Touch.

A few facts about Leprosy
1. It is completely curable with modern meds.
2. It is not hereditary or sexually transmitted.
3. It is not the actual disease that causes loss of limbs.
4. It one of the least contagious diseases known.
5. About 95% of the world is naturally immune to it.
6. There are 2 different kinds of Leprosy.

"Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by a bacteria, Mycobacterium leprae. It is also known as Hansen's disease, named after it's discoverer Gerhard Henrick Armauer Hansen. Skin lesions are the primary external sign. Left untreated, leprosy can be progressive, causing permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes. Contrary to folklore, leprosy does not cause body parts to fall off, although they can become numb and/or diseased as a result of the disease."


A couple of weeks ago I visited the Leper colony with Mel. It was amazing. Very neat place. You drive through the gate into a beautiful, peaceful, quaint, almost village-like place. Micah, Levi, Tenzin and I spent the morning walking around exploring the place while Mel did some business stuff. We walked around meeting and hanging out with people and we also got to watch them work. It was so cool. The people were all SO sweet. Most do not speak very much English, but a smile and a TOUCH is worth a lot. The work they do is amazing and very interesting to watch. I could have sat there all day. They make handmade fabrics. They have ten big looms and they turn piles of plain ole cotton into beautiful fabrics, scarves, table cloths, curtains…just about anything you can imagine.

I walked into one room where a bunch of sweet old ladies were sitting on the floor on their little mats turning piles of cotton into thread. You walk out of that room into another little building were the big looms are, as well as tons and tons of dyed threads. It was so interesting to watch how they weave the fabrics. In another room there were a few people working with sewing machines. From there you walk across the yard to another little building where they do the dying of the thread. Vibrant colors everywhere. They are very skilled workers. Especially considering the fact that most of them are weaving with hardly any fingers left on their hands. Among many other things.

We walked all over the grounds and met so many kind people. There are quite a few little houses spread out over the grounds and then in the back there is an apartment complex type thing were the people who are really sick (basically dying) live.

All in all it's a very quaint little place. Green vegetation everywhere. Sweet smiles on the faces of everyone you meet. Kids playing. I liked it.
Walking around, it made me happy that they have such a sweet, quiet place to live and work. But on the other hand, it made my heart hurt. It made my heart hurt that these sweet people are considered outcasts to society. They cannot leave. They cannot walk down the street to buy groceries. They cannot go on walks with their family. They cannot go explore the world they live in. They can't go visit friends. They don't even HAVE friends other than the people in their same position. Their freedoms have been taken away. They live in their own little world. It's a nice little world, but can you imagine being labeled as they are? Living with restrictions like they do simply because you were sick? Sick with something that 95% of the world is naturally immune to. Something that is hardly contagious. Something that is completely curable. Curable, but you can't afford the treatment for? You are considered nothing. Worthless. An outcast to your own people. Simply because most are uneducated about the disease. They are ignorant to the truth. The social stigmas of Leprosy are so strong.

I've wondered why Leprosy is so much worse in other countries. Why, for instance, there are so many more cases in India then there are in the States. Why we don't hardly hear about it, unless it's somewhere across the ocean. The reason why is sad. Leprosy is 100% curable. It is highly unlikely, if not nearly impossible to catch it through contact with someone infected. The difference between India and the US though, is that we can afford the treatment. In many, many more cases then not, they can't. They cannot afford the meds, but they wouldn't want to go to the Dr about it anyway because once people know you have the disease, you will never be treated the same again. You are considered "cursed by the gods" or "unclean" and people are scared that you will spread it. You become an outcast. By your people. Your friends…your FAMILY. When in reality, the meds are taken for long periods of time, however, even after only a few days of multi-drug treatment patients are rendered non-infectious and they can no longer pass the disease on to others.

People living in third world countries are also at a much higher risk of developing it in the first place because of the very common horrible living conditions. Conditions that compromise their immune function.

I loved spending the morning there. They are amazing people. But every time I introduced myself to someone new, or smiled at a sweet old lady, or hugged one of the kids, or said hello to the grounds' workers, my heart broke a little bit more. It broke because I was reminded of the reality that these people are forgotten. They are invisible in so many ways. There are things I take for granted. Things like touch. Things that seem so simple, but are so important. Things that are part of making life full. Hugs, kisses, someone rubbing my back when I'm sick, someone holding my hand, being touched on the arm. In the society they live in, they do not get that. That fact makes me sad. I loved the joy and smiles that I received just from touching someone's hand. Giving them a hug. Rubbing their arm. But it made me sad that this is so uncommon for them. It made my heart break when it surprised them that I was simply willing to touch them.

Jesus touched. He touched and He loved. We should do the same.