Tuesday - Hymns and Hospitals

Today we started off our day as the medical team bright and early. We got to have the special treat of visiting Gremaltes Hospital in Chennai, so we had to be ready to leave by 6:30 a.m. Gremaltes Hosptial is a hospital founded by the German Leprosy and TB relief Association in 1971.  It’s original focus was to aid people affected with leprosy, both physically and socially.  It has now turned into a full scale hospital offering many kinds of treatments at relatively low costs, sometimes even free.  We went thinking we would be a part of the team which got to clean and re-bandage the ulcers, but we soon saw this would be a different kind of visit.  A director toured us through the hospital showing us some of the departments, the laboratory(where we saw the bacteria that causes leprosy under a microscope), and introducing us to some doctors.  However, our favorite activity at the hospital was visiting in the Men’s and Women’s leprosy wards. 

First, we got to visit with the women and there were 5 in the room.  We started by singing some songs, both fun/playful and more spiritual, and continued to mingle and connect with these sweet, smiling faces.  Courtney got to really connect with a woman who has been in the hospital for about a year.  One of the nurses told us she could probably leave in 2 weeks.  She told Courtney about her family, a daughter and two sons.  The daughter is going to take care of her when she is released from the hospital, but her sons want nothing to do with her.  This breaks her heart, and broke ours too.  Courtney really bonded with her and just sat there holding her while they cried and frequently expressed her love with words and kisses.  The woman was so grateful to think that strangers from America would come over to meet her and love her right away.  The patients who are leprosy affected suffer through so many trials, the worst often being emotional and social.  The stigma still holds very strong in the country.  We had always heard that, but today we saw a living example.  They want to know they are loved, and despite the language barrier we can show them in various ways that they are!  Visiting the men’s ward was just as wonderful.  We sang some fun songs (Oh, an Austrian went yodeling), and some touching hymns.  One of the patients just closed his eyes and held Meredith’s (a volunteer at Rising Star) hand while we sang “Nearer my God to thee”.  I think he understood enough of the words to get the message and they shared a wonderful moment. 

They are so many of these great interactions that happen throughout all the days, we wish you were here with us to experience them.  They do have some openings for later this year if anyone is interested ;) You would never, ever, ever regret it, we promise! 

The rest of our day consisted of our usual, awesome schedule.  The food was delicious (Jordan always things so:) ), and the kids were so loving.  We helped them ride bikes, and Sadhish(the little boy who I want to sponsor, with the adorable laugh and perfectly round face), was way too small for his bike, so I just ran around pushing him from behind.  We had an especially good time with them tonight, and with our house mother.  She confided in us about many things which helped us get to know her better, and love her more.  She is such a sweet, incredible lady.  The kids decided it would be fun to have a pillow fight tonight . . . big mistake.  They were introduced to my ninja skills and cat-like speed and reflexes! I doubt they provoke another attack, haha. I was saying goodnight to one of the kids, and he got this worried look on his face because he thought I would be leaving for America tomorrow.  I quickly put him at rest that we weren’t leaving tomorrow, and that we still have 11 days.  This didn’t help either, because 11 days is not very many and it is coming way too fast!  It was a reality shock for me to realize our time is disappearing far too quickly.  How difficult it must be to have someone who care about leave your life every 3 weeks.  Luckily, the next volunteers come in and do a great job, but each person is unique and offers special things.  We love these kids so much, and it has only been a little over a week we have spent with them.