A Challenge

Originally posted on October 23, 2011.

What started out as an already wonderful day for Medical, turned into an experience I will never forget. We recently were joined by 5 new volunteers: Diana, Melissa, and the Pope family, Charles, Gloria and Holly. Their first day was going to be celebrated by visiting a colony which we recently began work with. Everyone was coming along!There was already an air of excitement and we were all ready to serve and get going!

In the last picture, you see Koopamma, our first patient. All boundaries started to break down when I looked at her and I said, “Vanakkum! Un perer yenaa” or “Hello! What is your name?” Now, i can barely say these words correctly and so she just laughed and giggled! But she answered me and then, I’m guessing, assumed I could speak Tamil fluently, because she continued to talk to me the rest of the time. I would just shake my head, laugh and say “Amma, amma!”

This particular colony is very far progressed. In the 1960s, Europeans came over and built a hospital and volunteer hostels near them in order to help them fully. Each summer, those hostels are still used and they have set up a very good welfare program for the colony.

Now, I’d like to introduce you to a man that I have so much respect for.

He has not been given the chance to start anti-biotics and his leprosy is still in full swing. His feet are almost completely taken over and his pain is on the highest level. Without means of keeping himself too clean, we unwrapped his wounds and found maggots eating at the skin.The softest touch put this man in even more pain. I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to wash his feet and try to give him as much comfort as I could, but every time I moved the smallest bit, he doubled over in pain. My heart was aching and I felt helpless and mean. I had to constantly remind myself that I was helping him and that he needed this.
Now, what impresses me most about this man is the grace and power he held. Although, he has to suffer through this terrible pain and disease, he holds himself with pride and respect. He accepts his pain and is willing to accept help from the people who could give it. You could feel his spirit and power just sitting next to him. I hope that one day, I will have the power to suffer through trials and afflictions (that probably won’t ever be anywhere near severe as this) with the strength, acceptance, and grace that this man held. It was beautiful.