Reaching the Unreached, RTU, is a service site that is doing things right.  Set in the valley of the Western Ghats surrounded by bananas, coconut trees, and rice fields, it is the most inspirational place we’ve been yet even beyond the gorgeous setting.  The people there were proud to show us the different projects they’re working on, the subjects their studying, and the growth of the communities.  A pastor from the UK founded the organization 30 years ago with something like 1,000 rupees, which today is under $40 and was probably even less at that time.  I don’t know how to describe it.  Although it was originally founded to help help orphaned and impoverished children, they quick realized that a simple orphanage or school wouldn’t do it.  The children’s suffering is connected to many other aspects of the rural community as a whole – so over the years, other projects have developed such as healthcare education, clinics, HIV clinics, housing, community development, water treatment, trade schools, and microfinancing.  All of these projects are run by the local population in the Western Ghats.  The director who gave us a tour yesterday had been one of the students at the RTU school.  RTU has now set up over 30 self-supporting villages and they’re continuing to grow.  They have a school for over 600 children, women who are getting out of the sex trade or who are widows acting as foster mothers for the younger children, and hostels for the older children.  Many of the women invited us into their homes and showed us pictures of their foster family.  Others were making bricks, cement doors, etc. for other community members in need of a  home.  These homes are built for under $2000.  And the other thing is it’s absolutely serene, very clean, gardens are well-kept, and steam is used to power the kitchens.  They also serve over 3000 people meals every day from the surrounding communities.  People with leprosy come from all over southern Indian to seek treatment.  I am really bummed I’m not going to get to spend more time there and really hope to return there to volunteer and stay at the guest quarters.  RTU is a great example of a really well-run NGO that is reaching people and making a difference through a more holistic approach.  The villages and the people exude peace, redemption, and healing which is a beautiful to see.