People keep telling me it'll be fine - but i'm WAY to shy to even talk to kids or to come up with something to do with them. Eep!

So, yes. I'm freaking. I don't know what i'll be doing there, if i can do it, i don't know if i've packed the right stuff, if i've packed too much of it, if i can keep everyone happy the whole trip, if i'll actually be able to make a difference or whether that's just wishful thinking... I'm little miss uncertainty at the moment. But i suppose i'll deal with the trip, however hard it is. And that just makes me a stronger person, doesn't it? Hopefully...

Anyway, for the duration of the trip, i'm not sure how often i'l be able to write on my little bloggie! So, you may have to make do without me. However, if you don't think you can do that, we've started a blog, especially for the trip. If you'd like to check in, you can find it and us at www.malvernmission.blogspot.com check it out! Otherwise, check back in three weeks and here i'll be again. Think of me while i'm gone!

That said, my people informed, i must leave you. Party tonight and i've got to look decent - got a few things on a 'list' to take care of before i leave the country :P Wish me luck with that. Despite popular belief, i'll need it!

Adieu!!!

Annie