Saroj and Carlos were the most generous and hospitable people one ever met. As Methodist missionaries living in India, they openly expressed care and compassion through counseling, educating, and cooking. 

Born to a father who was both a preacher and educator, Saroj was raised in a small city in Gujrat, India. She was named after a famous poet and politician in the hopes she too would inspire others and change the world around her. 

At twelve years old, Carlos Welch felt called to become a missionary in India. He committed himself to the studies of medicine, psychotherapy, and religion. 

They met in graduate school in Chicago. Saroj was on the path to becoming a celibate protestant nun and Carlos was studying medicine in preparation for a career in India. They parted ways after graduating and it took Carlos nearly a decade of correspondence to convince her to marry him. During their sixty-four years of marriage, they helped thousands of people through counseling and training. But despite such demanding and vital work, Carlos always put Saroj first. Even in the way their names were written on stationery!

Together, they responded to hatred and fear with love and welcome. They always ensured a safe place at their table for anyone who came to them, regardless of religion, politics, sexual orientation, or financial or cultural status. Their story is an inspiration to all of us. The philosophy of kindness and acceptance that guided their lives continues to inspire us every day.