My Good Samaritan Changed My Path
As a teacher, enclosed in the four walls of a staffroom, I always dreamt of working for the community. I didn’t have any plans on how, but I kept asking God to give me a chance to serve the community, not as a school teacher but as someone who would interact with both...
A Light On My Path
I met my Good Samaritan in 2016, when we were in 8th grade. Just like the Good Samaritan who didn't pass by the wounded man, Marcela never turns away when she sees someone going through difficult times. I remember a day when I was feeling ill, couldn't walk properly...
Who Was Your Good Samaritan?
Did you know that International Samaritan Day is going to be celebrated every October 25, starting this year? It’s true, and we just invented it, but what a great idea! We chose 10/25 because Luke 10:25 is when the Parable of the Good Samaritan begins. The Good...
Rebuilding Hope
A year ago, on Saturday, August 10, 2024, life changed forever in Kiteezi, the settlement next to our capital city's dumpsite in Uganda. That morning, a terrible landslide struck the dumpsite, crushing livelihoods, burying dreams, and leaving hundreds of families in...
Hustling to Survive
In Jamaica, “hustling” is more than just a word—it is a way of life. It is not the kind of hustling that carries a negative connotation. Here, hustling is about resilience, resourcefulness, and doing whatever it takes to survive and provide for one’s family. It means...
Born Into Refuse
The dump is where I spend most of my waking hours. It’s the only place I’ve known. I didn’t choose this life; it chose me. I wasn’t born into opportunity. I was born into the refuse—the discarded things others forget. The sun isn’t up yet, but I’m already on my way...
Making a Splash
Here in Honduras, most families dedicate some time to go to the beach and enjoy the beautiful ocean. But for us in landlocked Tegucigalpa, it takes between five and eight hours to reach a Caribbean coastal town! And for our scholarship students and their families, who...
A Vision Worth Fighting For
Ever since he could walk, our son, Jacob, has been by my side, and I his. When he was two years old, we spent hours organizing our garage. It was a cool fall day, and he never complained or got in the way. About one-third of my size, he walked next to me all day long...
A Brave Heart
It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share news no one should ever have to write. It’s a story not only of sorrow, but also of tribute to a young life marked by quiet strength and unwavering courage. Our scholar here in Ethiopia, Yitayal, fought silently through...
A Father’s Example
Darlin shows his strength and commitment to his family and community every day. He is the father of two of our Samaritan Scholars in the El Ocotillo community, near San Pedro Sula, Honduras. To support his family, he works tirelessly at the municipal landfill,...
Our Samaritan Ohana
Last week I had one of those days that ends with a full heart and a grateful soul. Here in Villa Guadalupe, we invited twenty girls in our Samaritan scholarship program to see the movie Lilo & Stitch at the theater. The girls and some of their mothers gathered at...
Life Camp
Last week, our team in Uganda brought together 85 Samaritan Scholars, ages 7 to 23, for a three-day boot camp under the theme, “Growing Through Life – Learning, Reflecting, and Connecting.” From the moment the scholars arrived, there was an air of excitement. We...
