Today I leave for India.

As I was preparing to leave, I came across this little bit of travel advice, “Many Americans think they have experienced extreme heat, but even they are unprepared for the intense heat of India.”  It should be over 104-degrees every day we are there.

We are spending a few days in Delhi at the Good Samaritan School–one of less than five governmentally-approved Christian schools for slum children in the northern part of India. Right now, about 1,000 children are enrolled there, but they have capacity for 4,000.

We’ll spend time with our host, Anathi, and our partner Laura Marie from Friends of the Good Samaritan. Together, we will venture out to the surrounding neighborhood, and visit the schoolchildren in their homes. We’re going to interview about 5 kids, allowing them to tell the story of how they came to the Good Samaritan School.

The Good Samaritan School was started in a room that was attached to a public toilet. The founder, Anathi, began teaching the children in the only space that was made available to her–a stinky public toilet complex.

Initially, Anathi objected. But then realized that the only space made available to Jesus for his birth was a lowly manger. “If Jesus can be born in a manger, then I can teach schoolchildren in an toilet complex,” she said.

It is my honor to spend the next few days with Anathi, and visit the children of the Good Samaritan School.

We’ll be shooting lots of video and bringing back lots of stories. We want to see communities around the country join with HopeChest in supporting these school kids–making sure they are plucked out of the slums and given the resources to survive, thrive, and succeed.

Stay connected to the blog for more opportunities, exclusive videos, and trip updates.