The Gift of Sight and Many Other Blessings

 Today was our first actual day in the field working in our various different posts for the week.  We are in multiple locations.  The medical clinic at the church, VBS at the feeding center, Kid health checks at the La ceibita school, optometry at the la Ceibita school, Neurological checks at the special needs school and surgeries at the hospital.  26 of us with our various wonderful translators just trying to give what we can to help those that need it the most.  It’s hard, some days, that you can’t help everyone.  One of our team members touched on this a bit tonight in devotion and while it is heart wrenching sometimes to not be able to help, it is a comfort to know that God can and will in his time.  

At the La Ceibita school, the kids were receiving health checks, ear cleanings and lice checks.  They were also receiving preliminary vision screening and if it was deemed they needed more vision tests they were sent to me. I saw about 30+ kids today and about 19 of them received prescriptions.  One little girl came to me with vision so poor I was convinced my eye scanner must have been wrong, so I rescanned her.  Nope, got the same reading.  Her vision was -8.00 and -8.25. Thats crazy!  After a few different pairs we were able to get her the glasses she needed.  I did not need to ask her if it was better with the glasses, because her smiled said it all.  ❤️. It is such a blessing to be able to help a child see.  But the bigger blessing is knowing that you can help them at such a young age.  When I do adult vision screening, it is so hard to see so many people with vision issues that can be avoided.  So I am thankful and grateful to be able to help these young kiddos so they don’t develop the bigger problems later on.  Just when I thought I had seen the worst reading for vision my last patient of the day came in and was a -9.25 in one eye and -8.50 in the other.  Her vision was harder to correct and it took some time to find the right pair of glasses for her.  I could sense her frustration after about the 10th pair we tried but we did finally find some for her.  Again, a huge blessing. 

There were a fair number of kiddos needing treatment for lice, but the good news is the ears were pretty good this time!  We hope that it is sinking in with them to keep these things as clean as possible!  

Our two scientist team members have been having a blast teaching the kids about sound waves and other fun facts, as well as playing games, and getting to know the kids!   They are a great addition to the team and I think the kids love them.  

Clinic at the church saw around 188 patients today with countless medications dispensed for various different ailments. 

VBS had around 40 kids and they enjoyed stories, crafts and games.  

So much more but it’s hard to write about it all.  Surgery was still happening when we shared at devotion tonight so we don’t know how that day went, but it was clearly a long one.  I believe the number of surgeries planned this week is 16.  Some simple, some complicated.  

Tomorrow is a new day.  New challenges and new blessings.  Looking forward to it.  

Blessings, Shelley 

the kids the school and the wonderful greeting we got from them when we arrived

My little buddy - one of the first kiddos for the day in vision 

My helper Leslie sorting glasses 

The first little girl who had very poor vision - her smile tells a thousand tales 

John doing some pre screening for vision 

Fatima doing neurological checks at the special needs school 

Bessy testing our a little girls new glasses with her 

Shelley scanning a little boys eyes 

Happy kiddo - big smiles!  

Mary Ann helping the kids at the neurological checks

Michelle helping with the women’s health ministry

Anxiously waiting for their vision screening! 

Lice checks 

Lisa - health screening 













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