Dearest Friends –

As I (Jane) write in between washings of Steve’s surgical instruments, we are thankful to Mater Dei Hospital here in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, for their assistance in helping folks restore their physical eyesight. Steve has a wonderful surgical staff of nurses that continue to learn and assist in surgery. Over the last 15 years, we have come to know and truly appreciate each one of them. Most hospitals here always take a thirty-minute tea time and one-hour lunch break. However, when Dr. Beaty is in the house, they choose to keep going without a tea break and just roughly grab a fifteen-minute lunch time. According to Steve, my job is very important. I put dilating drops in the patient’s eyes and sit in the corner between his surgical cases, wash the microscopic instruments and then sterilize them for the next case.

Last week was a busy one seeing patients, removing cataracts and performing laser surgeries here at the hospital. There was one particular patient, a 72-year-old single lady, who was blind in one eye and had a cataract in her other eye. The morning following surgery she was led into the office with her other two single sisters. [they are the 3 musketeers in female version] With her only seeing eye being patched, she was totally dependent on her sisters to escort her to Steve’s examining chair. As the patch was removed, she became so overly excited that she could see her sisters that tears flooded my eyes! She immediately gave praise and thanks to God as she said,”I once was blind but now I see!”

On Saturday, we went with a dear friend to a rural area four hours from Bulawayo. Honestly I thought we had to have been close to New York City. It took forever to get there as we attempted to dodge all of the numerous potholes and craters. We gave our driver the name PhD (pot-hole dodger)!

It was a blessing to serve the people around the Nkayi area; we saw 150 folks and distributed 98 pairs of eyeglasses. I had the privilege of hearing a lady and a man speak in English to me saying “now I can see to read my Bible!” Steve had the opportunity to share the importance of physical and spiritual eyesight and also we had an evangelist who shared the gospel message. Although it was a very long day (we left our house at 6:20 am and returned home at 8:00 pm) it was a privilege to know that our God sent us to minister to so many in such a unique way.

This is our last day of surgery until we return at the end of July. We want to thank all of our supporters for your love, care, and prayer for us these past three weeks. We have thoroughly enjoyed the gorgeous weather, longer days and reuniting with many of our Zimbabwean friends. But most of all, we have been blessed by ministering to so many through the gift of eyesight.

Blessings,
Steve and Jane