Back in Dar

Hi all,

We are back in the big city (Dar es Salaam) after 4 days in Mwanza.  Today was mostly a day of rest, with a little bit of time devoted to catching up on charting and more than a little bit of time catching up on sleep.  We are still recuperating after seeing nearly 120 kids over the course of three days.  To put this in perspective, most optometrists see about 8 patients or so a day!  Many of the kids had to be bussed in from far away schools, some from nearly three hours (200 km) away.  Praise the Lord that we were able to see so many!!

There are so many sad and wonderful stories to share, but here are just a few:

• There was a girl who was a recent victim of an attack.  Several men approached her and ordered her to stick out her hands so that they could chop them off.  She adamantly refused and pulled her hands from their grasps.  In response, they viciously beat her, only slowing to look for a machete to complete the act.  In the confusion that followed (none of the attacked could find a machete), she rushed away.  Despite all the hostility and hatred directed at her, I just remember this girl being such a beautiful, kind and gentle soul.  I couldn't imagine anyone wanting to hurt her.
• On the second day, one of the Under The Same Sun staff members helped me in the dispensing station, training the kids on using their brand new telescopes.  I remember the joy and confidence he expressed in showing them how to focus the telescopes, testing their abilities on a visual acuity chart and tying straps on the telescopes so that the kids wouldn't lose them.  This was the picture of one of these kids, fully grown, educated, employed, accepted by his peers and empowering the next generation.
• Towards the end of one day, we sat at the edge of the school and watched the kids (with albinism and without) playing.  Hope, Cheryl and Anna had noticed one boy with albinism who would stand day-after-day by himself hugging a tree.  Anna finally got up the courage to walk up to him, give him a bag of trail mix and talk openly with him in front of a growing crowd of other kids.  She wasn't sure what he said, but I think that little encounter may linger with him for awhile.  We also saw one little girl (with albinism) playing a game with a typically pigmented kid.  There just seemed to be such a childlike, playful innocence about the encounter, untainted by any hint of prejudice or animosity.  A moment later, another girl with albinism led a whole group of kids (again, some pigmented and some not) in singing and dancing--we'll definitely post this up!  The girl had the loudest voice and definitely the most rhythm.  I got a kick out of seeing David try to follow along.

These are just a few of the moments that I could recall.  I've also attached a brief update from Anna below.  Now that we're back in the city, we'll post more frequently, including some pictures and videos!

Thank you so much for your continued prayers!

Much love,
-Steve

"Hi everyone,

Thank you so much for your prayers!  We can truly feel it here!  We are now in Dar Es Salaam at a hotel with Internet!  Yay!  Back to civilization!  We spent the last 3 days in Mwanza (about 1hr 20 min plane ride from here) to treat about 120 kids that have been bused in from different schools.  Some kids traveled 3 hours to come see us!  On the dental side, we set up a clinic in their library and did cleanings and screenings.  They were very long days and our backs were killing by the end of them since we didn't have any type of reclining chair to use.  We all also miss our dental assistants sooooo much because we had to do everything ourselves from set up to clean up to sterilization!!  Although they were tough days, to be able to love on and interact with these kids made it all worth it!  We will try to put a video of the kids singing on our blog.  Steve has been busy learning the optometry side.  It's been really great to serve with him and watch him use his skills during this trip.  We both are staying in different rooms for the entire time because it would be awkward for David and Michelle to stay together.  This is the first time since we've been married that we are sleeping apart.  It's kind of like when we were dating again!

We have met some of the bravest, most amazing children.  Today, we treated a 10 year old girl who was attacked and had her arm cut off.  I don't exactly know how she managed to escape but she did!   Another little boy had his finger cut off but escaped by biting his attacker.  Please continue to pray for our trip and also for these children. There are some schools where the teachers really take care of the children and then there are others where the kids are more neglected.  In those school, I saw a lot of kids with sunburn and different skin lesions that could be the precursor to cancer.  It really broke my heart...

That is my update so far...getting really late...have to get sleep!  I miss you guys!

Love,
Anna & Steve"