UBS-Laos Partnership

He was not born blind. In 1998, a motorbike accident caused his lost of sight but he was

not one to lose hope. Souliya, now 35 years old, spoke with great confidence and has

demonstrated that he has the tenacity of purpose to see all things to completion.

Being the first successful entrepreneur in Laos has not been easy but Souliya makes it all

look like a piece of cake. He carries the air of a busy and successful person who has a

cell phone constantly calling out to be answered. He candidly and passionately shares

about how blindness did not stop him pursuing and enjoying the rat race. But there was

one incident that would bring him to his knees.

Post accident, Souliya did not run from life. He embraced what he had and merely

capitalized on his natural-given abilities. His positive attitude helped him get work and

eventually set up a few local businesses. Being blind did not stop him from seizing the

moment when a lady dialed the wrong number. A year and half later, after multiple

conversations and when both parties have fallen in love, Souliya confesses that he is

blind and wins the heart and hand of his beloved.

But, there was one thing, he could not resolve - an increasing pain in the side of his head that started after his accident. For six years, he would live with this affliction. He sought treatments. 'No hospital, no doctor, no psychologist could help me. I was desperate.' It was during this low period that he met a leader of the Lao Evangelical Church, Rev Khamphone, who told him about Jesus. 'But I just could not believe Jesus could help me.'

A few months later, as his agony worsened, Souliya thought his end was near and decided to visit his parents, perhaps for the last time. Whom should he meet but the pastor who shared God's love with him. Once again, Rev Khamphone told him God could help Souliya, 'If you believe, you will get better.' Souliya remembers thinking, 'I will try.'

That started Souliya attending church and greedily taking in the teachings from the Bible. His wife would read the Bible to him daily. Soon the pain began to diminish till it was finally gone. But Souliya realized it was just the pain that was gone but his family life also improved along with his businesses. When told that UBS is working on an audio format for the Lao Bible, Souliya cannot contain his excitement. 'The Bible is hard to understand if I cannot read it for myself. I need to study. An audio Bible will be excellent. If there is an audio Bible, the blind can listen, understand and come to faith.'

Souliya owns five businesses and is currently in the process of expanding his commercial dealings further. He employs both the blind and the sighted in his businesses and is ever enthusiastic to share about the goodness he can come to know.