Healing through Belonging and Medicinal Plants: Cultural Perspectives from India

As children of God, we are united as a community of belonging, with our Savior as the great healer. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3). This study abroad will explore the healing of both our physical and spiritual selves, from medicinal plants provided for man’s use and from our Savior’s teachings and the restored truths of His gospel. As the most populated country in the world, India offers a kaleidoscope of culture, history, people, art, land, religions, and traditions while also being a biodiversity hotspot that uses a greater number of plants for medicinal purposes than almost any other place in the world. We will visit many important cultural and botanical sights in India, including conservation areas for medicinal plants and visits with traditional healers/practitioners. We will also have the opportunity to work with scientists and students at the University of Jiwaji.

The study abroad will begin by flying together to New Delhi. Program travel will also include visits to the cities of Jaipur, Agra, Gwalior. Experiences will likely include visits to the Jama Masjid (India’s largest Mosque), the Raj Ghat (the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi), the Amer Fort (the original capital of State), Maharaja’s City palace and garden, the Taj Mahal, Medicinal Plant Conservation Areas (MPCAs), Abhaneri (stairwells invented to harvest rain water), the Mitawali temple, Garhi Padawali, the Golden Temple, and the Bateswara group of temples.

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