Today was our last day here doing mission, until next time. We got through a lot of optical today and the team has been so great to work with this week. I can honestly say it has never been so organized and smooth running having such a great team. It was awesome to have several people trained on the machine so that I could take time away to visit with people and do other things. I love the optical mission but sometimes being tied there the whole time, without getting to walk around is challenging. I’m excited also to come back in February and reorganize all of the glasses!! We saw some challenging cases again today with prescription readings in the -15 etc. Most of the time diabetes related. ITs so hard to see these because this is something that can be prevented and in the USA treatment is more readily available. So many people come through the clinic with uncontrolled diabetes. When someone is just about blind because of it, it can be heartbreaking. I had another women come through who was fighting breast cancer.
I believe our numbers for the 3 1/2 days were around 250 patients in vision. Not all got prescriptions. Some got readers only, some got prescriptions, some got both and some nothing needed. But a good week nonetheless. I have a long list of supplies I need for next time, including some donations of items I am going to start soliciting! I need hats, and sunglasses and readers!
Home visits were a little mixed today. We visited the school in La Ceibita, visited one house and had some home visit time with some folks at the feeding center. Ann had several good meetings with people and the time spent in fellowship with community members was so wonderful.
Construction got done with their construction project for the week and I believe will sleep well tonight! It is hard work working out side in the sun and heat in Honduras, especially when you are not used to it.
After our work days we had a great time at the church service visiting with folks and saying our goodbyes until next time. There were a lot of emotions tonight and it was wonderful to see how much people had connected this week. We returned back to the hotel to share in devotions and team time. Lots of great sharing and discussion tonight and people really opened up. I love this team this week. They have been so great and have connected so beautifully.
Tomorrow we hit the road for the long drive back to San Pedro Sula where we spend the night before our fight home on Saturday. Who knows how long it will take to get there. WE never can predict.