Chimsi

At 6 years old, Chimsi Nepali, and her younger brother Gore aged 3 years of Gorkha, West Nepal, didn’t understand why their mother  committed suicide in the Darouti river.  Their poor mother Putali, who had leprosy, had experienced severe social rejection and hatred from her own people.  Her four children were left on their own.

Chimsi was badly treated by her stepmother, then her uncle cared for her for 8 years.  She developed leprosy  herself at the age of 16. Her fingers began to feel strange, then later senseless, slowly bending and later breaking into pieces.  These terrifying physical changes brought a big shadow into her life, extinguishing the light of hope.  Chimsi had become an unwanted person in society. She was treated very badly by those around her, and was separated from her community.

Chimsi’s brother brought her to Anandaban Leprosy Hospital, where he also had had leprosy treatment. She was treated well and cured of leprosy after a couple of years. Fearing loneliness and poverty, she refused to go home from the hospital; she was given a laundry job. For four years she worked hard washing patients’ clothes and cleaning; but soon she had to leave the hospital.

In 1976 at age 28 Chimsi was introduced to NLT by its founder, Eileen Lodge, and was given a cleaning job.  she got married at age 29 to a leprosy-affected man called Makuram Nepali, who also working with NLT.  Her life changed and her burdens decreased. They had both been healed physically and spiritually.  So they are thankful to God first and then to NLT for their rehabilitation.

Today Chimsi is 50 years old and has worked for NLT for many years; but she still has the same dedication, energy and smile on her face. Chimsi is a real inspiration, whose smile gives encouragement to many people.