“I am the LORD… I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.” – Isaiah 42:7
This last trip, I brought a special delivery with me: 100 pairs of eye glasses.
A lot of older people in South Sudan just can’t see and for most of them, cataract surgery isn’t an option.So ahead of my visit this year, I asked for donations of lightly used eye glasses in churches throughout Northern Virginia. All levels of magnification, any kind of style were acceptable! We ended up with about 100 pairs of glasses. It was wonderful to hand these out during the trip, from Kenya to Akuak Rak, small tools that could make a big difference in people’s lives.
At the Mustard Seed Clinic in Akuak Rak, we did some rudimentary fittings. I’ll be the first to admit it wasn’t real scientific but we saw first-hand how much these glasses improved people’s quality of life.“Now I can read my Bible!’ I heard someone say excitedly after one fitting, a new pair of glasses in hand.
I’m not sure Isaiah was talking about CVS readers when he spoke about God’s grace to open the eyes of the blind, but who knows! God is using these glasses for His glory and for the good of many people.
Throughout the year, we’ll keep collecting eye glasses for trips into South Sudan. If you’d like to donate, email me or drop off pairs at The Falls Church Anglican.
As always, thank you for your support and partnership with the people of South Sudan and Connecting Lives International!
