Sunday, September 20, 2009

Sight for a Child

We are starting to settle in a little better here in Benin. Our sleep schedules are finally relatively normal, and we're getting into more of a grove here on the ship. I have been going out more with the field team and learning about some of the pre-operative screening and evaluation of surgical candidates. Our Peru eye team will just be two (me and Nathan) at first, so I think that these kinds of things will be really valuable for me to have seen and learned before we get there. Nathan is learning new little subtleties of the surgical technique every day. He's also getting a little more autonomy in the OR, and I think that has been good for his confidence.  The outcomes are really amazing to see. Most people are literally being led into the operating rooms with both hands because they are completely blind in both eyes. Then when they come to their post-operative visits, they walk in on their own.

This week they operated on the youngest child to ever receive cataract surgery on this ship. He is 3 months old, and has had cataracts in both eyes. If these were left alone, the child would be blind for life because the visual system would never develop properly.  The operation was a great success, and we are praying that the child continues to heal well without any problems.  It is wonderful to see a child who may be spared a life of blindness.  We are thankful that we've been spared a life of blindness as well. The Lord has been so gracious to open our eyes to the beauty and satisfaction found in an unwasted life of relationship with King Jesus.  We hope that he uses these medical gifts to open many eyes, both physical and spiritual. Please pray for the blindness in Benin.

We also had some fun in another interesting way this week. Starbucks has donated everything for a coffee shop here on the ship, and we were able to work last night with the Strausses as 'Starbucks Baristas' for the night. We can make you a latte, or a cappucino, or even a double shot caramel/hazlenut/chocolate steamer with extra foam (what I like). Really fun and a good time to get to know some folks here better.

A few pictures from the week:



Child with cataract in both eyes: Before surgery




No more cataracts!






Barista night with the Strausses

Posted by at

7 comments:

  1. Bekah4321September 20, 2009 at 6:46 PM

    the coffee barista thing cracks me up. :) very fun. joab will be proud!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Carol MSeptember 20, 2009 at 7:09 PM

    I was so happy to see you had posted. You and Nathan look like you have adjusted very well to your new surroundings. I love reading about the wonderful results of the surgeries, and wonder what the patients say when they come back for their post op visits? They must be so grateful. Bobby and I pray daily that you are happy, healthy, and safe.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nathan and Audrey WilsonSeptember 20, 2009 at 7:38 PM

    nathan and kristen, we miss you guys SO MUCH. we are thankful to the Lord that he has given you more than you asked or imagined. Audrey and I continue to pray for you; don't get too comfortable on that ship :) Nathan

    ReplyDelete
  4. VanessaSeptember 21, 2009 at 5:40 PM

    I love hearing about how you are ministering to the patients. Also, I'm sure you both make great baristas!

    ReplyDelete
  5. cejerSeptember 22, 2009 at 7:46 PM

    Your stories are great... humbling to know that He doesn't need us in His big plan but allows us to be a part of it! What an exciting role ya'll are playing right now ... keep the posts coming ...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Drew WrightSeptember 25, 2009 at 7:34 PM

    A 3 month old? That's awesome! Love you guys!

    ReplyDelete
  7. BrookeSeptember 26, 2009 at 5:34 PM

    Just wanted you to know how much we love you guys! So sweet to see how God is working. I'm glad you can make yummy coffee drinks. Rachel and I will be asking you guys to make stuff for us in Cusco- think we can have a Starbucks there?

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)