Posts Tagged ‘eye clinic’

the Eye Clinic

Posted by Rachel Chapman on Friday, December 17th, 2010

We just finished hosting an Eye Clinic for the people of Las Moras and the surrounding villages!  In 3 days, we saw 122 people!  The first day we saw 35 people.  We felt good with all the people we were able to help and we were tired.  The next day, we saw 37 people.  Then, the last day, by the grace of God, I’m still not sure how we did it, but we saw 50 people!  And we only had 1 doctor!

We got to the clinic early the first day to set up.  Before we were ready, we already had 3 guys outside waiting.  We let them in, signed them up and got started.  From that point on, for the next 3 days, there was always someone waiting, ready to see the doctor.

People waiting in the clinic and outside

People waiting in the clinic and outside

I sat at the front desk, signing people up on the list, preparing their chart, getting their eye history, and doing the preliminary check with the big E chart to determine their distance vision.

When it was their turn, they would get a consultation with the ophthalmologist that came from the US to help us out for a few days.

Exam with the doctor

Exam with the doctor

He would check their eyes and determine whether they needed glasses or if we had glasses to help them.  Sometimes they would come back out to use the big E chart to check their trial prescription.

Checking a prescription to see if they can see better

Checking a prescription to see if it helps

Frank's new glasses

Frank and his new glasses

Then, from there they would go to our “glasses” room where they would try out the glasses that were their prescription to see which one would help them most and fit best.  We gave them that pair and taught them how to clean the glasses and gave them a case to store them in.

Out of the 122 people that we helped, we probably gave out glasses to 3/4 of them.  Some people had such bad sight they could only see a few feet in front of them.  And yet, they climb in and out and around the canyons all the time.  It is amazing what some of the people still do with very little sight.

Lord-willing, the glasses will be a great benefit to the people and they will create open doors for relationships.

Many people that we did not know came from surrounding communities to be helped by the eye doctor.  I am so thankful to God for the beginning of relationships that we have now with those people in those communities.

God Answers Prayers!

Posted by Rachel Chapman on Thursday, December 16th, 2010

Our last week in the village was pretty exciting!  We held an eye clinic for the area and God answered our prayers!

We were able to see 122 people in 3 days and probably 3/4 of them got glasses. We saw people from at least 8 of our surrounding communities!  Several people were amazed at the difference with the glasses and were very expressive!  It was like night and day for them.  They could see!!!  Very exciting!

God used and I think will continue to use the glasses as a door for relationships with these communities and people.

We were able to communicate with the people in Nahuatl and Spanish.  We learned phrases that made communicating easier.  Is it blurry?  Is this better?  Cover up one eye.  Look at the light.  Look at me.  Follow me.  Sit here.  Stand here. The phrases worked great unless the person was from a different indigenous group.

There was one man who was from a neighboring indigenous group and was practically monolingual.  He had a hard time seeing, and it was sad to send him away without glasses.  We could have helped him if we could have communicated with him.

On the second day of the eye clinic, my co-worker, Dan hauled some people to and from their community to the eye clinic in his truck.  As he was returning to our village, he was talking with one of our neighbors who had accompanied him.  Frank was asking about different religions and what we believe.  He said he had seen that we are different and he wanted to believe what we do.  And, he wants his family to believe also. He and his wife live in our community, but are not Nahuatl.  They are each from two of the neighboring indigenous groups so they communicate in Spanish.  Dan said he could begin to teach them in January.  So, please be praying for Frank and his family.  The Holy Spirit is at work.  Pray for a hedge of protection around them as they desire to learn the Truth!

Frank's girls

Frank's girls

Eye Clinic

Posted by Rachel Chapman on Sunday, December 5th, 2010
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Helping eyes see clearly so that one day they might see truth

We’re getting ready to pick up an optometrist from the airport in a few hours.  Then, we’ll head into the village to host an eye-clinic for the people of Las Moras and the surrounding communities.

  • Please pray for opportunities to build relationships with those from other villages.
  • Please pray for clear communication as we translate technical language in Spanish – which is everyone’s second language.
  • And, above all, that we would be a testimony of Christ’s love this week.

Thanks for praying with me.