Yet another year has passed by. As we "gather up the fragments" of the past year’s fulfilments and unaccomplished resolves, we have learned once again that our adversities are God’s opportunities to achieve His Will and that He will never fail us if we truly trust Him. As we reflect upon the events of the past year, we exult and praise our gracious God whose providential hand led us through 2008. As the ship of Bethesda sailed on the high seas, He navigated us through calm waters and also through turbulent seas. We experienced His constant presence, unfailing love, guidance, and caring each day of the year.
In the early 19th century a young man from Britain, Mr John M Boyd, called by the Lord to serve as a missionary in India, chose the Godavari delta area for his ministry. While travelling across the terrain he saw many leprosy patients with a small bell in their hands declaring to the people that they were unclean. They were considered as "untouchables" by society - rejected and discriminated against. He was moved with compassion when he saw their plight and took pity on them. He wanted to do something to alleviate their pain and suffering. After much prayer he started "Bethesda Leper Home" in 1923. Though not a medical man, he served the patients with commitment and loved them just as his Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, did. He was called home at a young age. In later years, Dr Charlotte Pring, Miss Hampton, Dr & Mrs E S Short, Dr & Mrs G B R Walkey, Miss W M Osborne, Miss S M Waite, Miss Whitehurst, and Mr & Mrs B Satyanarayana served the hospital with determination, dedication, and exemplary lives. Through their sacrifice and selfless services Bethesda has grown to be one of the best leprosy centres in South India.
After 85 years of existence, Bethesda continues to carry the torch forward and never deviates from the vision of its founder. Our mandate is to proclaim the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ to the sick, poor, weary, and broken hearted, through medical ministry. Bethesda has a multifaceted ministry in providing out patient/inpatient care to leprosy and AIDS sufferers, maternity services to HIV pregnant women, schooling and hostel facilities for children from leprosy and AIDS affected families, home care for HIV positive children, home based care for HIV/AIDS patients, and above all caring for the spiritual needs of these patients and children.
Medical Work
The arrival of new and highly effective drugs for leprosy brought about a great change in the lives of these patients. However, a sustained number of those with active leprosy reactions, and leprosy related symptoms which include severe disabilities continue to be the main concern of the health care providers in treating leprosy.
Bethesda continued its good work among leprosy patients during 2008. As many as 1211 patients with bad ulcers were treated in the hospital during the year. Thirty-five patients underwent reconstructive operations for the correction of their hand and foot deformities. Patients with severe reactions and neuritis were also treated. All the staff served the patients faithfully. Though their work, big or small, sometimes goes unnoticed, they very well know that there is One who sees it all. Having a burden for the patients’ souls, the staff will quietly go about dressing their wounds, making their beds, or washing them, and gently speak about the love of the Lord Jesus Christ and share their own experience of salvation.
In spite of his advancing age Dr Vandanam, our Medical Superintendent, continues to serve the hospital to the best of his abilities. There has been a general decrease in interest in working for leprosy in the medical community; hence it is becoming increasingly difficult to find doctors to work for this cause. We pray that the Lord will encourage someone to come and serve these patients in future.
AIDS Ministry
HIV is a virus which can cause AIDS. It invades the protective mechanism of the human body and makes it vulnerable to diseases like tuberculosis etc. It was propagated initially as a highly infectious killer disease. Since then it has been better understood, but the stigma attached to this disease makes it a dreaded one in the eyes of people. Even in the medical community there is fear, and many misconceptions prevail. We praise God that all the staff at Bethesda serve the patients with love and commitment, and without any inhibitions or fear.
Recently, one evening we received a phone call saying that a man was dying on the road side and no one was willing to help him suspecting that he had AIDS. Our staff rushed to the spot and found him in agony lying in his own filth. With love they gently lifted him into a cycle rickshaw and brought him to the hospital. They bathed him and wrapped him in clean cloths. When he recovered a bit, we learnt that he travelled 500 miles across the state to come here. The staff did their best to give him comfort and prayed with him at his bedside. He died two days later with dignity and was buried in the hospital cemetery.
God in His grace enabled Bethesda to support 53 HIV positive patients and their families by providing them essential commodities like rice, lentils, oil, sugar, tea, and soap for their sustenance, all through the year. These 53 families are from very poor backgrounds. Many of them have accepted the Lord and are living for Him. One can realize the inner joy they are experiencing in their hearts by living close to their Saviour.
Children
We have 26 children in the George Muller Home at present. The children are looking healthy with good nutrition and medication. They are a joyful lot. We pray that they will invite Jesus Christ into their little hearts and rejoice in the Lord as long as they live. The building under construction is almost completed, and the children will move in soon.
Bethesda School
The school continues to do well in moulding the lives of children staying in our hostels. Three of our girls completed nursing training and joined the hospital. Four more girls are in nursing school. All the 152 children in the hostel are growing in the fear and knowledge of the Lord. Mr Vara Prasad, our senior teacher, retired this year. Prasanthi, a young maths teacher joined the school.
Bethesda continues to help the economically poor community in the vicinity of the hospital by providing general health services at a nominal cost. A total of 1989 patients were treated at the hospital during the year. Concluded.
