On our way

Well, we loaded up all our bags and met Nathan at the airport. Notice the pile of luggage beneath us?! We had an easy nonstop flight to Paris, and they even let us check all our bags straight through to Chennai so that we didn't have to huff them to the hotel in Paris.

Packing up

I have spent the last few days packing up. We have a couple bags with collected items for the children: jump ropes, rubberbands to teach the kids how to make jump ropes, pens, markers, art supplies, construction paper and paint brushes. We have a bag of food and snacks that we will take to the school with us, since we will get only 1-2 meals a day and might be hungry for more while we are at the school and in the colonies working. We have enough medical supplies to cure anyone of anything that might hit them while we are gone, and portable fans, flashlights and other comforts.

We had to purchase some long skirts for touring and teaching and some thin long shorts for working and loose fitting shirts to keep us cool. We want to make sure we are appropriately dressed as to not offend, while keeping ourselves as cool as possible. Heat is the only thing I am afraid of, since we haven't even had an 80 degree day yet here in Park City and we are expecting over 110 degrees in India!

Collections for the school

Kendall and Sydney have given two presentations about Rising Star and our upcoming trip. We hope to raise awareness about Rising Star Outreach and let people know how they can help support the school. We have given out a list of items that we are trying to collect to bring over with us to India.

Items include: mulit-colored markers, watercolor or acrylic paints in tubes, paint brushes in all sizes, colorful construction papter, small beanbags- about the sice of oranges, jump ropes, plain white label stickers in all sizes, plain blue ballpoint pens.

If anyone wants to donate items that lives in Park City, please respond to this post and we will come and pick up the items before we leave. We appreciate all those that have made donations. We are looking forward to giving these items to the children. Thank you!

Jump ropes for the kids at Rising Star

Sydney learned how to make jump ropes out of rubber bands at church last week. Sheila Agnew taught her, and she learned from some children in the Phillipines. Sydney was able to make jump ropes by tieing a series of rubber bands together. We will collect rubberbands and bring them with us so that Syd can teach the children there how to make thier own jump ropes.

Upcoming PCA Presentation

Kendall and Sydney are going to be showing a short film on Rising Star Outreach at their school this next week on May 28th. They will also be handing out a flyer with the items we are trying to collect to bring with us to India. Items include: blue ballpoint pens, colored markers, colored papers, jump ropes, bean bags and white sticker labels in all shapes.

Getting Ready To Go

I can't believe how soon we are leaving for India. We are getting excited and a little nervous about getting everything done in time.

We are going to be spending 10 days in India. We will be working at the Rising Star Outreach's school for the children of leprosy affected people. The school is located about 2 hours inland from Chennai, in southern India. It will be a great experience to serve others while learning more about India, thier culture and the people. We are expecting extreme heat and to be sleeping and working in a very different environment then we are used too. We look forward to the challenge and know that it will be a worthwhile and valuable experience.