by International Samaritan | Jul 12, 2024 | Weekend Reflections
In early May, 12 of us from St. Mary Student Parish in Ann Arbor traveled to Honduras to spend a week with the local International Samaritan team learning, serving, and growing as children of God. What unfolded over the next five and a half days touched every one of...
by International Samaritan | Jun 28, 2024 | Weekend Reflections
Last week, I was in Uganda to see the land that we had just purchased next to the dumpsite there to turn into a family life center. Early on my first morning, I walked with David Kafambe, our team leader, on a muddy trail jumping on stones to cross a small stream of...
by International Samaritan | Jun 21, 2024 | Jamaica, Weekend Reflections
This week we celebrated Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. We thought it was worth sharing a few of the celebrations in our partner communities. These celebrations either commemorate milestones or are intended to raise...
by International Samaritan | Jun 14, 2024 | Weekend Reflections
To meet Dr. Ken Coleman is to find a new friend, which I discovered while spending time with him at the opening of our new family life center in Honduras last week. Ken had a good question, funny story, or insightful perspective to share in every conversation or...
by International Samaritan | Jun 7, 2024 | Weekend Reflections
When we set out to make a difference in Uganda, little did we know we would be witnessing the birth of a new star. Our mission began with home visits, a quest to identify young individuals who, despite their circumstances, showed great promise and an eagerness to rise...
by International Samaritan | May 31, 2024 | Weekend Reflections
Thirty years ago this summer, International Samaritan began when Fr. Don Vettese, S.J. and a car full of St. John’s Jesuit students (including a young Chris Lindsey, who has been serving on our board for the last 11 years) came across the garbage dump in...
by International Samaritan | May 24, 2024 | Jamaica, Weekend Reflections
Here in Jamaica, we recently took 19 of our primary school Samaritan Scholars to watch the movie Migration. The film features a family of mallards on an adventurous journey from New England to Jamaica, and it captured the imagination of our young scholars. Their...
by International Samaritan | May 17, 2024 | Weekend Reflections
Adisu had gone without food for days. When he developed severe gastritis, he felt he couldn’t endure it any longer. This led to an attempt to take his own life. Discovered in a critical condition, he was swiftly taken to the hospital. He didn’t have a...
by International Samaritan | May 10, 2024 | Weekend Reflections
Three years ago, we shared this story about the dangers of sexual assault that women and girls face working in dumpsites. Kathleen, a good friend to this organization and to me, who also happens to run a trucking company, asked how she could help. My daughter, Julia,...
by International Samaritan | May 3, 2024 | Weekend Reflections
Working with our Samaritan Scholars, the team and I see how vital it is for them to stay in school. We want the best for them, so we encourage them to keep studying and working to achieve their goals, no matter what obstacles they have to climb. Then, as so often...
