Orientation

I just got back from the SALT orientation in Akron, PA. I decided to have a blog rather than try to email everyone all the time. The orientation was amazing! The orientation included SALTers, IVEPers, and YAMEN! IVEPers are basically the reverse of SALTers. They are from all over the world, and have placements in the US and Canada. The YAMEN! are from countries outside the US and Canada and are filling some of the SALT positions.

It was a wonderful week getting to know the other people that have made the same commitment that I have for the next year.

One evening I was able to sit down and talk with Ed & Twila Miller. They had been the CRs (country representatives) in India until last year. Christina and I are the first SALTers to India that they had not placed. I was able to get a lot of information from them about the place I will be living and working. I can't even explain how it felt to talk to someone who knows exactly where I'm going to be and knows the people I will be working with! MCSFI, the place where I'll be working, is kind of like an umbrella organization that brings all of the Mennonite churches in India together. Kind of like Mennonite Church USA, but for India. That's my understanding anyway. I'm still not exactly sure what my job will entail, but that's okay. I'm sure I'll find out when I get there!

As for my living situation, it's a bit different than I had originally thought, and it's still not totally set, but I got an email from Liz telling me the plan. Liz was a SALTer this past year and is staying in India for another year. She is currently looking for an apartment, and she and I will live together. She also works at MCSFI.

For now, I'm back home, figuring out what I still need to buy and pack, and I'm getting ready for Ben's wedding in a few weeks. I am so excited about this next year!