“...I make myself a leper with the lepers to gain all to Jesus Christ.” Father Damien of Molokai

I came across the story of Father Damien in some reading I was doing today. His story is one of interest and conviction. He was a priest that was a missionary to a quarantined settlement of Molokai (in Hawaii). It was a settlement of over 1,000 lepers, also known as the “Colony of Death.” Knowing that contraction of the disease was literally inescapable he volunteered for this assignment. In his introduction to the village the Bishop said this: “He is one who will be father to you, and who loves you so much that he does not hesitate to become one of you; to live and die with you.” He became their pastor, teacher, their nurse, friend and father. He built homes, schools and dug graves. He organized a leadership structure, basic laws and enforced them. After 16 years of service he gave his life for them. He was 49 years old. Something about that convicts me to the core -- we talk about and preach sacrifice, but do we really understand the cost of following Christ.

Here are couple links about his life:
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9C00E7D61E38E533A25755C2A9639C94689FD7CF

“He brought hope to this hell of despair. He became a source of consolation and encouragement for the lepers, their pastor, and the doctor of their souls and of their bodies, without any distinction of race or religion. He gave a voice to the voiceless, he built a community where the joy of being together and openness to the love of God gave people new reasons for living.” http://www.ssccpicpus.com/pag.aspx?ln=en&id=87