When Andrea Koral, a 2000 graduate of Oxford High School, decided to take a missions trip overseas, her plan was to travel to the rolling green hills of Ireland.
When there weren’t any spaces left for Ireland, Koral, 23, was told the only place left to attend was India.
The Lake Orion resident wasn’t exactly optimistic. In fact, India was the last place on earth she wanted to spend three months.
‘But the way things worked out I really feel that that’s where I should be,? she said.
Koral began to search and found an interdenominational missions program called Adventures in Missions over the internet.
She had also heard good things about the program through people at the Land Arc company in Auburn Hills, where she is employed.
Deadly snakes, scorching heat, unique food and the threat of religious clashes were all in the back of her mind, but Koral decided to take the challenge.
Koral, as well as seven others from places like Texas, Washington and Canada, will be leaving September 20 for New Delhi, India.
While on the trip, the group will be focused primarily on children’s ministry with ages five-15. Koral said they will be doing arts and crafts and teaching English and math.
According to the Adventures in Missions website, of the 1,029,991,145 population, 52 percent of Indians over the age of 15 are literate.
‘We’re also going to go over to Calcutta for a week for a Pastor’s conference where we will tend to about 2,100 children,? she said.
Women’s Bible studies will also be a priority as well as working in leper colonies. Today, Leprosy still runs rampant in the country of India.
Koral’s group will not be able to perform any street ministry because of the Hindu’s despising the Christian faith. The website also states that Hindu’s make up 81.3 percent of India, while only a mere 2.3 percent is of Christian faith.
She said the more north her group travels, the more their bus windows will have to be covered because they are seen as a threat.
‘It’s happened before where people have been kidnapped or murdered (because of their religious association),? she said.
Oh, and did we mention the poisonous spiders, sleeping on concrete floors, no running water or electricity and limited bathing?
‘I don’t know what I’m going to do!? joked Koral.
So, why would anyone want to put themselves in these kinds of situations? According to Koral, to make a difference in the world.
‘I’ve been a Christian for eight years,? she said. ‘To have an opportunity to go over to India to help people who are completely lost in the world, that’s all I want to do.?
Koral said she’s not at all worried about getting lost in translation. Many of the group leaders through Adventures in Missions have been to India before and have a grasp on the language.
To help the transition process, a two-week training camp in Georgia will prepare Koral and her group for the culture of India and its people. She even had to try Indian cuisine.
‘It’s gross,? she said laughing.
Luckily for Koral, the group is allowed to hire a chef and bring spices from home, just in case the curry doesn’t tempt their tastebuds.
Because the trip is funded completely by donations, Koral is trying every way possible to collect the $4,300 needed. This amount does not include the supplies she’s to bring or her plane ticket to Georgia.
She held a car wash at the Burger King in Oxford and raised $200, she’s doing bottle drives, she’s planning a golf outing in Grand Blanc in September and is even working on creating a fashion show for Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills.
Once she’s had enough curry and rice, Koral said she hopes to come home in December with a huge reality check.
‘I just hope to come home with a more open mind as to what exactly is out there in the world,? she said.
Koral wanted to thank her employer Land Arc for letting her have the time off and giving her her first donation.
To help Andrea Koral fund her trip, please send donations to Adventures in Missions, 6000 Wellspringtrails, Gainesville, GA 30506 c/o Andrea Koral. Or, write or call Andrea at 972 Sherry Dr., Lake Orion, MI 48362, (248) 672-2942.