India: Hope in the City of Dreams

Welcome to India! After arriving into Mumbai, we’ll settle into our accommodations and gather for a welcome dinner featuring local Indian dishes. Opening devotional and orientation: what does it mean to serve as the hands and feet of Christ in a new culture?

This morning we’ll visit the Gateway of India and take a short ferry to see the Dhobi Ghat, the world’s largest open-air laundry, for a glimpse into the daily rhythms of the city. In the afternoon, meet with our long-term missionary partners and local church leaders to learn more about the two communities we’ll be serving this week: M-East Ward and Dharavi. Evening devotional on cultivating a servant’s heart.

Travel to our partner schools in M-East Ward and Dharavi, where we’ll be serving this week, and tour the facilities. Team training on classroom management, English teaching methods for beginners, and games that reinforce vocabulary, plus cultural orientation led by our local partners on the history and needs of both communities. Devotional: praying for the week ahead.

Our week of service begins! Mornings will be spent team-teaching English lessons alongside local teachers at our partner school in M-East Ward — vocabulary, pronunciation, and simple conversation — followed by games and activities that reinforce the day’s lesson. Afternoons include team debrief and reflection on the day’s ministry.

Continue teaching alongside local staff in M-East. Team members rotate through classroom stations: reading groups, vocabulary games, and one-on-one conversation practice. Afternoon: free time to build relationships with students and staff.

Travel to our partner school in Dharavi to continue the week’s teaching, with today’s lesson themes woven with a devotional focused on identity and belonging. In the afternoon, join a service project alongside the school staff — this may include light facility improvements or supply organization for the classrooms.

Teaching continues in Dharavi. Today’s devotional theme centers on being known and loved by God. Evening: shared meal and time of worship with the local church and school families.

Our final day across both communities wraps with a closing celebration — songs, games, certificates, and a farewell gathering with the students and their families. Time for the team to say goodbye and reflect on the relationships built this week.

A full-day excursion by ferry to Elephanta Island, home to the Elephanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring ancient rock-cut cave temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, carved more than a thousand years ago. A powerful glimpse into India’s deep spiritual and artistic history.

Final group devotional and debrief: what did God teach us this week? Time for last-minute souvenir shopping in Mumbai before heading to the airport for your international flight home.