Was blind but now can see...

Today was one of those fairly-average days which turned into fabulous. All because I let myself get stopped by a smiling stranger in the middle of the shopping mall. I now get the joy of knowing that every month, on the 15th I can wake up and know that one more person in the world was blind but now can see.

Two years on from my attention being moemntarily captured by multiple billboards at melbourne train stations, I began to actually understand why it had something to do with me.

• 20yrs ago eye-saving surgeries began in our Aussie backyard - who would believe that in such an affluent, advanced developed nation we had a major "3rd world type" problem (cataracts) amongst our own Indigenous? Here in Australia the work started because its important to look after people at home first. Equality goes along with justice and it's what everyone should have so I'm happy to know that. 
• Simple sight-restoring surgeries began in hospitals in the pacific islands where there is a scarcity of eye doctors - only 1 Dr in 8 islands! You can't sponsor a child in the Pacific Islands - they're not touched by major NGO's. This is an opportunity to reach the largely 'unreached'!
• The Fred Hollows Foundation actually has an end goal: by 2020 they hope to remove themselves from every project as it will have become self-sustainable!
• There's probably more reasons you can find here http://www.hollows.org.au/our-work

I got asked why I made the decision to contribute to this cause.

Lots of reasons flew through my head -  i'm blessed to be a blessing;'to whom much is given much is required''; that verse - 'he did not withold his hand from the poor and needy and so all was well with him'; the fact that I'd just spent $15 on makeup to make my face look prettier when some people don't even have a complete face. BUT in my heart i knew it was the truth that...

Jesus heals the blind and makes them see, but he lets doctors use their talents, and ordinary people use their dollars so we get to share in these miracles.
And that joy of sharing is irreplacable.

It's what makes me feel alive.
I hope that everyone sees this. God doesn't need us after all -but he let's us see a need and feel a responsibility so that we give and only afterwards do we realize that with this joy, we wouldn't have it any other way.

I am forever thankful to John the Tongan-Cook Islander FHF advocate I met today who is a warm-hearted and passionate individual and with whom I had so many dreams in common! Home. Africa. Ending poverty for individuals. MSF. Hope for a better world <3

P.S. I am in horrific awe at how many sicknesses and diseases there are in this world. how did i receive the privilege of good health, good living environment, and a good education???