Hugh and Mary Guffey’s May 27-June
28, 2009 Team Report
On Wednesday, May 27, 2009, we met the Michigan Team “Limon
Aid” led by Dr. Susan Caldwell and Janet Mahoney at the
Houston Airport and flew into San Pedro Sula with them. That
evening in La Ceiba, Guf and I gave them a short course (a very
short course!) on eye care, eye examinations, fitting glasses,
etc. Thursday morning we taught several of the team members how
to use the AHMEN autorefractor for determining eye glass prescriptions.
They “practiced” at the Cruzadas del Evangelio compound
with several staff members. The Michigan team then loaded the
sunglasses and reading glasses that we had provided for them
to use in Limon and the Soles4Souls shoes they had purchased
for the orphans at Leonarda’s Home of Hope and departed
for Limon.
Guf and I spent the rest of Thursday and all day Friday working
in the bodega at Cruzadas organizing the Eye Care Program inventory
in preparation for the Discovery UMC, Livingston Chapel UMC,
and the Decatur Central UMC Teams.
The Discovery Team arrived Friday evening, May 29, and we returned
to the bodega at Cruzadas with them to load the trucks for our
mission in La Union, Olancho. Saturday we traveled to La Union,
unloaded the trucks, and set up the clinic. We held clinics,
Sunday afternoon, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Josh Richards,
Blake Edmondson, Patti Keith, Guf and I were the Eye Care Team.
We examined 176 “clients”, dispensed 113 pairs of
reading glasses, 77 pairs of prescription glasses, and 430 pairs
of children’s and adults’ sunglasses.
On our return to La Ceiba Thursday afternoon, June 4, we worked
on the computerized inventory replacing the glasses that were
dispensed in La Union. The following morning we met Janet Corlett,
the D.S. of the Caribbean Methodist Church. She, Pastor Antonio,
Jen Richards from Discovery (who was to join Shawn Terrell’s
AU Vet Team the next day), Guf, and I held a one-day vision clinic
at the Methodist Church in El Pino just outside La Ceiba. We
examined 49 “clients”, dispensed 39 pairs of reading
glasses, 17 pairs of Rx glasses, and 49 pairs of sunglasses.
We gave Rev. Corlett 62 pairs of Soles4Souls men’s and
women’s shoes for a second Caribbean Methodist Church in
a very poor section of La Ceiba.
Pastor Antonio was gracious enough to allow Guf and me to spend
all day Saturday at his Church working on the glasses program.
We ironed out a few kinks and entered an additional 960 glasses
into the computerized inventory as well as filling in the gaps
left by those dispensed the day before. Meanwhile he disbursed
25 pairs of reading glasses and 35 pairs of sunglasses with area
residents who had not been able to come to Friday’s clinic.
Sunday and Monday, June 7 & 8, we again worked in the bodega
at Cruzadas arranging with Brent Brady to ship the twelve duffels
of 3,840 pairs of inventoried Rx glasses, plus replacement stock,
reading glasses, sunglasses, and the Kendall Optometry Ministry
equipment to Utila for the Livingston Chapel Teams.
While at Cruzadas, we disbursed reading glasses and sunglasses
to Cruzadas staff and gave Pastor Mario Miralda about 30 pairs
of sunglasses for members of his church.
Monday evening, Gregg Rushton arrived from Columbiana, AL.
The three of us then traveled to Balfate where we worked with
Judy Greene, a missionary at Cornerstone Foundation’s Loma
de Luz Hospital ( www.crstone.org )
, assisting her in computerizing her intimidating inventory of
70,000 pairs of Rx glasses. We brought everything necessary:
the organization boxes, the computer and lensometer with attached
computer cable, the Dyno printer, alcohol for cleaning the glasses,
plastic bags, labels, tape, etc. The first day was spent constructing
and labeling the inventory trays. The next few days were spent
washing, “re-reading”, re-labeling, and organizing
the glasses. After entering several hundred glasses, the laptop
we were using crashed, and we had to start all over. Nevertheless,
before we left we had entered 800 pairs of Rx glasses into her
inventory and held three help sessions with several members of
the Loma de Luz staff to ensure their understanding of the program.
We also were able to leave them with 300 pairs of sunglasses,
300 pairs of reading glasses, and an examination table.
On Wednesday, June 17, at least I think it was Wednesday, Gregg,
Guf, and I left Balfate for Limon. We stopped en route at Evelyn
Castellar’s home in Belaire (Guf and Gregg had met Jose
Castellar while in Balfate.) We spent Thursday in Limon checking
on the number and organization of the inventory of Rx glasses
stored at the Carolina clinic and in discussions with various
persons regarding the installation of sinks and running water
at the Nurture Center.
Friday, June 19, we returned with the Columbiana Team to La
Ceiba via the Castellar’s home. We were able to give her
60 pairs of reading glasses which she had requested for their
Clinica de Los Angeles ( www.projectohonduras.com ).
Sharon Bentley, Peggy Polhemus, Gregg, and Guf and I were so
impressed with the Castellars’ ministry, that we will be
returning there with a mission team February 11-21, 2010.
On Friday, June 19, the Omega Team from Livingston Chapel arrived
in La Ceiba. We joined them the following morning for a week’s
mission on Utila. We were part of their Eye Care Team-- along
with June Wilson, Lynn Giedinghagen, Sonya Dunbarr, Josh Dunbarr,
Emmy Waldrop, and James Wright—holding vision clinics Monday-Thursday.
Even though it was the second week of Livingston Chapel’s
mission, we were extremely busy—arriving early and staying
late. We examined 298 “clients” dispensed 155 pairs
of reading glasses, 76 pairs of prescription eyewear, and 600
pairs of sunglasses. We returned to San Pedro Sula with the Livingston
Chapel team Friday, June 26, and flew home Sunday morning June
28 .
This year’s mission experience for Guf and me was by far the most spiritual
of all our trips. We felt God’s Holy Presence and knew His Hand was on
our shoulder.
Thank you for allowing us to participate in UMVIM. We are Blessed.
Bendiciones,
Mary Guffey
The Baptist Connection
Alpha Team
Omega Team
Caribbean Methodist Team
Eye Team Breakdown Summary Numbers
|
