He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of their people. (Psalm 113:7)

One of my mother's (many) concerns about my journey is that I'm going alone. Technically, that is true: I bought one plane ticket and am traveling by myself. However, I won't be alone - I will be in Kolkata (Calcutta) serving with two tremendous organizations who have chosen the streets as their home to serve the poorest of the poor. It should be noted I have no idea what I'll be doing with these groups, or to what extent I'll be asked to participate: I'm just showing up to do what they tell me.

These folks are not remarkable people, really; but they have remarkable faith . . . and that faith is in action. Day in and day out these servants face the harsh realities of a broken world and seek to respond as Jesus would . . . and indeed will. These people look to Jesus as their example: Jesus humbled Himself, and though He was rich He made Himself poor for our sakes. Consequently, these groups do not minister to the poor - they are in ministry among the poor and serve them as fellow human beings who have value and worth. In other words, this ain't simple charity work, volunteering with poor people to feel good about oneself . . . this is a heart and lifestyle response by ordinary, authentic people to an extraordinary Savior.

These are the people from whom I want to learn.

Missionaries of Charity

The Missionaries of Charity is Mother Teresa's order, formed in 1950. Mother Teresa received permission from Rome to begin work in India, starting with bringing dying persons from the streets into a home where they could die in peace and dignity. The MOC vow 'to give wholehearted and free service to the poorest of the poor'" was put into action with the setting up of several homes including Nirmal Hriday (the home for the dying), Shanti Nagar (for lepers) and Nirmala Shishu Bhavan (the children's home).

Her inspiration is spiritual and Christian but it is put into practice mainly by ministering to physical needs. In 1979 her work achieved world recognition when this "Saint of the Gutters" was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Word Made Flesh

Word Made Flesh is a young organization whose mission is "to discover Jesus among the poorest of the poor." They work compassionately with the most vulnerable populations in several international urban cities. The specific work in Calcutta includes ministry among the destitute men, women and children. In addition, the staff in Calcutta is pioneering work to help girls and women in the sex trade, by developing relationships with those in the red light district.

"Our mission is to seek out those for whom there is the least concern and assistance, to love the 'unlovely' and to touch the 'untouchable' in Jesus's name. Our presence will expose the reality that in Christ the poor are rich, and the rich apart from Christ are utterly poor. We exist that Jesus, the Living Word, be made flesh."

While I'm not volunteering w/ the WMF team in an official capacity, these folks have helped me get acclimated to Calcutta: finding a place to stay, showing me around, giving helpful hints, etc. They have totally welcomed me as part of the family. For a short overview of the WMF activities in Calcutta, check out a Dec 2003 update from Kyle and Michelle Cullum, who are WMF staff living and serving there.

L'Abri Fellowship International

OK, so there are three groups of people with whom I'll spend time. I was encouraged to find an out-of-the-way place before returning to the United States; a quiet, beautiful retreat where I can decompress and debrief after my undoubtedly incredible experience in India. Friends recommended L'Abri, near Geneva, Switzerland. L'Abri consists of 7 chalets surrounded by mountains, trees and a wonderful view of the Rhone valley.

L'Abri is a French word meaning "shelter." L'Abri was founded in Switzerland in 1955 by Dr. Francis Schaeffer and his wife, Edith. Schaeffer was a Christian theologian and philosopher who also authored a number of books on theology, philosophy, general culture and the arts. He and his wife wanted to create a safe, non-threatening community and study center where individuals have the opportunity to seek answers to honest questions about God.

Many come for personal motives: intellectually, spiritually, etc. Others come to work through particular theological questions. I will be at L'Abri for one week as a student, with my days spent studying and working. I will meet regularly with a "tutor" to discuss my reading and thoughts. I will also help with the cooking, cleaning, etc of the chalets. No, this is not some weird cult utopian society: it is simply a restful retreat center with intelligent, deep-thinking people who are devoted to Jesus.

And then I'm going skiing in the Swiss Alps. So I've got that going for me.