Chennai, India

We finally arrived in Chennai about 15 hours late on Monday, January 6th.  We were met at the airport by a representative from Smita's company who introduced us to our driver, Dhana Shekhar, who will be with us for the rest of our trip in India.

Our first stop that afternoon was to visit an orphanage called Pathway Centres for Children, owned and run by an Indian member of the LDS church, Dr. Prasad, and his wife Chandra.  (See, Pathway.org.in\).  They have taken in over 50 children at the present, all of whom have physical or mental disabilities.  We were privileged to be able to visit with the children.  They were all so loving and genuinely happy to see us -- it really touched our hearts.  I understand more why the Savior said "Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid then not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven."  The children are being taught to read and write as well as life skills they will need to survive.  They have their own bakery run by the older children for their own use, and they produce beautiful crafts that are sold to help support the program. We learned about Pathway from an interview done with Dr. Prasad on the Internet's Mormon Channel Faith In Action series.  In addition to the children that live in the Chennai facility, each evening they open up the facility to about 200 children living in the slums nearby to help them with their homework since their parents are likely illiterate and unable to help.  They also supply free medical and dental help not only to the children living there, but to the poor in the surrounding area.  In addition to the Chennai facility, they have a farm in Agili, outside of Chennai, where a number of other children live and raise food used on the farm and in the facility in Chennai.  Over the years, Dr. Prasad and his wife have helped over 22,000 children through Pathway.  Truly, these people exemplify the Savior's love.