November 3, 2008@6:15PM (Monday)

Hey All,

Today we had the humble honor of speaking at a pastors meeting of 50 of the Mercy Home pastors. Seeing these guys is so amazing because they are the ones doing the ministry. We had the opportunity to encourage them with God's Word. Pastor Daniel specifically asked us to talk about the role of the family in ministry, so I had the opportunity to share about the balance of ministry and family, and Danny shared about endurance and persevering in ministry. 

We then had an opportunity for a little rest. We then visited a leper colony. I am not sure that I am able to paint a picture of what we saw and experienced as I am still trying to process it myself. Outside of the city, there is a 100 acre facility where 300 plus human beings live who have leprosy. This facility was originally started by the Salvation Army so that they could all be put at one location from all of India. I had no idea these places really still existed. The government then took over and now is in charge.

These people live in the worst of conditions. They basically can't get around, as leprosy eats away at the hands and feet until they are useless. Eventually, these people can't even get around. They are pretty much ostracized from society and left to themselves. The ones who are the healthiest take care of the rest. We met on gentleman who had been there for 50 years. He arrived there when he was 20. Can u imagine? There is nothing for them to do, no purpose for them. They just sit all day and wait to go to sleep at night. He wasn't the senior moan. There was a man who has been there for 65 years. 

They have different dorms where they are placed based on the severity of the disease. Some just laid on a wooden bed all day. That is their existence until they die. We were able to pray for them. It was humbling and was heart breaking. We were told that the government provides 1 bar of soap per month, per person. They were begging just for soap. It was killing us. Their is food that is brought in, but we met some people who looked like they had been in concentration camps.

The Mercy Home Ministry, actually called Voice of Gospel, was able to get 7 prosthetic legs donated and we were able to help deliver them to the recipients today. It was a big deal as a man from the legislative assembly of their government was there as well.

It is amazing, because all that people ask for here is the basic necessities of life. They scoot around or limp around. Their is a pastor who visits them weekly. His name is Johnson. This man is amazing. He not only does that, but is a pastor in a Mercy Home as well. All he does is smile. Are u kidding? Boy do I have alot to learn. To provide them with soap, food, wheelchairs, or crutches, is that possible? 

In case you didn't know, our little church is the largest single sponsor of Mercy Homes. The Pursuit sponsors 10 and there are 3 individual sponsors as well. If you saw what I am experiencing, you would do whatever to help. God has used The Pursuit to make such a difference here, but there is so much more that can be done as well. Are we willing to be used in an even greater way by God? There are many causes out there which are all worthy, but God has placed this one in our laps as a church.

As I was praying on the way back, I felt God say to me, thanks for visiting the least of these.Oh my goodness. We are heading alittle to the north tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday) and will be back on Friday afternoon. Not sure if I will be able to get online. If not, I will blog again on Friday night for us, which is Thursday morning for you...

Check out these photos....

Love you guys, Gary