In the summer of 2004 I had the pleasure of arranging a service trip for educators to India and Nepal. Jacques was a participant on that trip, and served as an extraordinary role model for all of our participants. Despite the harsh summer conditions that included extreme heat and monsoon rains, unfamiliar foods, and challenging works of service including volunteering in Calcutta with Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, Jacques embraced the entire experience with the thrill of exploration, accepted the riches of this new culture with excitement, and provided a model of how such ancient civilizations should be valued in our present world.
In addition, Jacques displayed a depth of universal spirituality that honoured the religions of such regions, and to which he offered his full attention in recognizing the contributions of such belief systems to society. His walks on the very sacred shores of Varanasi were a testament to this respect.
Finally, Jacques was fun….. soaking in the delights of this unique learning experience with his early morning strolls, engaging chefs in the backroom kitchens, offering probing reflections during our debriefing meetings, sharing a cold beer on street corners with local people, and sitting atop elephants in the Nepali forests.
Tagore would have been proud!
Safe journey Jacques! May God bless you.
Robert Lato
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