Dear Friends of Eyecare;

We have just completed this last chapter of work and ministry in Bulawayo and in the southern part of Zimbabwe. It has been a very busy and fairly intense interlude of mentoring, teaching, surgical training and hosting of both visiting doctors and friends and of fellowship with our local friends and colleagues.

Dr. Gil Pebayle left us after a work-filled and fruitful time of teaching and service. However, the last few days with us were spent alongside our close friends, Dr. Gordon and LeighAnn Fort. We returned to Nottingham Citrus Estate, having been invited for the seventh year to examine and treat their staff. This estate packs and ships around forty- two thousand tons of citrus products worldwide. We set up our examination area amongst the orange crates in their packing building and encountered and treated two hundred and fifty workers. Many were given copies of scripture.  One evening, Gordon Fort led a meeting of the senior staff of Nottingham, telling of his faith experience in coming to know Jesus as savior.

We also held two other eye camps at urban churches in Bulawayo. Most people who we encountered had little or no means to afford glasses or medications for various eye conditions. They were overjoyed to receive the needed with prescription glasses, readers or medications.

The last few days in Zimbabwe were spent taking the Forts and their daughter and son in law to the beautiful Victoria Falls and the Hwange National Park. It was a wonderful time of admiring and taking in the magnificent Falls and going on a game viewing safari at Hwange.

We now look back on the mission accomplished during these past 7 weeks  of ministry. The retina training program continued, and Dr. Moyo is gaining more skill and knowledge in that discipline. We established a cross linking service to treat corneal diseases. A glaucoma laser arrived with a host of retina surgical supplies, and Dr. Ronald Chimwe learned the management and technique of treating glaucoma patients with this laser technology. He will head up the new glaucoma service that is launched.

So, thank you once again for your prayers. We were responsible for the safety of our foreign guests and doctors and travelled on some horrendous roads. God protected us from accident and illness, and we are grateful to Him for His grace and provision. We look forward to our next season of work and ministry in Zimbabwe.

Steve and Jane Beaty