On Friday we went to our first leper colony. We were told the greatest thing we could do for them was to hold them. Having never been to one before, I was a little worried- isn’t leprosy contagious by touch?
Turns out it isn’t. In fact, it turns out that leprosy is completely curable for about $200 (USD) per person. Here’s the catch: in Hindi societies, the common belief is that you get what you deserve, so if you get leprosy, you deserved it for doing something either in this life or a former life. And, just to make sure everyone is getting their fair share of punishment, whole families are kicked out of society and into these colonies, which are everywhere.
Can you imagine becoming the scum of the earth because your grandmother got leprosy? Leaving your home, your friends, your future all because of something that has absolutely nothing to do with you?
I speak just about zero Nepali, but the one thing I can say is mero nam Natalie ho. My name is Natalie. Then I could look expectantly into the eyes of the suffering man or woman in front of me and wait as he or she gave me a name.
Our names give us an identity, a value, a place in this world that no one else can fill.
The craziest part about this is that God calls us by name.He knows our names, knows our identities, knows our thoughts, words and actions, knows the very hairs on our heads. And, even more incredibly, He loves us despite it all.
Mero nam Natalie ho.
My name is Natalie, but my identity is in Christ my Savior, and no one can ever take that away from me.
