Milestone- 25th Anniversary of the Centre des Aveugles

(From a speech given by Kay Washer on October 15, 1999)

"Twenty-five years ago, President Eyadema gave permission for ABWE missionaries to teach blind children of Togo. Today is a special day of celebration: for ABWE missionaries who came to bring the Word of God to the Togolese; for the students who have learned to read and write in Braille; for the teachers and staff who worked to instruct each child to live in a world of darkness; and for our graduates who have left this Centre better equipped to work and support themselves. Some started other schools so every blind child in Togo can have an education. Today is a special day for our first two graduates from the university who earned their B.A. degrees in English; one of them is the first blind professor of English in Togo.

"We read in Deuteronomy 8: 2, "Remember all the ways in which the Lord thy God led thee." My husband, Dal, and I arrived on February 2, 1974. We traveled all over Togo visiting many villages, finding many blind people, both young and old. Pastor Washer's main goal was to win Togolese to Christ and start churches, but I could not forget the blind children. I wanted to teach them to read God's Word in Braille.

"We found a few blind children and started classes for them at our house in Lomé. Quasi and Jerome were the first, but as word spread that the blind could read with their fingers, people brought other blind children. We rented rooms for the students, and Da Pauline, who has been with me since the beginning, cooked for these boys.

"The Minister of Health was pleased with our efforts, but encouraged us to start a school in the interior where the blind would be safer than in Lomé. In 1976 we moved to Kpalimé. As government ministers saw our students' achievements, they granted permission for them to write their six-year exam, then to attend college and university.

"Let us remember other ways God helped the Blind Centre. Miraculously the drill hit a big rock but drilled right through it, so we could have water. Later God gave us our big well through the kindness of the U.S. Embassy and Madam Johnson, the ambassador.

"Whenever we needed a building, the Lord provided. The main classroom and grande salle were constructed with a gift from my church in South Carolina. In 1984, France gave a gift for the International Year of the Handicapped that provided electricity for our school and materials to help build the big classroom building.

"God always sent the children He wanted us to have. When we wondered how we would find Christian teachers, God even sent us some who were blind. When we needed a nurse, God gave us Jane Schmitz to care for the children when they are sick or injured.

"God has protected our school and our students. Once a big tree fell, but God caused it to fall during the rest hour when no students were walking around. Many snakes have been seen on the paths, in the dorms, in the classrooms, and in the fields and gardens. Yet not one student has been bitten in 25 years.

"When I fell at the Centre in May 1996, breaking many bones, I cried every day because I had to leave Togo. God provided new personnel: Jane and Joan Schmitz, the Stadtmillers, Maitre Kossivi, and the staff who would keep the school going.

"Our God is faithful. His hand has been over this school in the past, and He has promised to be with us in the future."