Dear Friends and Supporters,

As we conclude another chapter in Zimbabwe, we look back upon the past month with gratitude and joy in our hearts at what God accomplished through our work and ministry there.

Firstly, the shipping consignment that contained the new state of the art cataract machine and other supplies finally arrived after a number of delays. We were able to unpack it, place the phaco cataract machine at the hospital, and perform surgery with it on our last operating day in Bulawayo with Dr. Moyo and Dr. Malemane. What a joy to use technology that allows for better and easier cataract surgery! Our colleagues are now launched into a new level of excellence in patient care with this addition.

We also had some struggles with obtaining the paperwork needed to renew our work permit in Zimbabwe. However, we gathered all the necessary forms and letters of contract renewal with NUST Medical School (along with the $800 application fee), and on our last day in Zimbabwe we were able to submit everything to immigration. We will now wait for a decision by them to renew the work permit, and hope and pray that it will come to pass.

This trip to Zimbabwe was filled with encouragement to many who are suffering  with financial difficulty because of inflation and the economic hardship in Zimbabwe. This is felt acutely in the health care sector. So many came to us for consultation and care because of their inability to pay, and we were blessed to help and bring eyesight to many. Our patient with albinism recovered well from the 4 hour operation to remove his left lower lid invasive cancer, and reconstruct it with a facial flap. We are currently appealing to a US company for a charitable donation of medication to provide a cure for the numerous skin cancers over his entire body.

We saw a number of our eye camp patients receive the Lord, and a rural church was strengthened through the work that was done along with our local partners in ministry. It is a great joy to see people who were spiritually blind and now can see God clearly through the witness and testimony of our lives.

Thank you again for your prayers and support; we will return to continue the teaching, mentoring and encouragement to the people of Zimbabwe.

Steve and Jane Beaty