Reminder of Why We're Here!

Some days here it is a challenge to remember why we're here . . . dealing with politics, feeling isolated, missing family and friends, etc. 

Most days are filled with routine duties, for me that is primarily ensuring the safety of our staff at screening sites, for Denise it is teaching her class.

To give you some background, we have off-ship screenings for eye (cataracts) and dental.  Dental is Monday and Thursday at the same site every week for virtually the entire field service.  Last field service, in 10 months, our dental team served over 12,000 patients and performed over 40,000 procedures.  The Eye Team uses several sites as the people they are seeking to serve have a much greater challenge with mobility.  We have screened for eyes every Tuesday and Wednesday since the first week of September.  The multiple sites present issues for me as the security plans change for each site; however, they are pretty much set now.

While what we do is important to the mission of the ship, it can get to be challenging because we usually don't see the "highs" of restoration of health.  Instead, for me, I have to say no to people several times at each screening as they have heard of the hospital ship and think maybe they can help . . . some of them are quite ill and unfortunately not with something we can help.  It can be depressing!!

Today, I was sitting at breakfast wondering what I would do on a Saturday . . . then one of my eye team friends reminded me that they had performed many cataract surgeries yesterday and the bandages were coming off this morning . ..  so I went down on the dock and got to see the miracle of sight restored!!!!  Several of the patients had been totally blind.  To see the looks of wonder and amazement when they realized they could see brought tears to my eyes.  Some just remained stoic, others stood up and grabbed the closest Mercy Shipper, hugged them, and repeated "Merci Beaucoup!!"

So, when the days are depressing, I will try to remember what a miracle happens every time someone has sight restored, has a tumor removed, is able to walk again!!

I've included some pictures from the eye team.

 

This was taken at an eye screening for senior citizens. 

I once was blind . . . .

 

 

But now I see . . . .

The  blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good tidings preached to them.  Matthew 11:5

That is why we are here!!!