Day 2

Today was kind of an emotional day for me...maybe because I'm a girl and I go through cycles of emotions, and probably because sometimes I'm just so dang overwhelmed. Today a group of us left to go work in the leperosy-afflicted colonies. On the drive there we passed some extreme poverty. The worst was when we were stopped in some traffic and this desperate woman and her infant child came banging on our windows for what was probably 10 minutes. It was horrible, and what was even more horrible is that child was learning to beg at such a young age. I plugged in my ipod and listened to this talk and pretty much bawled all the way to the colony.

"Our Heavenly Father hears the prayers of His children across the earth pleading for food to eat, for clothes to cover their bodies, and for the dignity that would come from being able to provide for themselves. Because the Lord hears their cries and feels your deep compassion for them, He has from the beginning of time provided ways for His disciples to help. He has invited His children to consecrate their time, their means, and themselves to join with Him in serving others."

Views from the colony

These were some sweet beautiful girls in the colony who were so excited to show us their house.

This is their kitchen...

..and their bathroom. When I asked them where they slept, they pointed to a rock hard spot on the middle of the floor.

The leperosy-afflicted colony was this little block of houses with a common meeting place in the middle where the leprosy patients would come and we set up a clinic. We did things like take their blood pressure, blood glucose levels, give the medicine, and then wash and clean off their wounds. It was hot, and we had to wear masks and gloves that got filled with sweat in like 10 minutes, but I loved it! This is what I came here to do. Leprosy is such a cruel disease and is viewed so harshly in India. These people have literally been shunned. It's such a shame because if treated early, it can be completely curable with antibiotics. But because it can lead to horrible effects, these people are shunned from society before they even get a chance.

Afterwards we walked around the colony a little bit with our driver who speaks Tamil and interpreted for us. A few of the girls let us see their house and their view of the world from their eyes for a second (see the pictures above). As we were cleaning up the clinic my friend Kim and I looked at eachother and said, "Don't look at me or I'll start crying." We both knew that this is what we had come for and to see these people living their lives in those conditions and WITH those conditions...it's overwhelming. I get emotional just thinking about it.

I'm happy to be here, I really am. But right now it. is. work. and I'm trying to push through so that I can view it as pure joy instead. I know I'll get there. I hope by the end I can sing this song and feel like I have done something good:

Have I done any good in the world today?

Have I helped anyone in need?

Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?

If not, I have failed indeed.

Has anyone’s burden been lighter today

Because I was willing to share?

Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?

When they needed my help was I there?

Then wake up and do something more

Than dream of your mansion above.

Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,

A blessing of duty and love.