"Our first task in approaching another people, another culture, another religion, is to take off our shoes, for the place we are approaching is holy. Else we find ourselves treading on another's dreams. More serious still, we may forget that God was there before our arrival." John Taylor We've been taking off our shoes a lot in India. On Monday we hopped barefoot across the hot, sun-baked floor of a Hindu temple devoted to Shiva. On Tuesday we wiggled our toes i...

It is not everyday that you start a day by hiking up a holy site to overlook a city. Right around the corner from out hotel is a path that leads up Arunachala believed to be one of two holy mountains that represent Shiva. Our brief hike took us up to a beautiful overlook where we could see the whole city and the temple we would later visit. It is believed that Shiva settled an argument between Brahma and Vishnu over who is greater. Brahma (the creator) and...

What images burn into your mind? You know those moments that pass in front of you that you cannot forget? Search through your life and think of a few events. As I search my own past, no matter how hard I try I can still feel the sensation of falling under a car from a motor scooter and the rear passenger wheel roll over my ankle. My mind can paint an image of my grandfather saying goodbye to my grandma at her funeral. Those are the images that haunt me with pe...

What an overwhelming and beautiful last few days. Our group has spent many hours bouncing in our Tempo. Two nights were spent at a guest house on the grounds of Siloam Girls' School in Tirukoilur. This is a wonderful boarding school filled with a caring staff and amazing young women. We were fortunate enough to talk with several girls, play during their recess, be part of a community meeting, and share notes/gifts from a few sponsor families. Early into ou...