A Jesus moment today...

Hi all (Monte here)

Today was a moment that could have easily been recorded over 2000 years ago. We came to a spartan building where over a hundred lepers sat on the floor waiting. Some of them brought their small children, even a new born baby. They came for something, we thought food, but as we entered the building and began our ministry for the day we would find there was much more for us to learn and for them to give.

IGL has been caring for lepers in and around the area for more than 20 years now. Sam Stephens Dad (the founder of IGL) began to minister to the lepers at a time when such a thing was unheard of in this culture. Their ministry now spans medical coverage, medications, health care programs, micro economic development (promoting self sufficiency) adequate housing within their own villages and special feeding and assistance programs like the one we participated in today. We are told that leprosy is now 95% contained in India, but that the government has suspended all but a few of the programs benefiting the rest of the inflicted population. Thank God for IGL!

Once the meal was ready to be served, and a prayer of blessing was given, a couple people from our team begin to pass out banana leaves to each person. These leaves which we set directly in front of each person served as their plate. Several of us then began to personally give out portions of rice, salad and some sort of local onion concoction to each person on their banana leaf. For myself, and at least some of the others in our group, the rush of emotions brought tears to our eyes and what felt like grapefruit sized lumps to our throats. But what happened next I was not at all prepared for. As I scooped out each serving of food, and softly prayed that Jesus would use the food to nourish them physically, emotionally and spiritually, my eyes would meet with theirs. And there it happened. The almost unfathomable sparkle of joy and thankfulness came close to seizing my whole body each time. How could this be? In the most despairing conditions I have ever seen, missing limbs, fingers, eyes and more, the sparkle was there each and every time. Oh Lord, I prayed, don't let me ever loose sight of what I am seeing here. How your touch of grace in their lives is ministering to me. The Gospel right then and there jumped right out of the pages of scripture and hit me like a professional boxers right hook! And to think, this is where Jesus was, this is who He came to set free - totally and completely. My friends, I saw that freedom today like never before.

After the feeding (and by the way, if anyone wanted more to eat - they got it! In fact some tucked handfuls of rice in little bags they brought, or pockets or whatever else they had - and it was all OK!) we then distributed bags of rice, a blanket, and 10 rupees (the equivalent of 25 cents) to each person as they left the building. IGL would then begin the task to returning everyone to their village.
At this point, Gary and I decided not to ride back with the rest of the team but to take the short hike together back to the building where we are staying. Just needed a little decompression time. We decided on the walk back we had enough ministry for one day!

Shifting gears, we said goodbye to Bob today. He loaded up in a van this morning and began the trip for home. We leave Sharon Gardens tomorrow after the morning church service and will head South for a church dedication service in the afternoon. We then will fly to Sri Lanka Monday morning. Given our schedule over at least the next two days, we don't expect to have access to the Internet. God willing, we'll try to update early next week once we get settled in Sri Lanka.

We thank you so much for your continued prayers for us. Pray specifically for both Gary and I as we now transition into our second week. We've seen and experienced so much this week, we wonder with anticipation what next week will bring!

Until we are able to join you in cyber-space once again, we send our love from India.

The boys - minus one!