Ministering To the Forgotten

This morning we went to a leper colony about 30 minutes from the orphanage we’re staying at in Delhi. To start this off, I had no earthly idea what to think of when “Leper Colony” came to mind. The only image I had in my mind was a leper colony from an old Jesus movie where the people live in caves out away from the city. I figured we wouldn’t be visiting any caves today, but I was still very intrigued by the thought of what it would be like.

2 nights ago, on Wednesday night, I had a dream that an old man was sitting against the wall beside my mattress here at the orphanage apartment. I remember looking and being frightened and as I looked closer he had leprosy. I woke up and looked over, half thinking he would be sitting there beside me, but it was just a dream. Because of that dream I was chosen as one of the 5 people to visit there today. Our squad leaders, Jake and Chelsea, and me, O’leary, and Cordell all went and took fruit to the kids.

It’s honestly like nothing I’ve ever seen. For the most part, the people there are family members of the people with leprosy. So I would guess 1/5 might have had the disease. BUT, when we got there, some of the kids that live at ASHA are there for a few months while they’re on school vacation visiting their families and we got to see them. The precious little boys live there with their family members who can’t do much to support them. We met one of the boy’s grandmothers and the disease had eaten away and her fingers. She was a beautiful woman in her sari with her belly hanging out and thick glasses, but she stole my heart right off the bat. I’m the kind of person who can feel sympathy for people very easily, but to actually FEEL their burden is a rare thing for me. But, today, their pain became real to me, the heaviness of the disease just struck a chord in my heart and I truly was ANGRY at satan and his power over the body, but also at the power he thinks he has over their souls. In houses there were posters and idols that are the gods these people worship and expect to be their healers. But they are lifeless and can’t do a thing for them. I prayed a lot today for these people, that God would reveal himself to them. There is a small church in the community so there is hope that God is working there!

This was the kind of place that I could see myself doing ministry in. Living there, working with the women to help cook or sew. They touched my heart and I just know that God is going to do big things in their hearts! Such a tight knit community of people who truly care for each other and love each other. I got rocked today. It still amazes me/frustrates me that these people are living like this when there are easy cures for leprosy. I pray that I can do SOMETHING to make a difference for people who suffer with this disease, but also that God would show His power and be the ultimate healer for these people…even if that means spiritual healing.

God is continuing to mold my heart into one that sees people like He does. I praise Him for what He’s doing in this world every day, but what He’s also doing within me.