Making Connections

Making connections with the people we served was a strong thread today. I think for me, between feeling a little more confident in the space, pace and language gave me an easier opportunity today to connect a little more than simply finding the right pair of glasses for them. I fit a couple with glasses who had been married for 45 years. I fit a Peruvian Monk who ended our encounter with a traditional blessing. I fit a few young kids with their first pair of glasses (one boy who, all day, continued to run back into the dispensary area and hug and thank us.) I fit an elderly woman, with a very strong prescription and broken glasses who cleans for a living. We were able to give her a few pairs - one for her work/working distance and two pairs for her long distance (one pair for back up). Without glasses, she would not be able to see the "Big E" on the eye chart, totally stranded and unable to earn an income. These are the kinds of people you have a chance to serve and hope these efforts today and in their future, will help them.

These stories come as the final, raison d'ĂȘtre, after many, many months of efforts on behalf of Dr. Marina Roma-March, Derrick March, and the TWECS team at the warehouse. The layers of bureaucracy, letter writing, permissions, establishing credible and reliable assistance on the ground in advance of the project is not to be forgotten. There are hours and hours spent measuring, cleaning, aligning donated glasses. There are investments needed to secure decent quality ready-made reading glasses and less often donated (most often needed) prescriptions. Believe it or not, it's a lot of work to serve the poorest communities who really need it the most. It doesn't happen by magic to get to this final, rewarding experience of actually seeing if someone's eyes are healthy and meeting their prescription needs. If you're reading this and could find a way to donate your time or money, you too can play a part in this effort.

Tomorrow, we are off to serve some indigenous groups near the border between Costa Rica and Panama. This may be their only opportunity to receive eye care for a year or likely more.

This has been a tremendously rewarding experience. Perhaps you might find yourself doing this one day, too!
By Trina Mendria, Victoria BC




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