MOBILE BATH TO THE BIRDS OF THE AIR
(A true and ongoing living story)
Mr.Judeson is a young man in his forties. He has 5 brothers and a sister.. He has two children. His wife had been a nurse. She has been affected by asthma and the children too are sickly. Judson hails from a God fearing family. They preferred commitment, devotion and maximum service towards the neighbour than seeking profit. All of them are God fearing people. While dying their father called all the children at his death bed and imparted them a commandment – to lo love God and not to refuse any needy man
It many years since Judson is working for a leprosy centre. He earns 2020/-rupees a month. But he is very content and you find on his face that radiating smile and joy. A couple of years back a particular event gave rise to a new initiative in Judson’s life. There had been a leper inhabitant in the leprosy centre who had been discharged. Judson met him on the way. The leper pleaded Judson to give him something to eat. He had been starving and he was so dirty. Judson was deeply moved. He took the leper and shaved his beard. He helped the leper to take bath and then Judson shared his meal with the leper. His wife had been blinking at him.
This leper began to visit Judson often for he had been rejected by the family; no one would help him. Judson continued to repeat his charitable act. Slowly slowly the number of lepers and the street beggars increased. Judson continued to give them bath and offer meals. Judson did not have money, he began to ask. Some help came from the poor families some rice and some curry. The leprosy centre permitted him to use the institute’s vehicle but for the petrol Judson had to take from his own pocket. Judson began to make loan and today he runs the debt nearly 250 000/- rupees of debt or loan
Judson converted the vehicle into mobile bath. He runs to every street and paths to collect the lepers, rag pickers and the street beggars. Some are lunatic beggars. They are children, men and women. Sometimes at the last hour of the evening the strangers leave the mental patient, beggars near Judson’s home and escape. Judson gives them bath, and carries them to rehabilitation centre. He washes the wounds of the sick and wounded people and medicates them.
Now every Sunday you may find nearly 750 beggars waiting for lunch and cleanliness. Some people offer rice, vegetables etc. Some sisters help him in taking care of the hygienic needs. But all the running cost of this work is shouldered by Judson and that too at the cost of making loan.
Judson’s wife silently supports him. Judson is not worried to make loan. He looks up the sky and “exclaims- the Lord knows my cause. I leave on him’ He calls these destitute road beggars and the lepers as “Akasha Parava” that means the birds of the air.
I was wonder struck to witness the courage of this man and the understanding spirit of his wife. Will God provide his Divine providence to take care these birds of the air?
