Meeting the other volunteers, the typical questions are: where are you from and how long are you here? What has blown my mind is that so many people say they planned on being here for month and stayed two, coming for one week and stayed six months...and I am blown away by their courage, generosity, and contentment here in Calcutta. While I have loved the time that I have been serving here and am glad I have a week left, I am also definitely glad that I have an end date and honestly, I am counting down the days. I would love to love it here more - the complete selflessness, simplicity, courage, love, faith, non-wussiness, and joy that it takes to serve the poorest of the poor in this way is so beautiful, admirable, and inspiring. And I wish I was like that!! And I really thought that I would be! It has been a very humbling experience to see how hard this mission trip is in ways that I didn't expect. But in talking with other volunteers and praying a lot, I've discovered something - what I miss in this mission trip and have had in others that I have led or participated in, is the chance to walk with people as they discover or grow in their journey with God. One of the things that I admire in the missionaries of charity is that they let their work be their preaching; they serve Christ in the poor without pushing evangelism or the Gospel, always ready to answer if questioned, but always having a great respect for each person’s own religious convictions. And their lives do preach. However, I miss seeing Christ work in hearts, being his instrument, and sharing in the joy of people discovering God. So, the lack of the 'I love it here and never want to leave' has been an affirmation of where and how I am called to serve: at home, in English, with teens and friends. So, still giving it my all in this last week, but also looking forward to getting home… for a myriad of reasons, but also back to my old mission. And that is what Mother Teresa told her volunteers-"find your own Calcutta."