Prove it!
When I was a kid, this phrase was often used to silence an argument. New ideas, something a bit different, a new concept was often challenged with the phrase “prove it”! It’s still important today to prove what works and why. Over the last three years we’ve been working on 3D printing of prosthetics. We believed that we could...
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I can’t imagine turning anyone away.
Last May I watched a 4-year-old child in Tanzania who was almost blind gain full sight! Shadhili came into our partner hospital CCBRT with cataracts, seeing only light and darkness, nothing more. After he and his mother travelled four long days to CCBRT, it took less than 24 hours for his pre-surgery check, surgery and night rest. In the...
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Update: Rebuilding lives after Hurricane Matthew
Hurricanes may do their damage in a day, but the recovery can take weeks, months and even years. Please read Hope and Healing’s report on how our support continues to help those devastated by Hurricane Matthew in Haiti one year after impact. Hurricane Matthew 2016 – One year report
Read morePartnerships: Simple math doesn’t add up
This is how a beautiful partnership was formed… While I was visiting a new Habitat for Humanity build site in Ethiopia, I was introduced to a group of families that were described as the poorest in the community. I pointed out that each of these “poorest” families had at least one member with a disability. It was one of...
Read moreBe part of a village to raise a child
Disability in a child often causes a child to feel alone. Sometimes it’s because the child or the family feels ashamed. Sometimes it’s because children in the community tease the child. Sometimes it’s because the child can’t keep up with the others during playtime. Sometimes it’s because the child doesn’t have the resources necessary to attend school. Whatever the...
Read moreAncestral beads are no match for Easter
Last year, when I was in Swaziland, one particular woman caused me to do a double take. It was something that she very quietly, but deliberately did. At the time, I was witnessing the eye patches being removed from cataract patients after surgery at The Luke Commission (TLC). Throughout the years, I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to...
Read moreSurvival Shows are Fake
I like watching TV shows about the wilderness and people testing their survival skills. Often one of the key and vital challenges is to obtain access to water… clean water. If the participants can’t find clean water, they call for help. If they still don’t get the help they need, they fail to “survive”. In reality, this just...
Read moreJoy to the World
Christmas is about music and joy. One of my favourite Christmas hymns is “Joy to the World” and when I thought about this song this year, two joy-packed stories popped into my mind. The first story is from 1987, when my wife (Norilynn) and I lived in Jordan. At that time, Norilynn managed a rehab center in a Palestinian...
Read morePrayer Bridges Oceans and Cultures
Amazing things happen when you pray with someone. And it really doesn’t matter where you are or even what faith group you belong to. Because prayer bridges miles and a multitude of differences. At our partner hospital, CoRSU in Uganda, we often meet with the caregivers before or after surgery. In some ways, we’re intrusive… foreigners. And we’re meeting...
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