Experiencing India: Leslie Casserly puts it into words...

India is definitely a place where all your senses are on overload.

• Sight: The masses of people and vehicles is amazing. The color, even in the slums with the bright plastic water containers, women's saris, and painted buildings are beautiful.
• Sounds: incessant horns, not out of irritation but to politely say, "I'm here, do you see me? Honk Please, Sound Please. I'm coming."
• Touch: all the hands reaching out to greet us. And, the mosquitos to remind us why we need our malarone.
• Smell: India has a distinct smell but the slums add the filth of the waterfront, excrement, cooking fires and trash everywhere.
• Taste: "What is this?" Will I like it?" The people we see aren't worried about the pleasure in eating as much as trying to fill an empty stomach to sustain life for one more day.

Leprosy Village

CMCT has adopted Alampakkam, a Leprosy colony of about 130 families that is two hours outside of Chennai. Originally, the people from the village had heard about CMCT and travelled by bus to come to the CMCT facility and receive medical treatment. After 75 members were consistently showing up at the medical clinic, CMCT decided that to make it easier on the people, they would go to the village.
CMCT has a ration distribution for the village once a month and the medical staff go regularly and help train the people to care for their hands and feet to avoid further deterioration. CMCT also distributes free wheel chairs when needed. CMCT also teaches the villagers handicraft skills and herding goats in an effort to stop the villagers from being forced to beg for money. This is a fantastic ministry as it brings dignity to a group of people that are otherwise considered outcasts and the "untouchables" of society.

Collen greeting two of the women who live in the village. Both are affected by leprosy.

Teri and Mary meeting the families of the village. Through CMCT's work and education, the disease will not continue to be passed down to future generations.

This man's joy was infectious as he had recently received a surgery to partially restore his sight. Despite his challenging condition, he was continually praising God who he knows as his personal Lord and Savior. Throughout our time in the village he shouted, "Hallelujah! Hallelujah!"

God is doing a great work in this community through CMCT.