The state of Andhra Pradesh is home to Asian Aid's Eager-Nagar Leper Colony. In the mid-1990s God led Asian Aid staff to more than 30 families affected by leprosy who were living in damp, broken-down buildings, shunned by society and despised for having this tragic disease.

Completed in 1998, the Leper Colony now contains 30 well-built dwellings designed to house 60 families. It boasts a water tank partially funded, and community hall fully funded by the government, amenities block, bandaging clinic funded by a German charity, goat-house and modest chapel.

Asian Aid provides a home and community support for lepers and their families

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Each family shares two small rooms with a verandah and cubicle for washing. Lepers without feet and legs can be seen pedaling modified bicycles with their hands down the concrete road that runs through the colony. Daily meals are provided for men and women who have no fingers or hands.

Not all of the residents are lepers. Some are married to lepers or are their children. Unfortunately the local village children will not play with those from the leper colony and we are grateful that a German, Baptist funded charity has been able to raise funds to educate these special children.

Working with lepers earns little respect and is considered culturally to be a low-caste job. Many Indians simply refuse to go near lepers at all. However, Esther, a friendly young woman who attended Elim Orphanage supervises the community with her husband, John, who is the acting lay pastor. In a recent visit Esther said that she was excited to be serving God by caring for the unlovely. As an orphan she knows what it is like to be an outsider.

Government officials and other aid organizations visit our leper colony because it is seen as a model. By no means is it perfect however we are proud to follow in Christ's footsteps. A leper once said to Jesus, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus replied, "I am willing, be cleansed." (Matthew 8:2-3 ).