Forty-three Idente Youth volunteers from Manila, Philippines, guided by the light of the start (Tala means “start” in Tagalog), found the presence of Christ in every leprosy patient at the Leprosarium as part of the celebration of the Three Kings, the last January 12. “This special encounter proves that our life is a gift to others and us by our Heavenly Father,” says Angelic, one of the Idente Youth.
The volunteers performed, all-out, a skit of the birth of Jesus, showing off exemplary acting, dancing, and singing skills to show their love to the patients who did not fail them as they responded with big smiles and cheers and even offered songs as well, some of them composed by themselves, giving thus fruit to a genuinely heavenly encounter.
After the play, the Three Kings handed over unique gifts, which were handcrafted Christmas cards out of each volunteer’s creativity and ingenuity, addressed to each patient with messages of love, hope, and faith. The cards became a dialogue starter as the volunteers and each patient had brief but heartfelt conversations. It was terrific sharing of testimonies and an excellent sight of selfless giving! The sharing became magical as patients and volunteers praised God for His goodness and faithfulness.
One of the patients shared that he no longer has blame, regret, or sadness in his heart for the sickness he bore. He said his family was even apologetic initially when he visited them the first time after many years of stay in the leprosarium. Now that he lives near the hospital, this time with his wife, children, and grandchildren, enjoying the new life with Christ. This is one of the few cases among the patients who, most of the time, have to endure segregation, rejection, and lack of opportunities in a society that still fears and stigmatizes the sickness. But, despite this, they have been able to forgive their families and persons who neglected them, and some even said that because of the illness, they learned to know our Heavenly Father and the purpose of their lives.
It was a day of giving for the volunteers, but they went home overflowed with the love of the Father. They went home with more clarity, direction, hopeful perspectives, gratitude, and much more love to give to their families, friends, officemates, and community.
