long time, no blog

Well it's only 18 days until we fly far far away...

A lot has happened recently and we're all very exhausted, with lots to do before we go!

Last Friday night we had our Indian Dinner Curry Night which raised around $2000. Fantastic effort!

Prior to that, we'd be madly organising the dinner, especially gathering prizes so generously donated by local businesses.

My budget is officially healthy, and thanks to God's amazing provision from some work, centrelink payments, annual leave pay and very generous donations from my friends, I have nothing to worry about.

Our quiz night is coming up on July 10th with the drawing of in-di pool, a fundraiser with the amazing prize of a beautifully framed 1999 Pan Pacs T-shirt signed by the Australian swimming team, may I say the best swimming team Australia has ever known, going on to clean up the Sydney 2000 olympics. Tickets are $2 each, only 4000 available. Let me know if you're interested in buying any or have people to sell them to!

I have had my vaccinations, got all my travel meds and finally got around to taking my cholera medication...eww! Just one more dose to go.

Cultural training next Monday night, then an interview for the Uniting Church Magazine, the New Times the following Tuesday. I feel like a rock star...haha hardly!

Um, I think that's all. Thanks for your prayers and support...whoever you are who reads this!x

fundraising: catalogue donations

I've just finished making the flyers for our donations board.

The idea is, the orphanage has an online donations catalogue to buy the kids specific things.

I've made it into a big poster so people at our dinner and quiz night fundraisers can donate specifically to the children through whatever they choose. Much easier that getting everyone onto the website.

But, if you would like to check it out online, go to

www.indianorphanage.com > donate > donation catalogue

Enjoy!x

my mused decision

I've decided that it is worth getting a Woolies rewards card with a free Qantas frequent flyer card. My reasoning is ... why not?!

Jo and I met for coffee / lunch, at bar9 of course, and then went into town, taking advantage of the free street parking after 12pm...noice!x

countdown: 28 days

My single muse for this morning is how much I love duty free.

Oh and I'm getting totally involved in figuring out frequent flyer points. Is it really worth flying Qantas? ... I'll let you know!x

countdown: 29 days

Such a great day of organising! I feel so much more in control now.

This morning I went camera shopping with Craigy. He gave me his old DSLR body so I bought myself a lens and bag. We spent the evening having a how-to lesson. Very exciting, although I've just realised I'm not going to be in any of the wonderful photos!!

I worked on the plans on my list for the fundraising dinner we're having on June 25th and picked up some donations, such generosity.

The health food shop at Mitcham donated us vitamins and minerals to take with us for the orphans, and it came to over $1000. Praise God!

My budget is finally healthy. God has been providing, divinely! My Centrelink payments finally got approved just when all the bills are coming that my poor credit card is loaded with. Plane tickets, visa, insurance...it all just goes onto my plastic fantastic.

And thank you to all my wonderful lovely friends, family and church community who have sponsored me to take the opportunity to go and serve. I am so blessed.

I am also very sleepy and have a terribly sore throat, so I'm off to bed...x

countdown: 32 days

I figured out my budget...go me!

And it's all going to work out. If I get a big tax return, it's a bonus!

Now I'm trudging through all my finances to make sure everything is sorted for me to go without any worries, rolling over superannuation, standing in line at centrelink, blah blah blah.

The lady at the photoshop thought I was so stupid, so I just smiled and left. She won't be getting my business because no matter what she says, I do have a cheaper quoted price!

x

countdown: 33 days

I visited Craigy this morning for a lesson on digital SLR cameras.

And I understood it! So we've looked online and done our research.

Now it's time to get to the shops and see how they feel.

Once duty free time is in, I can buy it.

Very excited and can't wait to take some great photos in India.

Now to the budget...x

goat rider

I am loving this picture. Just found it on the orphanage website.

So excited to hang around with this bunch of kids...insane!x

countdown: 35 days

My visa arrived in the post today, just a week after I sent my passport off to the Indian consulate.

A big relief and the final official thing to be confirmed to let me into the country!

Apparently it's going to be too hot to even wear a raincoat, despite the monsoonal rains, so that has been scratched off my list of things to buy.

Next on the list, camera research. Monday with Craig...x

countdown: 36 days

I'm off to India...

36 days to go until my first two months at the Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission - a community orphanage in northern India, on the border of Nepal.

Very exciting! There's just a lot to do before the plane takes off.

Please follow me on the lead up to my trip and join with me in experiencing orphanage life during monsoon season!

Check out www.indianorphanage.com to see where I'm off to...x