Family Ties

We just gotta love those airpoints! Easter was a really special time for our family as we were able to attend a Jason-Smith family wedding in Australia, which was also a long-overdue extended family get-together. Such a special thing for our kids to hang our with 'the cussies' who are all young adults. As we are always spread throughout the world, it was a very rare event - last time Daniel was only 1 year old! It was a totally fabulous time.

The girls heels make this photo a bit deceptive, but the 3 lads all tower over us and we expect Daniel to take the lead very soon.Where has the time gone?

We were also able to get up to our old haunt Newcastle (NSW, not Upon-Tyne) and spend a little time with friends, supporters, and our sending church. Awesome!



Celebrating Sight

Yesterday on the dock beside the Africa Mercy in Togo, there was a Celebration of Sight. Patients who recently had cateract sugery with LAG laser treatment returned to the ship for a final check up. These men, women and children had received a mircale - their world of darkness was no longer! The

festivity is always in fabulous African style - the compelling beat of African drums inspiring dancing and clapping; an outpouring of joy over a changed life and a new future!

Globally, one person goes blind every five seconds—and one child loses his or her sight every minute. Of the 45 million blind people in the world today, almost half of them could receive their sight through a short cateract operation.

Our Chief Medical officer poignantly observed that every time a person's sight is restored, at least 2 people's lives are freed; the person who was blind, and the person who needed to lead them 24/7. (The nations we serve have no disability accesses, ammenities, or welfare benefits. The sightless are completely dependent).

 "The lame walk, the blind see, and the gospel is preached to the poor'.