by Gary Wagner
I’d like to introduce you to two people. Ruma was blinded four days after her birth. The wrong medicine was put in her eyes at delivery, causing her to lose her sight for life.
In elementary school, she was called stupid by other kids and began to believe the bullies, losing motivation to study.
Thankfully, when she was in high school, she realized that the bullies were wrong. She studied hard and learned new things. After college, Ruma became a teacher. She now teaches blind students.
Then, there is Herli. He became blind at age 3. Despite his disability, he learned to play several instruments as he grew up. He is now a wellknown musician and teacher.
Ruma and Herli are married. They could have let blindness stop them, but they chose to overcome it and teach others how to do the same.
The couple was overjoyed when I brought a Perkins Brailler typewriter to Indonesia. The typewriter was donated to Gospel Outreach. It filled up most of my suitcase, and I wondered if it was worth hauling it all the way. But when I saw the smiles on Ruma and Herli’s faces, I knew it was more than worth it.
Today, Braille is created with a computer, a keyboard and a Braille printer. But not everyone can afford this technology, and there aren’t many Braille typewriters in Indonesia. Ruma and Herli will use the Braille typewriter to teach blind students about history.
Please pray for Ruma, Herli and their students.
Gary Wagner, Gospel Outreach regional director for Southeast Asia, writes from Chattanooga, Tenn.