Greetings folks! My name is Abby Hall Luca and I am a passionate and driven student midwife here in Portland, Maine. As part of my training to become a Certified Professional Midwife, I am apprenticing with a midwife at B!rthvillage Natural Birthing Centre in Kerala, India. I will be serving the women of Kerala from June to December 2013, and because I cannot legally work in India, supporting myself, while I train and serve at the center, will be a challenge. For this reason, I am reaching out to the online community to help me realize my dream. I need a $2000 plane ticket, vaccinations, and a visa, and I will need some basic clothing items when I arrive in India. Other everyday expenses will include food and travel costs, since I won't have a car. I have worked hard all year saving everything I can for this journey, but I've realized that, with great humility, I have to ask for help. Any amount is appreciated, and I offer many thanks to those of you willing to support me in this intense training. In helping me fulfill the requirements to become a Certified Professional Midwife, you are touching the lives of the women and families of Maine by improving outcomes for birthing women!