Third World Wonders

While in India, our mission team visited the schools established by the John Foundation. The foundation was established in 2007 when Saji John and his wife opened their home to two girls who were abandoned on the streets of Hyderabad. Since its inception, the foundation has expanded to include 27 children’s homes housing 292 children, a back-to-school program for approximately 685 children of single moms, 27 tutorial centers for 700+ children whose parents are illiterate, and a vocational program whereby 8,345 young men and women have successfully completed training in 17 government-certified skills. In addition, each year, approximately 200 girls are rescued from sex trafficking and temple prostitution. Currently, 363 students attend the John’s Academy School, and 5 businesses have been established and are thriving to help support 66% of the operational costs for the school programs.

Saji John is a true visionary. Every program, school, and housing development is designed to enrich the lives of young people associated with the John Foundation. Without the education and skills training provided by the foundation, those children and young women would have no hope for a better future.

In addition to all I learned of the John Foundation, there were other wonders I witnessed:

Despite their dire poverty, the people we visited in India shared their food with generosity and graciousness,
Although Indians eat with their hands, utensils are optional,
Protein bars will keep you alive once you’ve maxed out on Indian food,
It is possible to go 14 days without ice and/or diet soda,
You can also go 14 days without reading/hearing the news,
The Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World for good reason,
A taxi ride from Chandigarh to Shimla may be the closest thing to death one can experience and live to tell,
Music really is a universal language,
Even in the midst of the most challenging conditions, smiles, laughter, and blessings prevailed.