where am i going, and why?!?



I'll be here in a few weeks.

8400 miles and 13 hours after leaving home, I'll be in southwestern India, on the coast of the Arabian Sea, in the state of Kerala.  The tourist board calls Kerala "God's Own Country" for it's lush forests, back rivers, and abundant wildlife.  The fact that it's also known for it's chocolate and spices doesn't hurt, either.  
                                                                     
Why?!?  Well, it all came together suddenly.  (More on that later.)  The short story is that I was invited to participate in a humanitarian mission:  taking supplies to an orphanage, and spending 9 days living on site with the 160 kids who are full time residents. While there, we'll visit a leper's community with more supplies, spend some quality time with the kids, and indulge in a few touristy things as time allows.  The touristy part will involve riding elephants, drinking lots of homemade chai, and buying a tailored linen shirt if all goes according to plan.



Some of the younger residents of the Children's Home

Friends and family have asked if there is any way to help.  YES!  I'm funding all of my expenses, including acquisition of health and school supplies, which are the top priorities.  Contributing even a small amount will go a long way, and I'll provide a receipt from the orphanage - an approved non-profit - for your tax deduction.  If you have a PayPal account, here's how to help:

• Click here to visit PayPal.com
• Sign on and click on the "Send Money" tab
• Enter my email address: dlcbay@hotmail.com 
• Enter dollar amount, click on the "Personal" tab, and and click on the"Gift"option  
• Press "Continue", hit SEND

Please email me directly if you'd like to contribute but don't have a PayPal account.