Anniversary and Birthday Celebrations with the Lepers
The team has been here for three weeks now. It has definitely been a different experience for us being the primary leaders of the team rather than just the set-up leaders (as we were in Swaziland). The Lord is really stretching our team members as they share in community living, a totally different culture, and orphan, leper and slum ministries. Our heart’s cry is that the Lord will break out of the boxes that they’ve put Him in and build a love relationship with each of them. We desire to see His Kingdom come in the hearts of the participants and in the leper colonies and orphanages!!
Our team is split into three different ministry groups, going to three different orphanages, three different leper colonies and a slum. It is exciting for us as we get to spend time in the leper colony and orphanage, Asha house, where we’d initially built relationships.
Just last week we attended a wedding anniversary celebration for our friends, Valli and Vasu, at the leper colony. Valli grew up in a different leper colony, and then was married in an arranged marriage to Vasu, a leper. She was married four years ago, at the age of sixteen…phew!!! Although she only speaks a very little bit of English, I have been able to form a friendship with Valli. Every time we visit her, she brings us into their home, turns the fan directly on us, plays a Tamil (a language of Southern India, the language this leper colony speaks) movie, buys us snacks and chai. Despite the fact they don’t have much, I’m learning that it is a blessing to them when they bless us.
Our team is split into three different ministry groups, going to three different orphanages, three different leper colonies and a slum. It is exciting for us as we get to spend time in the leper colony and orphanage, Asha house, where we’d initially built relationships.
Just last week we attended a wedding anniversary celebration for our friends, Valli and Vasu, at the leper colony. Valli grew up in a different leper colony, and then was married in an arranged marriage to Vasu, a leper. She was married four years ago, at the age of sixteen…phew!!! Although she only speaks a very little bit of English, I have been able to form a friendship with Valli. Every time we visit her, she brings us into their home, turns the fan directly on us, plays a Tamil (a language of Southern India, the language this leper colony speaks) movie, buys us snacks and chai. Despite the fact they don’t have much, I’m learning that it is a blessing to them when they bless us.
Next Tuesday, we have been invited to a birthday party at the leper colony. Canapanch is our ‘Indian Santa Claus’ and will be turning 71. He is an Indian I enjoy teasing, and is very fun to visit. Every time we bring someone new to visit him he takes out all the photos he has been given by previous AIM participants. Just last week he showed Matt how to put on a traditional South Indian lungi, a piece of cloth wrapped around the lower body, and a head wrap. It was quite entertaining!!! It is amazing to experience the joy and laughter the Lord allows between people who aren’t from the same culture, religion or language. We are learning to just trust Him even when we don’t know how to communicate, or are confused by the conversation!!!
