Yes, I will be in prayer for you. 7 months is a long time and holidays away from home are very hard to handle. Will you have internet access? If so Skype installed on your laptop before you leave will help you make free computer to computer calls to your family back home it can really help with the loneliness. If you can't do calls at least try to have pics of family members with you. The people you meet there will want to see pics of your home and family too. Culture shock will not be a problem if you can manage to flow into the culture instead of resisting it. Stay flexible and lean on God. When I first stepped on the eki platform in Japan with all those people around me who looked so different and all spoke another language I felt a shock of pure fear inside my gut but then I closed my eyes and just let myself drift into the sounds of a beautiful language of an amazing people that God had brought me to and the peace came. So did a sweet Japanese lady who was worried about me and helped me find my correct train. God is good and He will be with you everywhere you go!

@echois23 - Thanks.  This will be exciting. I don't have a laptop.  If I did, my parent's internet connection(which I am using now) is rather slow (dial up) and does not do video/audio very well.  But pics are always possible.  I would love to visit Japan some day.  A year ago I got to spend some time in China.  That was amazing.   I had a hard time with the food, but the people were so great!

@realungabunga - If you are going to be doing any work with children pics are something they love to see. I made a book with pics of my home, my town, places I like to go etc. Another great thing to take with you is pennies. The Japanese children and the children in Nicaragua both like to get coins from foreign countries like ours. I have children in Japan who are actually collecting them I brought pennies the first time then nickels then dimes next time I visit their school I will be taking quarters. My church collects them for me.