Friday 14 April 2017

THE JOY OF BEING WITH BLIND CHILDREN


It was November 2016, when we were accompanied by Fr. Yago Abeledo to our pastoral place; Home of the Blind. It was a wonderful encounter with the blind children. They welcomed us with smiles on their face; not only that day but always on Saturdays when we visit them. There is nothing greater than seeing a blind child giving you a smile  however much he or she doesn’t see you. We have been challenged by the way they question us, such as “why do you love us and yet we are blind?” This kind of question triggers not only our emotions and feelings towards them but also allows them to see for us what we cannot see. 

All in all we cannot say that we satisfy all their need but we try our best to be close to them through different  activities, some of which include: singing and dancing where one of them sings and others dance; it is accompanied by drumming. The aim of this is to help those who are stressed up to express their narratives. It is time for them to show their talents and where their interests are; some are always happy about it. After this exercise where girls are more involved than boys, we play football in order to cater for boys as well. The most interesting thing is to see a blind boy kicking a ball. The small girls and boys who cannot play football or dance go to kyewuubo’ literally meaning swinging point. Some time we do help in cleanness and kitchen activities such as cooking and cleaning utensils. At the end we meet together and pray; then we depart.

Simon Peter and Imbusi I. Collins