A Rat’s Tale

So, a rat ate my coconut chips. I walked into our room and switched on the light and there he was on the floor by the bed, munching. We stared at each other for a second before he shot like a dart into a hole at the bottom of the wardrobe. I was left with the shreds of tinfoil from the wrapper that he had chewed off and a half eaten bag of desiccated fruit. I don't know which of us was more annoyed. And then it occurred to me that had I been back in England and stumbled in on this scene I would have screamed and run. Here I was just extremely upset that a rodent had clambered into my handbag, rooted around and stolen my evening snack. I wrote that in my journal a year ago and it sounds kind of comical. 

But this visit I was alarmed by the increase in rodent-related stories I heard.... There were rats plaguing almost every place we went. And far from being entertaining material for anecdotes about rats eating Australian chocolate bars belonging to a group of young volunteers or the raid on my stash of crispy coconut, the stories were sad and sobering. It is clear that the plague of rodents can be catastrophic. We were here at Dasarapalli to find out how WCF funding is being used and to gain insight from the local committee and trustees on how to carefully focus the distribution of money. After visiting with the residents and looking round their homes a few repairs and alterations became clear. But the number one urgent plan needing swift implementation was to better pack the joints in the tin roofs. These gaps are where rats are entering at night. Gaps between the rafters give access for the rodents and their nighttime visits are disastrous. This is because a key feature of the effects of leprosy is that it kills nerve endings in the body’s extremities. And so patients have no sensation of their bleeding feet being eaten by the rats as they sleep. Horrible infections ensue and hospitalisation is required. For us this news is horrifying but here it is just another fact in the life of a leprosy patient. 

We sleep at night confident of peace and safety but we should be clear in our minds that such assurance is a gift and a privilege and a blessing. A hospital reasonably close by has a doctor and nursing staff who are willing to treat patients whose wounds and blistered sores need more complex medical care. But most doctors, clinics and hospitals here will not treat leprosy sufferers. In both North America and the UK a doctor signs an oath to treat everyone. That is the message of the gospel too - God hates partiality we are told - and we are to strictly observe that in our lives too. I had not really realised what it really meant until I saw these poor, rat eaten, bleeding feet that a perfectly well-qualified Indian doctor refused to treat. The love and grace of our Father is boundless and is offered freely to all those who seek His ways no matter their background, their circumstances, their challenges. His love and grace is all-encompassing. And the message of our Lord is to seek the lost and the lonely and find them and bring them to Him. We believe this is a deep desire of all who generously fund WCF. To seek out the lost and the lonely and help them find Jesus, find peace, find safety, find hope. Funding to ensure buildings are rat-proof in leprosy colonies like Darsarapalli is of so much value. Read with new understanding the words of David in Psalm 4. "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone Lord, make me dwell in safety.