MORNING THOUGHT

MONDAY September 28^th 2009

This morning I hope to share with you some of my experiences from my last aid trip with Mustard Seed to Romania in the summer. One of the best things about going back to the same place is the return visits to families and pensioners who recognise us and welcome us. Most times we have a box to deliver to the family. But when we visited the Hegeduses we felt there was something wrong– as they opened their box we noticed how close they were to each item and how they seemed to feel and touch it before commenting. Both of them were nearly blind – Mr Hegedus had 2 cataracts one on each eye but he is poor and he could not afford the £300 he would need to pay to have one operation to give sight in just one eye. We noticed both Mrs Hegedus ‘s wrists were deformed and were told it was because she couldn’t see and had fallen over twice and broken her wrists. We asked a little more and learnt that she is very short sighted but had broken her glasses and could not afford to pay for a new pair.

To both my husband Phil and me this was very close to out hearts – Phil has had successful cataract surgery and I am short-sighted.. When we got back to Jersey the sense of need was very much with us and we spoke about it to different people. And people responded. So for both Mr and Mrs Hegedus the story has a happy ending. The needed money was given by 2 different people in Jersey and we sent it to Romania. Mrs Hegedus can now see again with her new glasses.

And for Mr Hegedus one elderly gentleman in Jersey who has had successful cataract surgery himself paid for Mr Hegedus to have one of his cataracts operated on. Mr Hegedus wept for joy and relief when he heard the money had been given for him to have that operation to restore his sight. After the operation he said “I prayed and prayed and nothing happened for a long time. But now God heard my prayer and I can see again”.

Mr and Mrs Hegedus are typical of the needy pensioners assisted through Mustard Seed’s Adopt a Granny programme. In December along with the other sponsored pensioners they will receive a Christmas shoebox from Jersey. If you want to pack a Christmas shoebox either for a pensioner or a child then please collect a leaflet from the Parish Hall.

Have a good day and be thankful for your eye sight and all the other benefits we take for granted.

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