Joshua's diary

Here's the story of Joshua.

“ I want to go to school!”

This was Joshua’s immediate reply when asked what he would like to do if he could see. Joshua, age 11, was diagnosed with congenital cataract at the age of 5. Due to financial constrains, he could not afford the recommended surgery for cataract removal, and thus could not attend school.



Joshua’s plight was highlighted when he joined the ICPE Mission’s Children Ministry in Montalban. Through the efforts of our Korean partners in mission, sufficient funds were raised to cover his medical costs for the recommended surgery.

Thus, since January 2009, I had the privilege of accompanying Joshua for his series of medical tests and consultations at the University of East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Centre (UERM-MMC). Each hospital visit was long and wearying as it involved repeated consultations and oftentimes hours of waiting while standing in queue. In those moments, a restless Joshua would reiterate his dream in his raspy low voice, “Ate Joan, gusto kong nag-aaral!” (“Joan, I want to go to school!” in Tagalog).





Thus it was a shock for all of us when his recent test revealed a defect in his visual pathway. The doctors concluded that the surgical removal of the cataract would yield a minimal improvement of sight. At most, Joshua’s current vision of blurred shapes would be brighter after the surgery. Joshua would need to enroll in a school for the visually impaired.

As we walked out of the consultation room in silence, Joshua finally spoke up and said, “Ate Joan, gusto kong nag-aaral.” My heart went out to the little boy because for the first time, I heard the anxiety in his voice. That day, we prayed that Jesus, the Lord of all hopes would open a new way for Joshua’s dream to be fulfilled as we search for a suitable school for him.