Jesus touches the lepers

Mark 1:40-42

Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy ⁴⁰ A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” ⁴¹ Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” ⁴²Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

Below is a video that has touched me deeply.  It's about a man named Samuel (Sammy) and Korah in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  I found this video a while back when I searched information about Ethiopia that would relate to a unit my students were working on about child labor around the world.  We read an article about children who work in garbage dumps and I wanted to make it a little more relevant to my students.  At the time, I had no idea who Samuel Liben was or even where Korah was but I knew in my heart that someday I hoped to meet this man and experience this area of the city.  Last night, I found out that Sammy is now a guide working for the Ethiopia Guest Home, where we intend to stay for our second trip to Ethiopia.  We will get to meet him and have him take us into Korah.  We will be with so many of the lepers, AIDS victims, widows, and orphans.  The outcasts.  Sammy is also a part of the Great Hope Church, which serves those of the Korah as well.  Jesus is in Korah.  Jesus is still touching the lepers.  I just wonder how He may use us in this area.

Korah Facts-

In Amharic, the word Korah means "cursed"

If you have leprosy, HIV/AIDS or are a widow or orphan (poor) , you are sent here to live

There are 100,000+ living in this area

The leper colony was started over 75 years ago

Leprosy is a curable (antibiotics) skin disease and there is a hospital serving these people

Even when treated, they are unable to return to their communities because of the stigma

Most of the available food comes from the trash dump

Their huts are made of mud and trash from the dump

You would expect to see only despair in the faces of the people.  While, yes, that's very apparent, what's striking about the video is the hope in their eyes.  Especially the children.

Give me Your love for humanity...