KDurant7 blog adventures

of Santa Cruz, Bolivia 1978

‘When my wife, Regina, and I were first married we lived 4 blocks away from the local blind institute of the city where about 30 residents lived. In this compound they earned income from various types of jobs as they were sponsored by a Swiss entrepreneur who would export their works of art. Most of the men were busy with a piece of wood about two feet by two feet in size and they would feel an engraved picture on it with groves up to an inch deep revealing a beautiful art piece. The engravings in this rich colored wood were usually of a countryside home with beautiful tropical nature around it. They would then feel and carve on a piece of blank wood beside them the same picture as the original lent to them. It was impeccably impressive their duplicates! A recreation of engraved art only by the skill of touch! But there is more to what was impressive about these sweet blind men & women. We originally went there to sing with them and tell them about our faith in Jesus. They were very happy with our visit, and they asked us to come back next week so we did. When we started singing the songs they started singing along to the 6 songs we had sang the week before! How?! I had never witnessed a group of people that could memorize 6 songs by only hearing them one time! For several months we went to sing and hang out with them for as many weeks as possible. We learned a lot from these skilled, hardworking, full-of-faith people. Their influence changed our outlook on people with full vision impairment. We witnessed how God takes care of those who are defenseless in this cruel world where almost no love or appreciation is granted to those who need it the most.