Will You Dance With Me?
“When you’re dancing, you’re not so concerned about your troubles. You’re asking, ‘Am I in sync with everyone?’ It’s a momentary break from your problems, and you get a bit of joy,” said Grace Flavia Ibanda, one of our team members in Uganda. Joy is what Grace wants...
Go Blue and Red
As we go to the polls in America next Tuesday, I thought you might enjoy the remarks I made at the University of Michigan Board of Regents meeting on October 17. May we all treat each other with grace and dignity, regardless of whether we vote to go blue or to go...
Poverty Crushers
Four years ago, I made “a big ask” of a successful business owner and well-respected Catholic philanthropist I had only recently met. A big ask for us is finding people willing to sponsor ten of our scholars at $3,000 each–or $30,000. Before answering my request, she...
You’re Not Alone
You're not alone. For our scholars breaking the cycle of poverty, you've found students across the globe who are equally determined to get an education. For our team members supporting our communities, you've found resources and friends in each other. For our...
See the Change
Never in my life have I seen such profound change in such a short time as the transformation that has taken place in the Dandora (Kenya) and Kiteezi (Uganda) communities since our teams began awarding scholarships there just over a year ago. In Uganda, the mothers who...
That Was Me
I used to work at the city garbage dump in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Starting at the age of six, I would accompany my mother to the garbage dump, where I helped her look for clothes or food that came from the garbage trucks. We’d go, even in heavy rains and hot...
Try to Imagine
Imagine living in a one-room house with your siblings and parents. You are HIV positive along with your father and stepmother. Your parents struggle to provide for your family’s basic needs as neither one has a stable source of income. Your parents don’t seem to be...
Avoiding the Gangs
Six months ago, the family of two of our Samaritan Scholars here in Guatemala City (a brother and a sister) were victims of gang violence. The family received threats not to return to their home unless the son, 13-year-old Samuel,* joined the gang. Samuel wants a...
Why We Do What We Do
Wondemeneh’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. For the past nine years, he has been a shining star in our scholarship program here in Ethiopia. Wondemeneh’s story began when he was just six months old. He suffered a fall that led to serious health issues. For...
Running to Rebuild
We organized a 5K run as our first large event last year, and there was an awesome turnout! This event raised resources for our community that saved lives. We will be running again this year. But we are running even faster and with more purpose than before. A few...
Still Shocking
This past June was my second time standing in a dumpsite. I never expected it would be so long before I returned on a trip with International Samaritan, but work, family, and life just never seemed to provide the opportunity. My wife and I had just taken our two young...
Awe and Wonder
In the midst of anguish and despair, I’m struck by the mountain-moving power of God and the love of friends and strangers. More than 50 people died in the landslide in Uganda two Saturdays ago, and more than 100 homes were destroyed. When David Kafambe reached out to...
