First day out!

A lot of us on the trip have been getting kinda sick. Please pray for quick recoveries and no more sicknesses for ANYONE! 
And that being said. My first day out doing anything with the team was yesterday. I missed 4 days of medical camps and services. So I can't even guess what those days were like but I've heard that things went well and the team enjoyed the time they were in the camps.
So yesterday was awesome!!!!
We were able to go out to a small church in a nearby village and do children's and women's ministry. 
It was fun to have the children sing to us in their language and hear their happy voices singing loudly! Our group then taught them a song and made even more noise. After singing we did a skit with the children and told the story of Noah. All this being done with a translator of course. But some of the children I feel spoke a little English because they would respond before the translating started.
Very very fun day! Coloring and lunch followed after that.
After the children had eaten they brought the women in and we did much of the same thing asking them to sing for us. They were almost as loud as the kids! All ages were there from teenage girls to I am not sure but maybe 80's? They were so adorable!  We then shared a song in English and the story of Esther. After we were done we spent a few minutes praying individually with them.
We could tell the women were very appreciative that we spent the time with them.
Being there with them made me want to spend more time getting to know them and what their lives are like.

We have one more day working with the children here in this area before we move to the Children's home and Pastor K's. The group is really looking forward to the time we will spend there.

 Handing out crayons for coloring :-)

 I think these children wanted to come inside too. About halfway through I looked up to the window to see them.

 The kids were very attentive listeners.

  I'm always amazed by the talented drivers I see in India! :-)

Our Pony cart ride!!

 Cows in the city streets!

 At the home I was staying we had lots of flowers going up to the sky. :)

 Flower palace in a beautiful park we visited.

 Bangalore Palace was beautiful!

My hosts in Bangalore!

Made it here safe!

India has quickly stolen my heart! The food is incredible, the people are beautiful and the weather is so much better than at home! And I have been enjoying all the bright colors they wear here!
I arrived a little later in Bangalore than planned to due to bad weather in Boston. But everything worked out fine and I was picked up by my friend Soumya and her husband Sandeep. I stayed with them at Sandeep's parents home. They were the most amazing hosts!
It felt a little funny in Bangalore because I was expecting to be lost in translation. Nope! Everyone was speaking English. Even the church Sandeep's family attends is an English speaking church.
 After church on Sunday there was a huge birthday bash for Soumya's niece.
It was a circus theme party and they had a huge blowup bouncy slide, a petting zoo, Mickey mouse was walking around and then there was a pony available for rides. :-)
Oh! And of course amazing food.
My friends then took me on a walk to the huge mall nearby the house. 8 minutes walk or so. And then they brought me to a sweet shop. And we sampled 3 amazing popular sweets. I've never had anything like these sweets before and they were AmaZing!
But I could see how one could quickly get sick if eating too much because it was loaded in sugar sitting in a sugar syrup.
My whole time in Bangalore was super fun, full of new foods and experiences.
We were able to tour the Bangalore palace and walk around its beautiful grounds. I learned a lot about the history between England and the Indian people.
Now I have just arrived in Rajamaundry with the group! We were greeted at the airport with beautiful rose bouquets! And more good food! Our hosts are very kind and hospitable. Looking forward to getting to know them!
Tomorrow I start working in the clinic!

Photo of some of our group

Leaving New England again.

Hi Friends and family!
Ok, my Dad named my blog.I think he is HOPING this is the last time I leave. My Dad is pretty cool though and I am going along with it.  Karen's Last(MAYBE) Crusade.  
So, it's January in New England. And it's a great time to LEAVE again. :)

Where am I going this time?
A few places. And if you are interested you can keep up with my blog.
I have horrible grammar and I don't have an editor.. Usually I write stupid things then go back and erase them later. So read at your own risk. :-)
Ok here is the list. India first with the Apostolic Lutheran Foreign Mission!
I'm very excited because I've never gone on a trip with my church, so this is a first! New Experiences!  Looking forward to INDIAN FOOD!!! EVERY DAY!
What will our group be doing?
Our team is preparing to do a few medical /dental camps along with the foreign missions Pastors training in India. We will be helping with some services being held also.
I feel blessed and excited that I get to be a part of this.
Please pray for :
-Our health.. no sickness!
-For the services we will be at that the people there will hear the gospel preached.
-For our dental/ medical camps to be a blessing and help to the people that we are able to reach.
-Safety

Second I'm going to Madagascar to rejoin Mercy ships for a time.
I love volunteering with Mercy ships.. I think it shows.. This will be my 3rd time with them.
Again, floating hospital. Doing free surgeries / free dental care for the people of Madagascar. Mercy ships goal is to be hands and feet of Jesus. Bringing hope and healing to the people where ever they travel to.
Mini city..  crew of 400 people living together from all over the world.
I'll be working in the dental clinic again.. My favorite team to be on. :-)
Prayers for Mercy ships
-That all the volunteers will be a light for Jesus while we are serving the poor.
-That crew will be safe and healthy.
-Patients receiving care will respond well to care and recover quickly
-More compassion and love be given to volunteers to share with patients
- Patients will come to know Christ

After Mercy Ships
Thailand and maybe a few surrounding countries.
This is a gray area as nothing is set in concrete yet except the flight. and the supposed date I'll be coming home from Thailand.
So far my friend and I have found a church that has many volunteer opportunities in Bangkok. I'm excited about the opportunities and when I know more.. I'll share.. If I remember to. :-D

Anyways. This is the introduction to my blog.
I leave on January the 15th. Home in Mid May.. Unless I find a job at the US embassy in Thailand.. Hey!!! Another thing you can pray for. :-)
I hope to update whenever I get a chance. :-)
Feel free to e-mail me or write me on FB..  I love getting love letters. :-D
Love you guys!
<3 Karen
By the way this is a smiley face :-D and this :-) this is a heart<3  And this is an exclamation point!!!!
I get excited when I write. :-)
My dad thought I was doing weird typos..