I've recently decided to go to India for a couple of weeks this summer to volunteer helping families affected by leprosy. I'll be volunteering for Rising Star Outreach (www.risingstaroutreach.org) in small leprosy colony outside of Chennai, India.

Leprosy in India is considered a curse. Those who contract the disease are outcast from society and are often consigned to remote leprosy colonies where they have no choice but to beg for their survival. Rising Star Outreach helps these families by educating their children, offering medical treatment, and using micro-credit to give parents a way to go from begging to becoming self-sufficient.

As a volunteer, we are expected to raise at least $1500, most of which is to help pay for the programs and initiatives of Rising Star like the children's school, medical clinic, and colony support projects.

By contributing and following my blog, you can also feel a part of this journey that I'm about to embark on.

If you would like to donate and partner with me on this project, you can contribute online at www.risingstaroutreach.org/volunteerpartners and put my name as the volunteer.

I hope that you will be able to join me as my partner on this adventure and this opportunity to serve. Together we can bring hope to these people in need!

Thanks for your support,

Christine