Nicaragua
From Jan. 22-Feb. 5 Judi and I helped on an eye team in Nicaragua. Many of the poor cannot afford eye care, so when free opportunities arise to get it, they come from near and far, some as early as 4 am to stand in line.
First, they get checked for distance vision.
Then an auto-refractor is used to measure the interior of the eye.
To determine the eye's health, an optician looks at it from far
and from near, with the help of translation.
A couple of days we had to go on standby generator when the electric went out. This little guy had to be quieted down with some baffles and a makeshift muffler.
Sadly, some people (below) had damaged eyes and could not be helped. Others needed cataract surgery, and were sent to the hospital where a doctor from our team, Kenlyn Miller (not shown), operated on them.
For those needing glasses, the prescription was compared with a data base of used, donated glasses which the team had brought down.
If available, glasses were found and fitted.
The smile tells it all!
It was good to work with old friends like Larry & Dot Chupp
and Levi Miller. If you know them, you know they add life to the party!
We were also able to get out to the beach one evening
where we ate fresh fish (excuding the head!).
On Sunday we visited the church where Marcos Orozco pastors,
and visited Sara Miller's (our daughter-in-law's mother - upper left) sister-in-law's (lower left), sister (not pictured), who had been in Spain and gave us some very good advice on how to adjust to life in Spain.
Since we bused from Costa Rica round trip, to and from Nicaragua, it meant two border crossings. We didn't have to wait much, but this truck driver apparently did!
Our time in Costa Rica and Nicaragua was very positive, and we're now back in Sarasota to finish out making contacts, planning to leave for OH on Feb. 11. No word yet on visas. The Consulate said it could take 6-8 weeks, and we've now completed seven. Keep praying!