What are the travel/accommodations like?

It takes about 24 hours from the U.S. to your destination of Chennai, India. The time zone is GMT+5½ (the whole of India is in the same time zone - 30 minutes ahead of one zone and 30 minutes behind another zone) so jet lag is nearly impossible to avoid. That is part of the journey!

In-country transportation is typically by mini-bus, although you may have the opportunity to try out a tuk-tuk! 

Overnight accommodations range from hostel or dormitory-style rooms (pictured below) with shared bathrooms to modern hotels with amenities such as swimming pools and Wi-Fi.

Food is mostly Indian cuisine, but our hosts are aware of preferences, and typically a variety of options is available. There will also be times to enjoy favorites from home, such as pizza.  

What will we do?

Your journey to India is to the southeastern state of Tamil Nadu where you will visit LPGM partners in the Arcot Lutheran Church (ALC) and those they serve.

This church body serves mostly Dalits (or "untouchables"), the lowest of the caste system. The ALC has a huge heart for Dalit children on the margins and empowers them through education. Since 1997, LPGM has managed a student sponsorship program for students living at ALC boarding homes.

You will visit village schools, where students benefiting from ALC's English+ program will read, sing, and perform for you. Teachers and staff will be excited to show you their libraries and demonstrate e-learning tools, funded with support from LPGM.

Other stops might include the Timothy Center for Women and Children's Empowerment, the Community College, and the Lebanon Home and weaving center, where you can purchase beautiful towels, placemats, and more, woven by widows who have found community and a livelihood.

Interfaith conversations include elements of Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism at the Quo Vadis Interfaith Dialogue Center in Tiruvannamalai. Excursions may include a Hindu temple, a Muslim mosque, and a Lutheran Church, as well as other holy places and sacred spaces. There will be engaging conversations and time for contemplative prayer and reflection.

In Chennai, you may visit the National Shrine of St. Thomas the Apostle as well as a banyan tree that is approaching 200 years old. 

You will likely spend a day or two in the seaside city of Pondicherry. Situated on the Bay of Bengal, it is known as "The French Riviera of the East" after the advent of French colonization in India. Here you may visit the Sri Aurobindo Ashram or nearby Auroville, heralded as the "first and only experimental township," with its golden-domed Matrimandir, adding to your religious and cultural experience. 

In addition to meeting staff and spending time with students, you will have time to reflect with the group as together you process what you are learning, experiencing, and questioning.

*We offer an optional add-on to visit Delhi and Agra which includes the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort. It is an additional four days before (or after) the main journey. The extra cost is approximately $500-600. This special excursion is determined by the interest of each group.

Will I get to meet my student?

We do everything possible to help you meet your sponsored student(s) at their boarding home. The India staff also makes a plan to visit a village and a home of student(s), one connected to you or others in the group. A night or two may be spent at more than one boarding home for a glimpse into their daily routine.

Do I need to speak the language?

Tamil is the language of many people in Tamil Nadu, but there are many other languages spoken, too. English is the unifying language. Traveling with LPGM means you will have Indian partners, tour guides, and contacts to help you the entire journey.

What is the purpose of this trip?

The trip objectives are for you to experience and learn from the Indian culture and people, to participate in our partner's ongoing education projects, and to share your life and show God's love to those you meet. Your time there will be an encouragement to the students and staff!

Through personal and group reflection, you'll unravel complex issues related to caste and race, spirituality and religion, education, empowering girls and women, and building community. Our hope is that you will share your experience with those at home, and apply your learning to your life. 

Transformational travel is walking hand in hand with local Christians doing God's work, learning from them, supporting them, and exploring what God is calling us to do together. Join us!

Frequently Asked Questions about LPGM Travel