This morning, Nicole and I went with our friend Bay and a few adults from New Zealand to a leper colony here in Chiang Mai. I really didn't know what to expect since I had never encountered someone with leprosy before. I had only heard of people with leprosy through reading some of Mother Theresa's stories and from the Bible where Jesus heals them. I suppose I had thought that we would just walk through rows of beds with these people laying there, some missing limbs, maybe talk to one or two and then leave.
I couldn't have been more wrong.
The people there were so full of joy. Despite the fact that one was blind, others were missing fingers or toes, others couldn't straighten their fingers all the way, one had a prosthetic leg and another was missing the entire lower half of his body, they all smiled, laughed and some asked how they could pray for us. It was like they didn't care that they had this disease and just enjoyed us. When they found out that Nicole and I were from America they told us that they had prayed for America that morning. Their attitude towards life and towards God was one that many do not have, and they have leprosy. One of the women in the first room we went in to wanted to pray for all of us. Now in Thailand they have the central, main Thai language, but they also have a high language which is when talking to the king of Thailand, arguably the most respected and loved man on the earth. When this woman prayed, she prayed in the high language, because she was praying to her King, Jesus.
Leaving there, I was encouraged by their faith and their love of Christ and their unconditional love of others. Next time I think that I have it bad or something doesn't go the way that I planned it and start to get mad or upset, I'll remember the lepers.
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