Work Hard for the Individual:

One book I have read recently is called “Sisters of Mokama,” by Jyoti Thottam.  This is a book describing the women, specifically Catholic Sisters who moved to India in order to create a hospital and serve the people of India.  These women had to work hard.  These women served the people of India for any illnesses, and they also brought other young nurses, even nurses from India to their hospital to become trained as a future nurse or doctor.  This started in the 1950s, so they as a population were also fighting other big issues after World War II affected many countries around the world including the United States and during the Apartheid that really affected India.  They were also choosing to be women professionals in the medical field during a time where that was not the most common for women.  

One problem that arose was people coming in with leprosy, and they would notice those patients really struggled.  There were a lot of people who suffered from this disease, but they also had a troubling stereotype looming over their head that many people had when it came to those suffering from leprosy.  They thought those people were dirty and were often shamed. They would have to be sectioned off, so others, especially from those of whom were sick with other ailments so they would not catch their disease.  In order to serve so many fighting this illness quicker and to keep more people safe, they created a Leprosy care clinic every Wednesday.  The people were to come and get their diagnosis, their medicine and vitamins for the next two weeks and come again for another round.  

I enjoyed reading about this section because first, it showed how inventive these women were.  They were problem solvers, and I appreciate reading about people so dedicated to their mission that they will spend time changing something to serve as many people as possible.  However, I also loved this section because it really showed the care these women had for all the people of India.  When this clinic first started, there was really only one patient for the first few weeks.  However, the doctor and nurse named Crescentia  stationed at the clinic did not close down in discouragement.  They continued to serve him to the best of their ability.  It was only later when they were growing in great popularity that they soon had to have many more nurses and ques set up to achieve success for everyone.  

One quote from the book is “On the first day, there was only one patient.  His name was Ram Dham, a man in the later stages of the disease (leprosy).  For weeks, he was the only patient. But he kept coming, and that alone gave Crescentia the courage to continue.” (Thottam, Joyti, “Sisters of  Mokama,” pg. 156).  I loved reading this.  I am definitely one that can become discouraged too quickly,  and therefore impatient to continue a project.  If I had done all this work and planned on helping many others, and I only had one patient, I would have been so heartbroken.  I would have continued for another week or two, but then I would have forfeited this plan for a different one. It is so amazing they chose not to stop because there would soon be so many people helped by this clinic.   

I think this is a good reminder to do a lot of work even for one person.  It is important to put the same amount of energy into one person as you would a big group.  This can be in all areas, whether it is Bible Study, teaching a class, having an appointment or meeting, or an event.  Matthew 25:40 also describes this thought process well.  “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did it for Me.”  God wants His people to really care about those in the world.  He wants His people to spend time working for those the world will often ignore or those that don’t always see love.  He wants them to be remembered, even if they are the only ones around.   

The challenge for this week is to reflect on how you act among a small group to the individual people as well as the big group.  Do you put as much care and thought into the individuals you are in contact with?  Do you spend time really thinking about the separate individual when you are in a big group?  What can you personally do for one personal individual this next week?  I also want this to be an encouragement.  Even if you are spending a lot of time caring for only one or a small group of people, as long as you are doing this with your whole heart, you are still doing God’s work.