Reaching Out to China’s Untouchables

CBN.com On a remote island in China’s Pearl River delta, there’s a peaceful village surrounded by groves of trees and banana plants.

As you walk along the path leading to the village, the only sounds come from songs birds and the rustling of leaves.

But in this tranquil setting live more than 50 people, most of them men; most of them old; all of them crippled by a rare and frightening disease. They are lepers.

For years the Chinese government had a policy of putting lepers in isolated communities. This is one of China’s last remaining leper colonies.

At one time several hundred lepers lived here. But advances in medicine and an aging population have decreased their numbers.

And although the policy of forced quarantine no longer exists in China the stigma of being a leper still remains.

Ahman says, “I’ve lived here for over 25 years. The pain in my hands and feet is very difficult. But the great loneliness is the hardest thing to bear.”

But thanks to Operation Blessing and CBN volunteers, help has arrived. Not only are the wounds that Ahman and the other villagers being treated, but the loneliness in their hearts is also being healed.

Miss Ho is a volunteer. She says, “They were so happy to see us and so grateful for the gifts of lotion that would soothe their skin. But also, a simple conversation, a gentle touch and a warm smile mean so much here. Words cannot explain it.”

The Bible tells us when the ten lepers saw Jesus, they cried out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

With your financial support to CBN, the gospel’s message that every life is precious is summed up in the words of Ahman.

“You have bandaged our wounds, and your love has filled our emptiness. Sharing our hearts has given us great comfort. Thank you Operation Blessing and CBN for not turning away from us.”

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