A man born blind

In our Wednesday evening ladies Bible study, we have been working our way through the Gospel of John.  The last couple of weeks we studied chapter 9.  The chapter tells the story of a man who was blind from birth.  The disciples questioned Jesus, "Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"  Jesus responds by saying that he wasn't blind because of anyone's sin, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."  As the story goes, Jesus spits in the dirt and puts the mud on the blind man's eyes.  The man goes to wash in the Pool of Siloam and is healed.  He came home seeing!  Because of this miracle, the man came to believe in Jesus as the promised Messiah.  And thus the work of God was displayed in his life.

I have a friend who is a man born blind.  I previously introduced you to Robert and Kauantz.  I met them when Robert was a student at the Bible college.  Robert was mostly blind from birth.  He did have some vision, enough to walk without assistance, recognized faces, and read very large print.

Over the weekend, Robert began to notice some changes in his sight.  There was a new pain in his left eye, the one he could actually kinda sorta see out of.  His vision became more cloudy than normal.  He came to see me in clinic on Tuesday, and on the way he lost what little vision he had left.  Robert was no longer able to walk without someone to guide him.

Last year Robert was able to travel to see an ophthalmologist, an eye specialist, at the Christian Blind Mission in Goroka.  I recently learned that there is no longer such a specialist in Goroka.  Thankfully the ophthalmologist in Mount Hagen, who has been out of the country for several months, returned to PNG and began seeing patients just this week.  I wrote a referral letter and sent Robert to see the Hagen eye doctor.  He made the trip this morning, but unfortunately was unable to locate the clinic and arrived after the doctor was finished for the day.  Robert is scheduled to return, but not until next week.

Today my heart is heavy.  I am worried about Robert and his eye sight.  Vision changes like this need prompt attention.  Maybe there is nothing to be done.  But if there was, waiting another week is not a good thing.  Robert may permanently lose what little vision he did have.

The man in John chapter 9 was born blind so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.  I am praying for a miracle for Robert... praying that God will work a miracle and restore his vision, praying that God will be glorified through his life.  Will you pray with me?

"Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

~ 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

You can read more about Robert and Kauantz by following these blog links:

Namesakes

Road to Tumbang

Faith comes by hearing

Graduation celebration