I got back from NYC last Friday after a week of training with the Catholic medical mission board, and I have to say, the whole experience was much better than I anticipated...including a big supirse about my uncoming work. I was anticipating working in Nairobi next year, but our national director informed me that I would be going to Malava, a very small village in the western provinces, instead. I have to say i'm really excited, because this is the position that orginally got me interested in the program. In fact, all four NDMV volunteers will be living and working in Malava next year. The two guys- Shawn and Tom, will be living in a parish house together and myself and another girl will be living in the convent there with the Srs. of Notre dame. I've found out from past volunteers that there is no running water in the Parish house but, luckily for us girls, there is at the convent. There's also internet access and electricity...although both can be very unreliable.
There are two placements, and there will be one guy and one girl at each placement...although we're still not sure who's going to be where. The first placement is at the St. Julie Centre for Disabled Children and the other is with the local orphanage that is connected with the Norte Dame Sisters there. I honestly think that I would be happy at either place, but the placement at the St. Julie Centre is what got me interested in the program in the first place.

It's officially less than two months until we leave! Baltimore- January 3, Kenya- January 8