Extra Time, Extra Care - Day Two at the Clinic

The day started with devotion about using our God given gifts to serve others. Each of us have been given unique gifts to serve the people in the clinic.

Breakfast at Pastor's home fortified us for the day. It included oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam and bananas. Of course, we also had Tang, coffee and iced tea for breakfast!

Off to the clinic by 8:30 to start a new day. Each day we gather together for a prayer before we open the clinic. We ask for God's guidance to help us to show compassion and love to all who attend the clinic.

Today we served 107 people and distributed 245 glasses to the Belizean community. Compared to yesterday the pace was slower. However, God's timing was perfect! We had several clients that were more challenging to determine what prescriptions were needed. Cataracts and pterygium are very common and many clients had never been to an eye doctor. They required extra time to help provide the right glasses and care.

It was nice surprise to have a Mennonite family drive from an hour away to have their vision tested. They were planning to go to an eye doctor as a family but heard about the free clinic. All five members of the family received glasses.

After the clinic closed, we packed into our passenger van for a field trip to the Mennonite community. It almost felt like we were back in the midwest. Lots of cattle, horses and family farms. However, we saw no crops growing. We did stop at a shop and had homemade vanilla ice cream. Delicious!

Dinner tonight was tostados! They were topped with black beans, chicken, cabbage, cheese and tomato. Plus, we could top it with red onion sauce and homemade guacamole. YUM! We also were blessed with Pator Roldan leading us in singing a traditional song that is loved by all children in Belize - Alabare (I Will Praise).

Evening finished with devotion led by Janet called "Feed My Lambs" providing us encouragement to continue serving with joyful hearts.

Alabare (I Will Praise Him)