Dear Friends and Supporters,
Well, since our last communication we were able to complete a very intense and strenuous eye camp here in Bulawayo at the Richard Morris Eye Hospital. Our team was able to complete a total of 246 eye operations, and we also saw almost 600 patients during the 5 day eye camp. We had very few minor complications, and are very grateful that so many of the patients had a good outcome to their operations on quite severe cataracts. We had a number of patients who were completely blind in both eyes from cataracts, and on the first post-operative day when the patch was removed from their eye, they sang and rejoiced to see again for the first time in a fairly long time.
During the week, several churches also helped by ministering and praying with the patients. They also brought meals for the patients and the staff, and their kindness was met with gratitude from the patients. Dr. Smalley’s wife, Becky, was interacting with a gentleman who had waited all day long for his eye surgery. She tried to reassure him by telling him “please be patient and don’t worry; tomorrow will be a good day because you will be seeing better”. The man replied, “ yes, but today is also a good day because I was able to eat a meal”. This man had gone without food because he had no access to it, and his simple meal before the eye surgery was, to him, a miracle from God.
We have had several barriers/hurdles which have been difficult to overcome, but God is faithful, and He has enabled us and given us the strength of heart and mind to continue the work to which we have been called.
Dr. Timothy Kao flew back to the US on Saturday, February 15th, after the surgical eye camp in which his help was immensely appreciated. Dr. Glen Smalley and Becky have also been invaluable in their skills and assistance during the eye camp and beyond. They have also just departed to return home to the US.
We will spend our last week in patient care and teaching at the local medical school before we have to leave these wonderful but needy people here in Zimbabwe. Thank you again for your prayers for us here – they have been answered in so many ways.
May God continue to bless you.
Steve and Jane Beaty
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