Advent Blog Series 2024

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 

When we met Patricia, she was 15 and trying to study hard at school. She longed to be a doctor, able to put her hard work into practice to serve others. She faced a growing obstacle, though, having developed a cataract in her eye the year before. “My eye was scary. People would say, ‘Oh, your eye is very scary, what’s wrong with your eye?’, and sometimes it made me feel out of place. It was very tough for me. Sometimes it would hurt and I couldn’t sleep at night.” Eventually she had to leave her school. She stayed home putting urine drops into her eye – a common traditional remedy. She was in pain, and uncertain about what lay ahead.  

When she heard about CBM’s eyecare project she was afraid, having been misinformed that cataract surgery was dangerous and would blind her for life. As she waited, she trusted in God’s promise from Proverbs 3. She took comfort from knowing that she could trust God with her whole heart. She bravely faced her surgery – and was delighted to have her cataracts safely removed. Patricia says, “I am back at school. School is great. I am enjoying it.”

Father, we thank you that we can trust in you with our whole heart, even when we face hard times. Thank you for comforting Patricia with this promise; this week, help us to know your Fatherly care for us, and to trust in you and follow you in all our ways. Amen.

“During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, ‘Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested.’” Exodus 12:31 

We met 21-year-old Brian on the day of his cataract surgery. An accident when he was 13 had left him blinded by a traumatic cataract. With no parents to raise them, his brother had been taking care of him. Brian told us, “My big brother is just my guiding light; my brother looks after me.” But the cost of surgery to have the cataract removed was out of reach. For eight years he struggled to make friends, and he couldn’t get a job because people didn’t like the look of his eye. Brian said, “People would be like, ‘Hey, look what you are looking like’. It was better to play alone and do my own things. I would rather not involve myself with people.”

During this long, tough period of waiting throughout his teenaged years, he looked to God for help and encouragement. One day he saw a flyer for our eyecare outreach camp, and thought he had nothing to lose in coming along. Having had his cataract surgery, and being able to see again for the first time in years, he said, “I am in the bible so much. I like the story of Moses when he took the Israelites out of Egypt. That was really my story concerning my cataract – I believed that one day God would lead me into freedom. As of now I am free. It is the new beginning of my life. I know God has still more for me.”

Click here to watch Brian’s rap

Lord, thank you for Brian’s trust in you during his long years of waiting for help with his difficult situation. Thank you that you hear our prayers and care for us even when it seems like we wait for a long time. Help us to especially remember your character in those times. Amen. 

“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies…She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands… She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to those in need.” Proverbs 31:10, 13, 20

59-year-old dressmaker Aquila welcomed us into the home she shares with her twin sister Priscilla. Larger than life and full of joy, Aquila was a delight to spend time with. However, years earlier, she had developed cataracts. Priscilla stayed home to take care of her, but cataract surgery was unaffordable for them. Aquila said, “I thought I was blind completely. It stressed me psychologically and mentally. I thought, how am I going to cope? It was heavy. I couldn’t do anything.” Eventually, Aquila had given away her sewing machine because her sight had become so bad.  

Aquila had had cataract surgery through CBM’s project a few months before we met her. Reflecting on her surgery, Aquila said, “I don’t know how to thank you; you don’t know what this means.” She shared that her favourite bible passage is Proverbs 31 which speaks of an entrepreneurial, hard-working woman. Inspired by the passage to use her skills and her resources for the sake of others, and now able to work again, Aquila is busy making clothes for children living in poverty in her community. She told us, “I don’t have my own children so I like to support other children.” Her long wait to feel able to contribute again is over, and she is able to flourish in her calling to serve others. 

Click here to hear from Aquila

Father, thank you for Aquila’s generous heart, making clothes for children in her community living in poverty. Thank you that during her time of waiting her desire to serve others grew and didn’t dwindle. Help us to be servant-hearted too, even in our times of waiting. Amen. 

“Jesus asked [the blind man], ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.’ Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.” Luke 18:40-43 

On this final Sunday in Advent, we remember the joy of people waiting together to have their eye bandages taken off after their cataract surgery. As they waited, they sang, “Lord, I want to see”, based upon the story in Luke 18 of the blind man healed by Jesus on the road to Jericho. Just as he had waited for Jesus to stop and help him, so this gathering of people had waited on God to help them on their journey back to sight.  

Click here to watch a video from the eye camp

Lord, thank you for the joy in this community as people waited for the restoration of their sight. We pray for joy as we wait on you; help us to keep our eyes fixed on you and the certainty of your promises this Advent. Amen.