Dear Friends and Supporters,

Having recently returned from Zimbabwe, we thank God and look back with joy over what happened during our stay there. We also rejoice in remembering the lives of people who were impacted by the work and attention that they received in their physical and spiritual eyesight.

One of our memorable patients whose life was greatly affected was a 41 year old man who is the breadwinner for his extended family. He heard about an eye camp at the church that we attend in Bulawayo and came to see us. This man had already become blind in his right eye from glaucoma, and his left eye also had severe damage from extremely high ocular pressure.  We knew that his only hope of retaining at least some vision in that eye was to have a serious operation to provide a new filtering drain from the eye. The operation would be risky with a significant chance of failure because of his age and race.

We were able to locate and purchase some medicine to enhance the success of this man’s operation, and God gave us the wisdom and skill to perform the procedure with no difficulties. At his last check-up, his ocular pressure was almost perfectly controlled , and his recovery has been remarkable. He expressed thanks to God for sending us to help him, and we were honored to have been available to preserve this man’s eyesight through our skills. He can now continue to provide for the needs of his family.

This trip was also unique in that Dr. Charles Calhoun and Steve both gave presentations at the Zimbabwe Ophthalmic Congress.  We also ministered at 4 eye camps, and we launched a training course in cataract surgery at the large teaching hospital here in Bulawayo.

It is with great joy that we look back and see at least 2 people who came to faith in the Lord directly as a result of our contact and interaction with them.  We also encouraged and counseled a number of married couples both formally and informally in their marriages.

Back in March, this little boy had bilateral cataracts and was blind and not walking. Before we left, I visited his home and now he’s running jumping climbing! Praising the Lord because Quentin can now see!

Again, we thank you for your prayers and support. We were not involved in any accidents, and out of a total of around 95 police road blocks, we were only fined at 2 of them. We look forward to continuing the work that still needs to be done for so many here in Zimbabwe and southern Africa. Until next time…

Steve and Jane Beaty