Traveling Smart

Hey Folks,
just wanted to let you know that we are aware of the risks of going to India right now. Our friends here in the states and over in India still say it is OK to go, and we are trusting them to tell us if it is not a good idea. We take their word and opinions very seriously, and we trust them with our safety. They need only say the word, and we will halt our plans to travel. We are also keeping on top of what our government is suggesting during this time:

"U.S. citizens traveling to or already in India to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness, especially during the end-of-year holidays until India’s Republic Day, January 26. This Travel Alert expires on January 31, 2009."-www.travel.state.gov

Note that we will not be in India until after the travel alert expires.

We will also be registering with our embassy, to get regular updates on whether or not our travels are safe, before we depart, and while we are in India.

Many of you, our dear friends and family, have asked directly about these concerns, and I can only imagine how many of you think it, and don't ask. So, here is the answer to those questions. We are not allowing our emotions to guide us in this area, we are trying to remain smart and practical. We love that you all care so very much for us, and know that we are doing our very best to look out for our own safety.

Much love and peace to you all,
Lauren & Will

Home for the Holidays

Will and I are spending as much time with our families as we can this holiday, as we will not be seeing them for almost 6 months. We've designated a larger chunk to Will's side, as we don't get to see them as often as my parents. Spending time with the in-laws is always very relaxing for me. Their home is consistently cozy and peaceful, full of boardgames, and accompanied by large sit down meals made by my fabulous mother-in-law . It's also super fun to watch Will with his brothers. Their comrodery and playful nature is a joy to watch in action, as they cheer each other on in rousing competitions of video games and living room wrestling matches. Grown men, imagining themselves back to their boyhood play times....it's a joy to watch Will relax with his family, and I'm honored to be a new part of this scene.

As for my lovely sibling, she is sadly snowed in, in Seattle. I am missing her very much. Often we need to share her with her own in-laws, but we plan for that every year. This years absence was unplanned, and a significant loss is felt by my family, and by her husbands as well, I'm sure. Thankfully, I did get to see my dear sissy this past October, and I'm glad we spent as much time together as we could.

At this point, Will and I are just 4 weeks away from heading over to India. Our Visa's have been filled out, and we are only in need of our pictures to send them out. This will be happening on Monday. This past week we also got in touch with an agent to help us plan our open ended tickets, and hope to hear more news of that this week.

Along with these things, we have raised just about all of our money- THANKS TO ALL WHO PITCHED IN! We also found a lovely gal named Jessica to rent out bedroom while Will and I are gone, helping us cut back on our costs in the states.

Things are falling into place, really easily I must say. I think God is being especially gracious in this area to me. Although I have some anxieties about my new experiences over in India, God seems to be making things very easy for us here at home, which makes an all around feeling of peace possible.

Thanks to all for your regular prayers and support. A special thanks to Joshua and David who regularly comment on my blog. I look forward to your comments every time I post.

I've been encouraging Will to post the next blog, and he swears he has 3 half written. So, keep an eye out for his thoughts coming soon.
Peace to all in this coming new year.
Lauren

A Beach Vacation

So, in late March, Will and I get a week long vacation. We've recently made some friends from Goa India, through our good friend Steve's Dad Ken, who spends a lot of time in India. Goa is a beach resort town, and has some of the best beaches in India. Through our new friends there, Will and I, along with our friends Kristin and Derek who will be visiting us at the time, are going to get the sweet hook up with a room for $3-$8 a day. This is a little bit crazy to me, as I've often spent $3 on a coffee, and to get such a luxury as a whole room for that much, well it makes you think a bit. I'm also just constantly in awe of all of the amazing quick connections we're making over in India. I love that it feels like we are already forming a community, before we even get there. Plus, it makes me feel safer, knowing people are looking out for us.

I've posted a link to the left, so you can check out pictures of the beach we'll be staying at (Benaulim).

Peace,
Lauren

Hey Everybody,
Will and I will be staying in the guest house at Latikaroy, and Jo sent us a picture of our bedroom. Look mom, it's clean!
Love to all,
Lauren

Appying for our Visa

So, I sold 120 lanterns at Art Shop, and Will sold some of his prints, along with a bunch of these sweet new calendars he designed. Thanks to all who came out and supported us. This $ will be going towards our trip.

Now, it's time to apply for our Visa's! This is our first tangible step to making our trip a reality. I'm both excited and nervous. I've never had a visa before, it feels so.....long term, which of course it is. 6 months is a lot for me. The only times I've ever been out of the country were when I did this community service trip in Scotland where I was a street mime for 3 weeks, yup that's right, and when Will and I went to Costa Rica for a week on our honeymoon. I've been to Canada twice, and the Bahama's once, but they weren't hard trips. My whole life I've been in Philadelphia. I stayed in Philly for college and grad. school. Heck, I lived with my parents, in the same house, until I was 21, and when they moved to a new house I went with them and lived there until I was 23. I'm going to India for 6 months, 6 MONTHS! I'm going to learn a new language, a new way of living, a new way of traveling, meet new friends, eat new food, see new environments, teach new kids, it's all new, all at once and I'm a little freaked out. Venting done, I'm going to switch all of those things into the "positive and at peace lense", and say that all of those things are also amazing. Choosing to be at peace, is a daily prayer for me, and I hope that you all will join me in that.

Love to all,

Lauren