Returning the Lost Smiles -

Book Review:

Returning the Lost Smiles: Ralph Turner and Amar Timalsina.

This is the second book I’ve enjoyed by Ralph Turner. (The other, cheating death, living life, I rank as one of the top 5 books I’ve ever read.)

The book is a skilfully written page-turner it kept me in suspense and tugged at my heart: my emotions falling in love with Amar, soaring with joy as things go well and then vividly and vicariously experiencing the depth of his pain as he experiences the shame of leprosy. I’ve just tossed the book to my 9 yr old son (we are both locked in isolation) and he can’t put it down either!!

I am coming to the conclusion that Ralph is a master story-teller: it is written with sufficient depth and feel to keep me intrigued and stimulated while also a short read with simple, concise enough sentences for a 9 year old to follow.

The story is one of Amar a loveable young boy growing up in the joys of rural Nepal, popular at school and surrounded by a loving and vibrant family. At a young age he found he had almost magical powers that he used to enhance his standing with peers: he could thread a needle through the sole of his foot and keep his foot in the fire longer than friends!

Then he got the diagnosis. And his entire life hinged.

From an affable and popular young boy he becomes an outcast. No one in his village will go near him. His once friends avoided him, coming close enough only to tease him. And even his family isolated him away.

Eventually his Dad walks him many days to find a hospital, finding, finally one run by the Leprosy Mission in the capital of Katmandu. There he found not just medical provision but also a care and love from Christian nurses he’d never before experienced. They took time to listen to him, nurse him and physically embrace him when he needed it.

He got through the painful treatment and his story continues to unfold through many other highs and lows. But perhaps the most interesting part is that, his life then pivots once more. It is worth taking time to write this out:

‘When I heard the story of Jesus with the man with leprosy, I knew I was that man! I wanted to respond in the same way.

Ashok looked at me. There was a kindness in his eyes.

Jesus is still changing lives today. You may not know this, but I have been praying for you do some time. I have been asking God to reveal Himself to you. That’s what He did that morning as Sheldon spoke…’

I nodded, somewhat overwhelmed that anyone had been praying for me.

[He goes on to describe his prayer.]

By the end of the prayer, tears were flowing. Not just mine, Ashok’s too!

This was the moment that changed my life. I will never be the same again. I have Jesus in my life. He is my Lord, my Saviour and through the Holy Spirit, He helps and guides me in everything I do.’

What I find amazing about those words is that you hear them, almost verbatim, all around the world, in different cultures, from people of different class and caste, old and young. How does Jesus so touch people? And how did he predict it with such uncanny accuracy?: ‘Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, he has crossed over from death to life.’ Or, in the words of Amar: ‘That was the moment. That was the day the light shone’

If you want to donate to the Leprosy Mission then click here: https://www.leprosymission.org.uk/