Rising Star Outreach----India

From being served like royalty on the Viking Cruise Ship, to serving the poorest of the poor....the leprosy afflicted of India....all in one week's time! It's quiet a jump in experiences, but wonderful.


There was no training, per se, and very little warning. It was, "Hey, welcome to Rising Star Outreach! Tomorrow we are all going out to the Leper Colonies to do foot care! You'll love it!"

So, off we went. It was humbling beyond measure to see the strength with which those afflicted with Leprosy endure their trials. One man's plight, in particular, broke our hearts. It involved MUCH dead tissue as well as maggots. The volunteers were so brave....but no one as brave as the man himself.

Below, Charles applies oil to what was left of the man's ankles and feet. Those of us who had direct contact with patients wore double gloves and a surgical mask since it is really not known how leprosy is transmitted.

Holly tries to comfort the man during the painful process of washing.

Holly helps the medics on the foot washing line.

Charles was assigned to put oil on the washed feet and trim toe nails.

I was stationed to take blood pressures and measure blood sugars.

My job was SO simple compared to Charles's and Holly's and the other Foot Care crew! I watched them perform their duties with such compassion and grace.



It was heartwarming as we loaded the van and prepared to leave that the patients smiled, waved, and honored us with the traditional Hindi prayer position of the hands. Some...actually many...using only the stumps of their wrists, since leprosy had taken their hands long ago. How can any of us complain or whine about anything ever again??