The other day we went to a leprosy hospital. I thought like most people that leprosy could be spread very easily just by touching someone with leprosy, that leprosy wasn’t curable, and that leprosy didn’t even really exist anymore. But when we got the hospital, they gave us a lesson on leprosy, and I learned that everything I thought about it was wrong. There are a lot of people who still suffer from leprosy. It isn’t spread easily, and touching people with leprosy or just playing with them won’t do anything. It can be easily cured, but most people don’t know that, so it goes untreated and gets worse.
We took a tour of the hospital, including the places where the patients make all the items that they sell in their gift shop. They were amazing – some of the old men were making woven rugs with no hands. I couldn’t believe it. This one little girl with leprosy grabbed my hand. She hugged me and told me her name and asked me to take a picture with her. She led to some other girls around my age. While everyone else shopped, we sat together, playing and laughing. It was very humbling for me to experience how these girls, who are suffering from a terrible disease, were so joyful, kind, and welcoming.
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| Some of our students show off their newly purchased handicrafts from the Leprosy Hospital |
God is at work in and through you all. Jesus ministered to the 'untouchables' as you have! Be Christ's hands and feet in this project....Love, love, love, everyone around you through the strength Jesus gives. Praying for you as a team! Ok...so now give Kyle a hug (all of you!) from us here in South America then turn around and make Kyle give you all a hug!...Fred and Desi Schmidt
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