A new part of the adventure...by Tamra

Sorry it has been so long since I've updated! Truthfully, since the end of the church plant, not much has happened. Also, in the meantime, we've been many days without electricity, which makes things difficult. Also, I do have a couple of things that I still plan to post about from the church plant, but I need Floyd's computer to do it and that hasn't been an option with no power. So, I promise I won't forget.
Today, we began a new leg of our adventure (and really it is the last leg). A team from the US arrived at New Hope yesterday and we are included in their projects. An optometrist came to do a vision clinic. He has never done this sort of mission before and he didn't bring any assistants or people to specifically help. Kim and I have experience in the vision clinics on our church planting trips, but really it is different in many ways. Of course the doctor uses all sorts of equipment that we have no understanding of and his vocabulary is very technical. On the other side, he's heard of but never seen some of the equipment that we use in our clinics. We have equipment that is portable and very basic, but yet very detailed. That sort of things isn't need in America because everything is so much more advanced.
We helped set up the clinic area and Dr. Jim trained us on some testing methods that we are using to gather information for him. Once we finish that process, they got back to the doctor for more detailed testing and an official response. For those that need only readers, the doctor gives us a range and we take it from there. We pull out frames in that range and let the people try them on and test them with a reading card. Of course, there is a larger variety of glasses than what we have in our usual clinics, so we help the people to see which one fits best and looks good on them. This afternoon, we even brought out a mirror.
If they need a more detailed prescription, we have two options. The doctor has many frames that are labeled as to what prescription is in them. If it is the exact prescription and fits the person, then they take them right then. If there is not one to fit, we have a selection o frames for them to try on. Once they choose a frame, we make note of the style, color, size, etc and save the form. When the doctor gets back home, the glasses will be made for each person. When they are completed, they will be sent back to New Hope with the next arriving team.
I really enjoyed working the clinic today! It was very exciting to see the reactions when the folks could see. Of course, I've seen that before, but it never gets old. Also, it was exciting to see them look in a mirror and like the frame that they see. To give them a choice is even more exciting because it is more personal.
Months ago the doctor shipped a crate to Uganda with more supplies, but it is still 800 miles away. Unfortunately, we didn't realize that some of what we had would have been helpful. If we had thought to ask and Rafe (our missions pastor) had agreed, we could have provided even more than we realized. For example, the simple equipment we use to check for near-sightedness would have been so helpful. We could have easily used it here, then brought it home with us. I'm sure it's just sitting in a desk at CF by now. Also, we sent home a few boxes of glasses cases that we didn't use. Here we have no cases to give out, except for the few glasses that happen to have come with a case. Fortunately, we did think ahead and receive permission from Rafe to bring some of the left over eye drops (some antibiotic and some just for dry eyes). That is something that is very useful as well and much appreciated. Of course, we know all of the supplies that were taken back to McKinney will be put to use in future clinics, it's just interesting to see how useful they could have been here and now. :)
For the rest of our time here, I'll be serving in the vision clinic. Kim will do that as well until she heads to the baby house in the late afternoon. This week the kids will help clean and paint classrooms at the primary school and next week they will help with VBS for about 400 children. Floyd will continue to work in the business office, as he received 6 more computers needing work today. Of course, he will also have some time out with the team as well. Next Thursday we head to Entebbe where we will board our first flight in the homeward journey on Friday.
Tomorrow night we have a special dinner with our Pacific Family, so we'll share about that afterwards.
To add one other side note, I've received and accepted a request to continue teaching at the school where I taught for the last 4 months of the previous school year, so when we get home, I'll begin preparing for that journey. I'll need to make sure the kids homeschool stuff is ready before I report on August 16th.