The desire to travel to India developed when I was a wee little peanut.
Growing up in a family where faith played an intricate role in daily life, I was exposed to service at an early age. My older sister went to India to volunteer at 17 years old, which is when my pull towards a land filled with curry spices and the Taj Mahal began.
My budding interest in India increased when I did a report on Mother Teresa in second grade, and learned more about the country and culture. This, along with the fact that my sister was headed to New Delhi, prompted me to write a letter to Mother Teresa in hopes that one day it would end up in her hands. Through God's grace and the help of our family friend Meenaxi, the letter made it to Mother Teresa.
About a month before Mother Teresa's death in 1997, soon after my sister had arrived home from volunteering, I received a letter in the mail. It was a response from Mother Teresa! She congratulated me on my First Communion and included some prayers.
This was certainly a miracle, one which fostered my love for Mother Teresa and her work with the poor at a mere 7 years of age. The letter, my sister's amazing experience in India, plus a handful of other reasons, such as a trip to India with the family in 2004, led me to know that one day I would want to volunteer there on my own as well.
My budding interest in India increased when I did a report on Mother Teresa in second grade, and learned more about the country and culture. This, along with the fact that my sister was headed to New Delhi, prompted me to write a letter to Mother Teresa in hopes that one day it would end up in her hands. Through God's grace and the help of our family friend Meenaxi, the letter made it to Mother Teresa.
About a month before Mother Teresa's death in 1997, soon after my sister had arrived home from volunteering, I received a letter in the mail. It was a response from Mother Teresa! She congratulated me on my First Communion and included some prayers.
This was certainly a miracle, one which fostered my love for Mother Teresa and her work with the poor at a mere 7 years of age. The letter, my sister's amazing experience in India, plus a handful of other reasons, such as a trip to India with the family in 2004, led me to know that one day I would want to volunteer there on my own as well.