Paul Calvert tells Sabha Asmah's story, a blind lady who lives in Bethlehem

Sabha Asmah

Sabha Asmah is a blind lady who lives in Bethlehem. I spoke with her to ask her what difficulties she faces being a blind person in Bethlehem.

"The biggest difficulty I face is when I have to go and buy vegetables from the market. I have a white stick which helps me walk on the side of the road; I also have to keep my ears open for cars passing by. No blind person in Bethlehem has the luxury of a guide dog.

"I try to be as independent as I possibly can, so that I don't have to rely on anyone, but it isn't easy; for instance when I go to church on a Sunday I have to walk along the main busy road and to make matters worse the taxi's park up on the side which makes it very difficult for me.

"Because of the financial problems in the Palestinian Territories sometimes holes are left untreated so you have to be careful that you don't fall.

"Blind people aren't really accepted in the community. People think all blind people should live together in one community and it isn't really accepted for blind people to work.

"I live by myself. I have lived by myself for 13 years. I clean my house and do a little cooking.

"Some differences in my house are for instance you won't find a mirror in my house, I don't need one. I have to be very careful when living at home; sometimes I leave the light on or the heater when I go out so I need to have a good memory!

"One of my biggest joys is Satellite TV. I am able to listen to the Christian channels. I also have a friend from England who records me preaching messages; he brings two messages every week when he comes to visit. His visits I enjoy very much. Being blind can often be lonely.

"I have been very lucky to find a job in a factory that makes underwear in Bethlehem, but the financial situation is very bad. I get paid about 50 pounds a month and I work six days a week doing more than a 40 hour week. This sort of wage is not even enough to pay my rent each month; I thank God that I have good friends who help me. My job is when the clothes come to me they are inside out so I have to put them the right way round and make sure they are neat and tidy.

"I have learned to read Braille which is a form of dots on a piece of paper, but you can't get any Braille here in Bethlehem and being Palestinian I am not allowed to go to Jerusalem without permission, which is very difficult to get, so I have a friend who brings me the Braille material I need.

"My faith in Christ has really helped me here in Bethlehem. If it wasn't for Him I couldn't have lived one moment by myself. God has really provided for me. I don't have to go begging like Bartimeus in the Bible, God has been my provider."