One Lesson Learned, Another Taught

The past two days have been so amazing and unbelievably touching! Yesterday I didn't have a lot to do. I was sort of getting tired and about ready to shutdown for the day until Joyce asked Nicole and I to go visit an old man who had been thrown out of the hospital with a broken hip. This man is 84 years old and all I knew was the hospital he was in did not want him there because the doctors thought it pointless to keep him alive. When I heard about his situation I was shocked! How could the hospital act so cruel to actually throw a man who was dying out into the street? My heart ached for him and I gladly went to help. He had been sent to the Bindu Art School, an art school for leprosy affected. I did not know, but this had been his home for quite awhile. Thoughts were rushing through my head not knowing what to expect, and all I could think about was this poor man who was in complete despair and misery. I shortly arrived with Nicole and our nurse. Nicole and I had brought food and water for him thinking he would be hungry, and he was. This man was laying down on a mat with his head comfortably placed on a rice bag. His whole body was completely emaciated. It was difficult looking at this man, but for some reason unknown it did not bother me. Paul, his art teacher at the school, told both Nicole and I he has no hope, and looking at him I noticed it. The nurse treated all of his wounds while Nicole and I helped out with as much medical knowledge we knew, which was close to none actually, but somehow it got the job done. After the nurse left, Nicole and I sat with him holding all that was left of his hands. Humming silently I prayed for this man to receive comfort and hope. For the longest time I sat there pondering to myself how lucky he really is. As each day passes, this man gets closer and closer to celestial glory. Paul came over to where I was sitting and we had a short conversation about how it would be better if this man died, so he could go to heaven instead of suffering in pain and agony. I told him if he is alive there is a reason God wants him alive. Maybe he needs to learn one more valuable lesson before going to see God, but whatever is holding him back from being in heaven I know is all through the Lord's plan. Nicole and I wondered what he was like in his youth as we sung silently the children's hymn "A Child's Prayer". Tears raced down my eyes as I sung, and the feeling of the Spirit was so powerful. I cannot describe in words how I felt, but the feeling was one of comfort and joy, and I knew this man would be ok. There is a line from "A Child's Prayer" I really like, and it seemed to suit this occasion. "Some say that heaven is far away, but I feel it close around me as I pray..." This line hit me powerfully as I sung because heaven for this man did not seem so far away, but actually within reach. I asked Nicole if she wanted to pray for this man, and as we began to fold our arms the man seemed to understand what we were doing, and slowly he did so as well. We prayed that he would find hope, comfort and joy in this time of suffering, and we told him God has a plan for him. Our time to leave slowly sneaked upon us, but I did not want to leave this man alone with no care. On the way back home, Veil, Nicole and I stopped for parotha in Uthiramerur to ease our emotional evening. The rest of the night I was in a state of peace, but not the kind of peace usually felt being at ease with yourself, for this kind of peace was one words cannot portray. I hope one day you all may be able to feel this feeling I struggle to express. Today I had the opportunity to go with the medical van and check up on the man. Walking into the school, Paul saw Nicole and I coming in, so he kindly came over to greet us. Paul was shocked we came again, and all the words he could utter were God bless you two! Nicole and I brought him breakfast, and again we sat with him for awhile. I asked Paul how this man was feeling, and Paul said, "Yesterday there was no hope, but today he is happy, he is laughing, and he has hope." God had answered my prayer, and in that moment I felt the same feeling come over me again. As Nicole and I sat there with him I noticed an awful stench coming off of him. Smells of urine and infection stung my nose. I asked Paul if we could bathe him, so he would not have to feel so ashamed and humiliated. At first, Paul looked at us like we were insane, but after awhile he got us a bucket of warm water and a bar of soap, and surely enough we began to bathe him. It was really sad because any small movements made would hurt him immensely, so we had to be extremely careful making sure we were fragile with every touch. Paul could not believe what we were doing, and every so often he came to tell us God was going to bless Nicole and I. To see him happy and laughing was amazing! He even sat upright as we fed him! I could not believe how much improvement he had made in one day! I do not know the next time I will see this man, but he has a special place in my heart and he will always be in my prayers. The rest of the day Nicole and I helped with the medical unit. We gave out different medicines as people one by one came up to our van. One man outside of this building, in the colony we were in, with the only English he knew told Nicole and I the same thing. He told us thank you for the medical services we had offered to the people, and God is always going to be watching over us. The gratitude of these people always amazes me! Small acts of kindness I see as nothing are huge to them, and because of these acts their lives will be completely altered. I held the hands of this man and told him God will always be with him. Today, again, was another remarkable day! Everyday is a remarkable day for me, but these past two days have completely altered my life. The experience from this man, the feelings I have felt and the overall joy I have attained while being here are incredible! I can never portray my feelings about what I feel here sometimes as well as I would like to, and for that I apologize, but hopefully the times I do explain my feelings well can give you all an idea of what it is like to be fully immersed in an amazing work! I never thought about life and certain things the way I have seen them here, so hopefully all of this will stay with me when I come home. I miss and love each one of you! You guys are always in my thoughts! I love this work and I love these people with all of my heart! Goodnight or nalla thoungunga, which is Tamil for goodnight and I love you all or naan unnai virumpukirén, which is I love you all in Tamil!