Jennifer (between Barry and the president of the Grey-Bruce Auxiliary of The Leprosy Mission Canada) is one of the faithtful commentors who you have gotten to know on this website. She works for The Leprosy Mission Canada. (click on the link to check out the website)
As you might have read in an earlier set of comments, she recently spoke at Hanover on behalf of the Mission. Barry and his wife Alice, life-long missionaries who I had the opportunity to met during my stay in Ontario, are family friends of Jennifer’s and they live in Hanover. Barry explains about the crucifix: The crucifix was one that Alice and I got from a leper in Liberia, West Africa. He had all first digits of his fingers amputated due to the leprosy. He carved this crucifix from a single piece of wood with only a pen knife.
I’ve copied and pasted (from their website) a bit about the Mission’s history. For only $350 a person can be cured of leprosy. I know there are many preventable trajedies in this world, but I felt the need to highlight this one.
History of The Leprosy Mission
1869: Irishman Wellesley Bailey began working with victims of leprosy in Punjab, India.
1874: “The Mission to Lepers in India” was formally established.
1892: Mr. and Mrs. Watt of Guelph, Ontario, opened their home to Wellesley Bailey, who spoke about leprosy. This initial encounter with The Mission inspired Canadians to come alongside as the first North American supporters.
1913: Australia and New Zealand joined the work. The Mission had no geographic borders and was now called “The Mission to Lepers.”
1917: Wellesley Bailey retired and Canadian William Anderson was called to Britain to fill his position.
1950s: Mission surgeon Dr. Paul Brand pioneered surgical solutions to claw hand and foot drop – two disabilities from leprosy which severely handicapped its victims. His wife, Dr. Margaret Brand, poured her energies into caring for patients whose eyes were affected by leprosy.
1962: To take away the stigma of the disease and the tendency to brand people as lepers, The Mission to Lepers changed its name to The Leprosy Mission.
1982: Major breakthrough! Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) was discovered. In mild cases, leprosy patients could be fully cured within 6 months. More severe cases require 2 years of concentrated treatment.
Present: The Leprosy Mission is working in over 30 countries and raising support through 22 national councils.
Jennifer … who looks like her daddy and acts like her mommy … not sure if that’s totally a good thing, but that’s the way it is! Thanks Kristin for sharing about Jen’s work on your website!
I think Jennifer would be equally as wonderful if she looked liked her Mom and acted like her Dad. I’m not joking.
But if I had the ability to photoshop pictures, then I’d have a bit of fun!
I’ve been delaying on replying because I didn’t know what to say… Should I be goofy or serious? What will everyone else say?
It’s a good thing I wasn’t serious – the effort put into a serious response would be wasted after a comment about me looking like my mom and acting like my dad.
Seriously though, I do have mom’s eyes. And dad’s sense of direction and love of maps. Now if only I was handy like dad and could write like mom….
Jennifer – Well thanks for telling me NOW that your Dad has a good sense of direction and love of maps!! Why wasn’t this information shared with me when I tried to give him some help in finding Walters Falls when your Mom & Dad and I went to see the passion play on Good Friday!!!! (Yes – I need that many exclamation points.)
And by the way … go ahead and try to be serious and see how far that gets you with us!!
I’ve actually been quite impressed that we generated as much seriousness as we have … you know that I aim for low-brow humour!
… and it’s raining here this morning … and Doug’s away … so I had to walk the dogs … and we are all wet! Atleast it isn’t cold out and the wind died-down from last night.
Well, Kristin, didn’t anyone tell you about the parish’s secret aim for the internship program? It’s to see how many times we can embarrass the intern! (I kid, believe it or not!)
I learned a long time ago not to be serious here… my insights are just to deep for this crowd. Ahem.
It’s rainy and icky here too… I’m not ready for this weather yet.