Vision Clinic

Dear family and friends,

This week has just been so hectic for us.  We had 5 eye doctors from the Utah area come here and sponsor a free eye clinic and give out glasses to those who needed them.  The doctors have been planning this for several months.  They have had several young men in their areas do Eagle Scout projects where they collected eye glasses, both new and used and cleaned and sorted them with the eye strength written on the package for each set.  These young men were able to collect about 5000 pairs of glasses.

We were told that the doctors would be able to examine about 125 people each day.  They worked for 4 days in Guyana.  They ended up doing exams for almost 2000 people in those four days.  That was a miracle in and of itself.  They each worked from 8 til 5 and only took 1 half hour break for a lunch.  It was really a pleasure to work with them.  Our duties consisted of directing people, scribing for the doctors, sorting the glasses in boxes and delivering glasses to the people in Lindon and Berbice who lived a couple hours away from the center where the glasses were distributed.  We went to Berbice twice (a two hour drive one way) and to Linden once, (a 1.5 hour drive one way) besides doing all of the other things.  Needless to say, we were tired yesterday.

The missionaries were able to get many referrals from this project, as people who were not members heard about the clinic and wanted to participate. I always worry about referrals from these kinds of projects, however, because the people sometimes are interested in the church only because of what the church will give them.  One woman asked me as she was leaving if we were going to have a free dental clinic, also.  

We also went to Linden yesterday with two elders to teach a Mr. Featherstone.  He has asked to be baptized and has never had the lessons, yet.  He has been investigating the church for atleast 2 years. There are no missionaries there, only a branch with local leadership and he needs to hear all 5 lessons before he can be baptized.  He is the administrator for a secondary school there and has been an active seventh day adventist but because they don't believe that people have souls, he left that church.  He studies the Book of Mormon and feels strongly that it is true and he believes that Joseph Smith really was a prophet.  It will be great to teach him.

We did not hear yet how the Boys Basketball team did at State Tournaments, or is this the week that they play?  Let us know.  Also, Ivan and Garth, how are you doing? We haven't heard anything for a while.  Thanks to Blaine for his letters, and Rob and Brenda for updating us regularly.  Carolyn and Wayne, We are also nearing the half-way point in our mission and it is flying by quickly as I am sure that yours and Fullers is.  

Have a great week!  Love from Elder and Sister Beutler