Is there a purpose for your suffering

Maria was 12 years old when she first noticed it. Strange spots were appearing on her skin, and no matter what she did or how long she waited, they did not go away. In fact, as time went on they became more tender and began to turn into sores.

For a long time her parents did nothing about it. Then one day a doctor examined her, and broke the dreadful news. Maria has leprosy! Not just a light case that could be easily treated, but also the very worst type. Maria’s heart was broken. She did not want to leave home and go to a leper colony. She wanted to stay with her brothers and sisters and her parents. It did not matter to her that they were poor. She loved her home, and she could not bear to think of ever being separated from her family.

Maria could not understand why this had to happen to her. Had she not, since she was very young, prayed earnestly to the Virgin Mary, made offerings, and burned many candles? Why had not the Virgin heard her?

And now she must go away. Maybe she would never see her parents again. For the rest of her life, probably, she would be among strangers. Although Maria was 12 years old she had studied only to the third grade. In that section of the Amazon, country schools were scarce, and often there wasn’t a teacher available. The priest had taught the little village school for a few years, and from him Maria had learned to read and write. Although she was a sickly child, she had a brilliant mind, and early in life she had discovered that she could write poetry. Now she put all her sorrow into verse, which she hid with her dearest possessions.

One day an official came and took her to a government hospital. She was examined and told to wait in the hospital with other people who had leprosy, and later would be taken to the leper colony. It was a sad time for Maria, but she was brave and prayed continually to the Virgin that she would be cured and not have to stay away too long.

Finally, the unhappy lepers were transported down the river in a big government launch to their new home. The countryside was beautiful. Set amid the lush growth of the tropical jungle along the banks of the mighty Amazon, the whitewashed buildings of the leper colony looked lovely and inviting. But isolated from all other habitations, the stillness seemed complete and ominous. Birds of bright plumage swooped from tree to tree or sang in the bushes near the water’s edge. Tall white herons stood like statues against the background of green marsh grasses. Maria thought the place exceptionally beautiful as she viewed it from the deck of the riverboat. Not until she got inside was she aware of the suffering and the deformed human beings, which quite changed the picture. In the blue sky above, the big, black vultures circled, ever circled, over this city of living death.

Maria was led down a long, cool corridor to a room. Her meagre possessions were unpacked, and she was at home, the only home she would have for the rest of her life.

Maria was naturally cheerful. She smiled, and her black eyes were merry, even though she had nothing to look forward to. But time passes slowly in a leper colony. For Maria the only break in the monotony came on Sunday, when she rose early and made her way to the great white church at the other end of the colony. Here she said her prayers, burned her candles, confessed her sins, and gained strength to meet the weeks of suffering. As the years passed, Maria’s fingers slowly wore off and her toes became tiny stubs. Then her sight began to fail, and she knew that the dreaded disease was making her blind. But Maria had made many friends. She had comforted others who were not as bad off as herself. She had written poetry to sustain them in their darkest hours. Now two of the women took her to their cottage so that they could wait upon her. Here she lived, a leper among lepers, for eighteen years. Flowers bloomed in the yard, but Maria could not see them. Children scampered along the sidewalks, but Maria could not view their happy faces. She could only sit in her chair and wait – and smile.

Then one day the course of Maria’s life was changed. A lovely white boat anchored at the wharf and two men in white stepped ashore. With them they brought a young girl who had leprosy. Her skin was hideous, her fingers were gone; but there was something about her that made her stand out among all the lepers. Somehow Theodora was different. She did not go to the church to pray to the Virgin.

Instead she read a Book she called the Bible, and from it she received the strength she needed. Others noticed the difference and they began asking her about her religion. And Theodora told them. She visited the ones who were worse off than herself. She comforted them and prayed for them. She visited those who were not so ill as she. She helped the time of their stay to be more pleasant.

And she visited Maria. Maria had always been of an inquiring mind and was deeply spiritual. As she listened to Theodora, something began to stir in her soul. She listened long hours while Theodora read to her and explained to her the lovely Bible truths. Happiness such as she had never known flooded her heart. She wanted to hear more and still more. Then, in answer to Theodora’s requests, Adventist missionaries began to make visits to the colony. An Adventist man who was a nurse joined the staff. He and Theodora and the missionaries held Bible studies among the lepers and the employees. In due time twentyeight people were baptised.

Maria was one of the first to step into the warm waters of the Amazon River to be baptised into a new life. She knew now why she had had to endure such suffering and the long separation from her loved ones. Without it she never would have found the greatest happiness of her life. She said of her experience: “I am only a poor, sick, mutilated body, blind and without the possibility of even reading for myself. For twenty-two years other’s hands have had to help me. However, I understand the excellency of the faith that I have accepted, and my joy is great, because now I know the love of Jesus. It is in this love that I find my greatest pleasure, and my whole life and being is dedicated to honouring God for the Holy Word He has given me.”

Now, you may think that Maria with all her handicaps would just sit and enjoy what she could of life, wouldn’t you? But not Maria. She could not do much, but she used the one talent that she did have – her voice. She had long enjoyed writing poetry.

Somehow it was very easy for her to make verses, and she decided that in that way she could let her light shine. No longer were the verses she dictated centred -around herself and her troubles, as they had been in years past. Her poetry gradually took on a quality of comfort. Maria’s favourite theme for her poems was the second coming of Jesus. Indeed, that was what she thought about most of the time. She looked forward to the wonderful events that will take place on this earth. In her blindness, she thought how glorious it would be to see the beautiful world once more! How
wonderful to be able to walk about, feasting her eyes.

Maria now rests in the little cemetery just outside the gates of the leper colony. The waters of the Amazon flow peacefully beside her grave. The bright coloured parrots wing their way above the treetops and the black vultures still circle overhead. But Maria sleeps, waiting for Jesus to call her and give her a new body and eyes. When that time comes, I am sure Jesus will have a special greeting for Maria, the happy leper. If it had not been for her illness, Maria may never have found the truth. So if you have to go through some suffering, God may be allowing it for your eternal good. Just pray and thank God that He still loves you and will be with you in your trials.

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when Ms glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” 1 Pet. 4:12,13.