Beautiful India

Three weeks ago we were blessed to have Jean Shifrin here at Rising Star.  She is a photo journalist who has an incredible talent and resume'.

 

 Jean with another lady was the first reporter to get into Afghanistan in 1992 and document the terrible treatment of women in the Muslim world.  She has prepared this slide show as a gift to each of us who are working at Rising Star.  All her work is copy righted.  I hope you enjoy.

http://www.shifrinphotography.com/gallery/india/

Guess the Gender

For some ridiculous reason, who knows why, parents will dress male children as girls until age 5 then dress them appropriately.  I have learned to not assume whether I am holding a girl or boy. 

This is a boy !!!

David Archuleta

David Archuleta and his mom were here for 5 days.  He has been a sponsor for Rising Star for a year.  He even worked in the colonies.  He is a delightful, talented, spiritual young man.

Sunday night he spoke at a fireside for local church members.  He told his story about American Idol.  His family had encouraged him to try out but he had just gotten a summer job doing lighting and sound at a local theater and didn't want to quit that opportunity for something that he most likely wouldn't get past the first round.  He really struggled with the decision.  "Who am I?  I don't even  like the sound of my voice and there are lots of really talented people who will try out."  His parents had always taught them to pray about any question so he thought about praying if he should go to try out in San Diego but then why bother God with such a trivial question.  "Surely Father doesn't care if I try out for some contest."  So he decided he should go  ahead and ask.  The answer he got was "Ï have given you a talent.  Go to the audition and I will use you for good."  He never thought he would make it thru any round but he kept getting voted in.  His whole attitude now is he wants to use his singing to lift others and let the Lord do with him what ever He needs.  I am very impressed by his attitude.  He won't wear the expensive clothes they try to dress him in because he doesn't want fans spending lots of money to dress like him. 

For more pictures click here :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVURh-gZVEM

Life for Children in the Colonies

When I see the children in the colonies I just want to cry.  They have no play area, no school, no place to bathe. 

The water for the whole colony is from a central well.  They often have brown hair instead of black - a sure sign of malnutrition.  They are happy, loved and well cared for by their family.

This colony has a short slide for them to play on.  I'm sure it can only be used 9 months of the year.  In the summer it would be much too hot.

They are dirty and usually have near nothing on. 

Click here for more pictures :

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2072612&id=1257014966&l=97f83a20b2

Temples in India

There are thousands of Temples in India.  Every small village has 2 or 3.  Here are a few of the 'Gods' they worship.

There's even a tea pot temple ???

Click here for more pictures :

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2072607&id=1257014966&l=57f147aa48

Hansen's Disease

I am blessed to be taught by a very special lady, Dr. Susan Hilton.  Dr. Susan is amazing.  Yesterday driving home from our daily colony visit one of the volunteers asked her to explain Leprosy.   Her answer tells it all.

The leprosy bacteria was finally identified by Dr. Gerhard Hansen in 1873.  It was first written about four thousand years ago.  Leprosy is the only disease that affects the entire person : Physically, Spiritually, Mentally, Economically, Emotionally and Socially. 

Physically it disfigures horribly.  The hands are slowly – over years – reduced to stubs.  The feet often need to be amputated.  Eyes sink into the socket, the nose and cheeks relocate on the face.  The bacteria first attacks the nerves making fingers, toes and limbs numb.  The result is some terrible household accidents.  I have seen deep knife cuts and terrible burns when they stepped into the fire pit and didn’t feel the flesh burning.

Spiritually the ancient belief is the person has sinned against God and God has cursed the victim.  This person believes he has done something very wrong and cannot see God again.  Sometimes they become angry or despondent and certainly many have withdrawn from any worship.

Mentally they slowly loose memory, reasoning power and control over body functions.  Some show classic signs of mental illness.

Economically they are not allowed to hold a job or integrate in public.  Just last week we saw a new patient in one of the colonies who was a professor at a college here.  When he was diagnosed he was immediately fired and cast out.  He speaks very good English.  What a terrible waste. 

Emotionally they believe they are un-loveable by family or friend.  They will marry with-in the colony because no one would ever go into a colony for marriage.  They have children who are not affected but who must also live a life of shame and poverty.  Suicide in the colonies is very high.

Socially they must leave their family and home to group together with others who also have the same mental and emotional concerns.

These people most often have a smile on their face and always help each other.  This disease doesn’t even give them the blessing of dying.  Leprosy does not kill the patient.  It slowly consumes them over years but death will be from starvation, pneumonia, sepsis or some other complication. 

Leprosy is a terrible disease.

Bird Migration

The Kannchipuram area is a major fly way for migrating birds from Australia to Russia.  In January and February there are thousands and thousands that stay a few days in the sanctuary.  They have been protected for 200 years because the droppings fertilize the water and the water is used to irrigate the rice fields.  If you look close you will see thousands of birds.  It was a beautiful place.

Click here to see pictures :

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2072585&id=1257014966&l=3642245db5

Raji and Nagu

Raji & Nagu

Raji was affected by leprosy when he was 15.

He was abandoned by his parents at 15.

He married Nagu at age 24 (she is not a leprosy patient).

Raji's fingers became paralysed at the age 30.

Raji roamed the streets of Walajabad, Chengalpat and all around Tmilnadu collecting trash for 40 years.   This is how he earned money to buy food to support and raise his children.

Raji’s  right leg had to be amputated to save his life at age 45.

He was able to educate his children with the money he earned but never saved any for his future.

As is the norm these wonderful parents have been abandoned by their children who had to leave  and sever all ties with the leprosy colony to be allowed to hold a job and function in society.

Raji and Nagu now live in each other’s company. They have been married for 50 years. 

Every time we visit their colony, they come together and collect their medicines.

When Raji gets sick, Nagu will not move an inch away from him and Raji will never leave Nagu’s side when she is sick.

You have to wonder how they keep smiling with so much pain in their lives.

Raji explained  " I will live as long as my wife lives, because she has been my world for past 50 years and I know nothing other than her, please treat her first.  I never felt any pain when I was neglected by the society, when I lost my fingers,  when they amputated my leg, and when our son and daughter abandoned us to live in the city.   I bear all these pain because my wife was beside me, she is my pain killer, so please keep her healthy because even at this age she cares for me than for her"

In this world where people take antidepressants when their favourite football team loses; where couples divorce for silly reasons and where people commit suicide for nothing Raji and Nagu teach us

"Life is so precious, life is to live, it will be more valuable when you live for the one who loves you, and your pain will disappear when you love the one who loves you"