More Pictures

Last night we visited a different leper colony from the one we attended the funeral at. This colony was government run and was very different from the other camp. The housing consisted of four long dormitory-style buildings all in a row with wide avenues between them. People were cooking and cleaning and sitting around in these spaces between the buildings. They all knew Pastor Daniel and greeted him warmly. Pastor Dan remembered them by name and joked and laughed with them. At some houses he would have us stop and pray for people who asked for it. One woman was pregnant but had lost the baby only a week before. Another woman lifted up her skirt to show us her left leg which was covered in a network of black, venomous looking veins which traced down her shin to a tangle of dirty gauze in place of a foot. She explained that she was hoping for crutches but couldn't afford them as they cost 300 rupees (About 8 U.S. Dollars). We told Daniel we would definitely be willing to buy these for her before our next visit. One man
we met was bed ridden. His wife showed us with gnarled, fingerless hands that all they had to eat was plain white rice. Daniel explained to us that the man would die unless he was able to start a diet with more nutrients. We learned that while the government provided housing and some food they didn't pay for any of the medical needs of the lepers which are needless to say numerous.

Tonight we are going back to the same leper colony to put on a large meal for the people there. Daniel told us that he likes to do this as often as he has enough money but his resources are spread thin as this is one of three leper colonies in addition to all the other ministries he is involved with. Nevertheless Daniel is very confident that all his and these people's needs will be met. We have been very struck by the joy we have seen in everyone from the beggars at the street dinner to the lepers to the orphans. This says a lot to us about the nature of joy and where true joy resides.