That All May See

February 6th was hectic at IMPACT Mission Center. We had hired an 8 seat van to go to Vijayawada to receive Don and Karen Stauffer (with Global Outreach Mission) and Hazel Raine who were coming to us after a week of successful Free Eye clinics in the Sunderban area of Kolkata. We knew they had seven oversize bags with eye glasses but when these were loaded off the train we had to work hard to find porters with a trolley to bring them to our van in the parking lot. People on the platform stopped to gawk at our interesting procession-- four white people, three Indians, seven large bags on a trolley, four large strolley suitcases with handbags on them.

February 7th to 12th were extremely busy at IMPACT. Don and Karen Stauffer, medical missionaries with “That All My See” ministries, were with us to run eye clinics. Along for the fun was Hazel Raine, who served in India for 38 years and is affectionately referred to as “Mom” by many. “That All May See” is a ministry that provides vision care to those who are unable to afford it in India. Along with assessment, education, and glasses so that people would be able to see physically, they partner with local ministries so that the people might also be able to see spiritually.

Starting on 7th with orientation and "training' for our volunteers from 8th with intense six hours of work with break only of a quick lunch, over the next four days, Don and Karen set up eye clinics in four village churches and were able to see 319 patients. Villagers waited for hours to be seen and rotate through five different stations.

At the first station, our pastor Ramesh from Ammireddiguem day after day did an amazing job of testing the patients for their long distance vision using an eye chart. The patient would then be sent in to sit down with Karen and her translator BJ to discuss in depth any vision problems they might be having. Karen would also use this time to educate them on eye care to prevent future problems.

The third station would be for the patient to see Don and have their eyes evaluated with an auto-refractor. Don would use the information gained from this evaluation to match patients with prescription glasses that would potentially help their eye sight.

If a prescription match was found, the patient would go to the fourth station manned or should I say (wo)manned by Emily and her helper Shayam to try on and be fitted for potential glasses. Their long distance and up close vision would then again be evaluated. Our wonder-woman Emily picked a new skill to fit patients with prescription glasses. She worked tirelessly through the day and then in the evening she was ready to jump into our car as she and I took off for Ammireddigudem for the English class.

The final station, skillfully manned by Hazel, was were the patients would try on reading and sunglasses. Many of those villagers who attended the clinics were field works, exposed to intense sunlight and chemicals that damaged their eyes. They were instructed in the proper use of sunglasses to prevent further damage.

Each person went home with good UV sun glasses (except for two who refused them) and almost all received either a reader or prescription glasses. The joy on their faces when the patients would realize that they could see and comfortably read was worth the effort.

Thank you so much to the Stauffers, Mom Hazel, and the many volunteers and translators who helped make these clinics such a success.