All weekend long we looked forward to going back to
see Nana. To see if his swallen arm was in the process of being healed, just
anxious to see what work the Lord was doing in Him….perhaps a healing. You
know, the Lord can do pretty amazing thing. On our car ride there we talked
about how we could not wait to see him. It was Matt’s first day coming with us
and I remember specifically telling him I could not wait for him to meet this
man! Little did we think this would be a day at the leper colony we’d not
likely forget.
see Nana. To see if his swallen arm was in the process of being healed, just
anxious to see what work the Lord was doing in Him….perhaps a healing. You
know, the Lord can do pretty amazing thing. On our car ride there we talked
about how we could not wait to see him. It was Matt’s first day coming with us
and I remember specifically telling him I could not wait for him to meet this
man! Little did we think this would be a day at the leper colony we’d not
likely forget.
After an hour traveling the crazy roads of Inida, we arrived
and walked down the main street, but something did not feel right. The streets
were more crowded than normal and there was Nani (meaning Grandma; Nana’s
wife). It briefly crossed my mind the fact that it was weird she was not by her
husband’s side. We talked with Nani asking her how her husband was doing, or
attempting to do so again due to the language barrier. She guesturred something
that gave me an uneasy feeling, thinking of what seemed to be the impossible.
and walked down the main street, but something did not feel right. The streets
were more crowded than normal and there was Nani (meaning Grandma; Nana’s
wife). It briefly crossed my mind the fact that it was weird she was not by her
husband’s side. We talked with Nani asking her how her husband was doing, or
attempting to do so again due to the language barrier. She guesturred something
that gave me an uneasy feeling, thinking of what seemed to be the impossible.
We followed her between the rows of homes on a little brick
sidewalk to her home. She pulled back the black cloth functioning as the door,
and nothing. Nana no longer sat there on the floor in the dark little cement
room. We felt her pain as she burst into tears. There were no words to say,
just a widow before us in pain in desperate need of love and something more.
Weeping together, Tammy and Caroline embraced her as Matt and I stood back in
disbelief and sadness.
sidewalk to her home. She pulled back the black cloth functioning as the door,
and nothing. Nana no longer sat there on the floor in the dark little cement
room. We felt her pain as she burst into tears. There were no words to say,
just a widow before us in pain in desperate need of love and something more.
Weeping together, Tammy and Caroline embraced her as Matt and I stood back in
disbelief and sadness.
She soon invited us in to sit, mourn and love on her. Nani
guesstured at her arm, trying to tell us that his arm just kept getting bigger
and bigger. Sad. For awhile then we sat in silence, mourning with her with
tears running down our cheeks and broken hearts. I sat in the same place I did
the other day when Nana was there looking where he sat, but he wasn’t there. I
picture that day like it was yesterday. I really missed him and wondered if he
ever met Jesus, and loved him. Breaking the silence of quiet prayer and
mourning, we began to sing her a song (Holy Spirit Rain Down) and with that I
felt such a sense of peace accompanied by the comfort of the Holy Spirit. It
was totally THE MINISTRY OF PRESCENSE.
guesstured at her arm, trying to tell us that his arm just kept getting bigger
and bigger. Sad. For awhile then we sat in silence, mourning with her with
tears running down our cheeks and broken hearts. I sat in the same place I did
the other day when Nana was there looking where he sat, but he wasn’t there. I
picture that day like it was yesterday. I really missed him and wondered if he
ever met Jesus, and loved him. Breaking the silence of quiet prayer and
mourning, we began to sing her a song (Holy Spirit Rain Down) and with that I
felt such a sense of peace accompanied by the comfort of the Holy Spirit. It
was totally THE MINISTRY OF PRESCENSE.
Our friend, Sunita (aka my fav person from India! :))
stopped by a little bit later. She speaks English so was able to get us a
little more information. She explained his conditions…he suffered. His arm
swelled up even bigger than before and he literally had holes of his skin eaten
away on his bottom. Nana had died on Friday, one day after we had seen him. The
funeral process and final goodbyes had taken place over the weekend.
stopped by a little bit later. She speaks English so was able to get us a
little more information. She explained his conditions…he suffered. His arm
swelled up even bigger than before and he literally had holes of his skin eaten
away on his bottom. Nana had died on Friday, one day after we had seen him. The
funeral process and final goodbyes had taken place over the weekend.
There is always joy to find in difficult situations and was
searching for it. I talked with someone from home who reminded me how much of
it was a blessing it was that we were able to spend time with Nana during his
last week and finally, on his last day of life on this earth. From that as
well, I realized that it is a blessing in my life to have met
him and spend time with him. It comforts me to think Nana got a taste, maybe
even a glimpse of the love and image of Christ in the times we sat with him.
searching for it. I talked with someone from home who reminded me how much of
it was a blessing it was that we were able to spend time with Nana during his
last week and finally, on his last day of life on this earth. From that as
well, I realized that it is a blessing in my life to have met
him and spend time with him. It comforts me to think Nana got a taste, maybe
even a glimpse of the love and image of Christ in the times we sat with him.
The Lord knew. He had these moments planned from the
beginning of time. No doubt, he worked through us in his unbelievable ways.
How? I have no idea. He works in ways we cannot see. I do not know where Nana’s
heart was or even where Nani’s heart is, but what I do know is they have
experienced first hand, the love of Jesus Christ through us. I praise God he
chose us to, on earth, in human form, be his angels to visit His lost,
suffering, and now, mourning children.
