Now I Can See

Senga Bay, Malawi … “Coming from my background in life I just realized I have such great blessings; I have an education, medical insurance, eye care, the ability to buy a pair of glasses, a vehicle in which to go to get medical care, a business where I can make an income. Every day I must thank God for all He has given me.”

Reflecting on her life, and her resources, is Samatha Ludick, the owner of the Cool Runnings Lake Lodge in Senga Bay, Malawi. She is comparing her life, one that is very difficult while at the same time much more first world than the lives of the people who live in the tiny fishing villages around her. Like people in every first world nation, she has so many things that can almost be taken for granted if one does not take time to look around themselves into the lives and struggles of the people in third and fourth world circumstances. On this occasion, Ludick has just been watching a tribal chief try to look over the pages of a local newspaper. She tells the story.

8627680374_3f0d957a44_n“I was attending a village function when I looked over at Chief Mafumo. He was trying to read one of the local newspapers but was holding the paper almost right against his face. I asked him what he was reading and he noted he was trying to read the sports page. He wanted to see the position of the Senga Bay Rovers (The local Soccer team sponsored by the Cool Runnings Lodge) in the Chipuku League, but it is difficult to see the writing as it is getting smaller in order for them to put more news on the same amount of page space. How can this be? A Chief over many villagers and he cannot see and does not have the resources to obtain an eye exam or a pair of glasses. I asked him to go back to Cool Runnings with me and we would see what we could do. I knew I had some pairs of glasses that had been donated so hopefully, we could find a pair that would 8626571641_64fb640bbb_nhelp him. We tried the first pair, but they did not work for him. But after putting on the second pair he shouted, ‘I can see. The words are big now. Senga Bay Rovers are doing well. THANK you Mama Cool, you have saved me. THANK YOU.’”

“Oh, God you are so good to me. Help me to give back, over and over and over.”

 

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