This young leprosy patient is thankful for the blanket she received. Now she will be warm through the cold winter. |
There are no shining lights, carols or beautiful trees. No warm fires or hot chocolate. And no one receives gifts at Christmas in the shantytowns where civilization’s outcasts reside. But for many leprosy patients in West Bengal, India, that changed last year.
Down the cold, muddy pathways in three leper colonies, sweet singing could be heard. And there were smiles on each face when the patients received their very first Christmas presents—a warm, snuggly blanket and a cozy shawl.
Distributing the special gifts, Gospel for Asia missionaries became the hands and feet of Jesus as they celebrated His birth. And the leprosy patients listened intently as they heard about the Savior who truly cared about their spiritual—and physical—needs.
As part of the special outreach, the missionaries also cleaned and bandaged the patients’ wounds—something they do on a bi-weekly basis throughout the year. On the off-weeks, the missionaries come to the colonies and teach a Bible study.
Because of the missionaries, the patients are being treated like valuable human beings for the first time. In the past, the only aid they received was from government doctors who would stand at a “safe distance” and throw medicine toward them.
Unlike the doctors, the GFA missionaries, who have received special medical training in taking care of the patients, personally dress each sore. They are not afraid of catching the disease, because they know that most people are naturally immune, and that it is only superstition that keeps the patients from getting the care they need.
As the leprosy patients reached out with their mangled hands to receive their Christmas gifts, their eyes sparkled with a glimmer of hope. Although society views these people as worthless and disgusting, the love that the missionaries brought—and the knowledge that the Savior loves them—gave the patients tremendous joy. Their first Christmas was more than a time to celebrate and receive presents, it was a turning point in their lives that can last throughout eternity.
GFA missionaries who minister in the colonies request prayer that the leprosy patients will see their incredible value in the Lord and that more will choose to follow Him. They also ask for prayer that God will completely heal more patients of this terrible disease.