Guatemalan Sunday

I know God says you should keep Holy the Sabbath. We did WORK. We saw close to 400 patients in a little town about 30 minutes from Amberes. When we got there, some of the pastors and their wives were organized people, gave them numbers and exam forms, and helped us get set up. I started the day in the "dark" room doing retinoscopy and ophthalmoscopy: seeing what type of prescription they would need by seeing how the light moves through their pupil and taking a peak in the back of the eye to make sure it is healthy. 

The crowd we had to weave through to get from room to room

Guardian Angel prayer hanging in one of the classrooms of the school we were at.
Pretty sweet, huh?

I was working in there with Jessie, Van and Brandon. It was a little warm for a while, mostly because the sun was beating in.

Van trying to cool off with her Spanish Cheat Sheet

Brandon catching up on Ret

But we ended up backed up in optical so I switched it up and moved over there. Jessie went with me. We gave out a TON of glasses and even more drops. My Spanish improved, but by the end of the day, instead of saying "Puede poner una gota en cada ojo cuando tiene dolor or le arden." (You can put a drop in each eye when they hurt or burn) I caught myself saying, "Puedo poner un gato en cada ano..." (You can put a cat in each year?) It was intellectually exhausting. We were also on our feet on cement block all day which was physically draining as well.

Jessie checking the near acuity with the patient's new reading glasses

This little lady was so sweet. We had a hard time talking with her about her need for a near prescription. I made the mistake of  saying, "Lentes cuando esta leyendo." Glasses for when you are reading. She got a disappointed, saddened look on her face and ashamed said that she couldn't read. MELT. After troubleshooting a little bit, we (myself with the help of a translator) found out that she like to sew previously, but doesn't anymore because she can't thread the needle.
Positive Spin--- These glasses will help you to sew again!! She was thrilled! I asked her to take a picture and found the cutest pair I could and told her she looked beautiful! Doesn't she?

Josh (valued translator) and Jonathan (valued expertise having just finished 3rd year)

Once darkness settled in and we could no longer dispense glasses, the pastors gathered us together behind the school for a little prayer service and ceremony. We started in prayer and then some of the young girls sang for us some of their Spanish Praise and Worship songs.

"Esteban" Steve, our fearless leader and evangelist.

The first group of girls

Abre' nos ojos el Dios

The pastors had some of our team pray over them as they prayed over us

La Bonita Chica! I was smiling at her and tickling her as I walked by all day long so before we left, I got a picture with her.

The pastors' wives had regalitos for us- little gifts! I received a little key chain with a soccer ball on it and a blue and orange threaded bracelet with GUATEMALA on it. They were so hospitable and lovely, but we were EXHAUSTED.