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All Saints Day at St. Peter

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 We worshipped with our brothers and sisters in Christ for the last time ( at least for this trip).  It was a 3 hour service.  Most of us in America would be complaining about a service this long, but the congregation was joyful and singing throughout.  Small children sat patiently  (for the most part) without Books or toys or snacks.  We shared the statistics from our trip.  We served 628 people and distributed 1030 pairs of glasses.  We also shared our gratitude for being able to serve. The bishop said that a woman who is not a member of St. Peter’s  told him “You don’t know what a difference getting these glasses makes in my life.”  Now she also has a connection with the St. Peter family and that will make a difference in her life if she worships with them and is strengthened in her faith there. Holy Communion at St. Peter After church we visited the Middelburg Orphanage, supported by Christian Outreach for Africa (COFA).  We ate lunch with the children and played with them.  Then w
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Travels with Knut

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 Knut is our driver.  He has taken us everywhere we needed to go on this mission trip.  In addition, he has a wealth of knowledge about the country, a great sense of humor and an uncanny ability to anticipate our needs and wants — down to bubble wrap for our souvenirs.  After the second night at the safari we travelled to see more natural wonders.    We saw the Three Rondavels, Blydepoort  Dam and  the Blyde River Canyon.  The canyon is the third largest in the world.  We also travelled to God’s Window.  This is an  an area where, on a good day, the ever present mist here will part , forming a “window” and you can see for miles.  Unfortunately the mist was very heavy and  there was no window.  It was still beautiful.  Here’s a  picture of the dam.  And God’s Window
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Kruger National Park

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 Today we were treated to a safari.  Although part of me wished that we could do another clinic as the need is so desperate, we were all exhausted and really needed this break.  It has been a joy to see the beauty  of Africa— first its people and then its animals.  ( Today I was able to add pictures and videos to some earlier posts due to better internet connection at the resort so check them out!)
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A Record-Breaking Day

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 On Thursday, we visited our our final site.  We travelled about 3 hours to a rural site, traveling through a beautiful area with many citrus groves to a church in another very poor area.   The weather was hot — about 90 degrees — and sunny.  Many people were already waiting  in the sun and in what little shade was provided by a small canopy.  We quickly set up in the small building.  We saw over 240 people and distributed over 400 pairs of glasses— a new record.  We served ages from 100 (yes 100!) to age 8.  I tested the 100 year old woman who inspired me with her dignity and smile.  She was very mentally sharp.  Can you imagine waiting until you are 100 for a pair of glasses?  One gentleman came in a suit and tie (in that weather!) for the occasion.  I tested one young man who said he could not see the board at school and also could not read his textbook clearly.    Through the week we have developed a strong working relationship with the Caring Friends Team and we were able to work
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The Third Day

 Today we served at St. Peter College.  There was plenty of notice prior and the members of St. Peter Confessional Lutheran Church encouraged the community to come. We served 208 people and distributed many more pairs of glasses.  We think that this might be a record for an eyeglass clinic.  Unfortunately we had to turn some people away.   Each day brings fresh evidence of the great needs here.  I spoke with one young woman who lost her glasses five years ago and hasn’t been able to replace them.  She hasn’t driven her car since then because she can’t see well and she doesn’t want to get a ticket.  Reading had become increasingly difficult also.   Clean water is also a great need here.  We bring plenty of water wherever we go .  At our last site, Caring Team members saw people drawing drinking water from an area   where drinking water and flushing water are mixed.  One woman that came to the clinic had damaged eyes from a water-born parasite.  Unfortunately, glasses cannot help in that
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The Second Clinic

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  Today was another lesson in flexibility and adaptability.  The church that we were originally going to visit had issues arising from the heavy rains last night, so Caring Friends had to quickly look for another site.  The church that welcomed us moved the children from the large one room pre-school to accommodate our operations.  This church is located in a very poor area.   As usual, we opened and closed in song and prayer with the Caring Friends team. Despite opening with no advance notice, the clinic attracted over 100 people, ranging in age from 4 to 82.  We distributed about 130pairs of glasses.  The news travelled quickly through the neighborhood—  more evidence that this service is greatly needed.   We work pretty much non-stop from 10:00 to 2:00-3:00 and spell each other for lunch breaks.  Team leader Annette and I had fun taking quick breaks with the preschoolers.  They know Baa Baa Black Sheep . Annette sang “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star “ with them.  I taught them Head, S
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The First Clinic

 Today was a long day full of joys as well as a few challenges.  We left the guest house at 7:30 am and joined the Caring Friends team for song and prayer.  Then we travelled for an hour and forty five minutes to the clinic held at a local church.  The ride was a bumpy one.  ( Our driver calls it an “African massage”). We set up the clinic in the small sanctuary — no water and no electricity, no indoor plumbing. We were able to serve 70 people, from children to age 85 with glasses.  It is so rewarding to be able to do something so small yet so impactful for people.  There is only one optometrist in a huge area and eyeglasses cost a fortune.  Some of the people tested have very poor vision.  Imagine if we had to struggle under those circumstances along with all the other challenges that these brothers and sisters face. On the way home we encountered heavy rain.  It is the rainy season here.  South Africa has planned power outages — called “load shedding”.  One took place as we were clos
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