No longer the girl whispered about

My name is Grace. I come from a small village near Lake Kyoga in central Uganda. I began losing my sight at the age of 13 due to an untreated eye infection. By the time I was 15, I was completely blind.

Everything changed. My parents wept for me, but the community whispered behind my back. “She will never marry.” “She will be a burden.” Some even said I had been bewitched. I believed them. I stayed indoors, ashamed, angry, and hopeless.

I used to go to church with my mother, but after losing my sight, I stopped. What was the point? I couldn’t read the Bible anymore. I couldn’t see the faces of those worshipping. I felt forgotten even by God.

Then one Sunday, a visitor came to our church. He spoke about the Bible Society of Uganda and how they provide braille and audio Bibles to people who are blind. My heart stirred. A month later, I received my own braille Bible, my first since losing my sight.

The first Scripture I read with my fingers was Isaiah 43:1:

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

Isaiah 43:1

I cried. After years of silence and shame, I felt seen, truly seen by a God who still knew my name.

That was the beginning of a new life for me. I rejoined church. I started praying again, this time from the heart, not just repeating words. Slowly, confidence returned. Joy followed.

Today, I teach braille to other girls who are blind. I sing in church again. And yes, I did get married, to a kind man who loves the Lord. I am no longer the girl people whispered about. I am a woman with purpose and faith.