We finished the clinic Friday with a bang!

 From the moment we arrived until we left at 5:30pm, the clinic was a steady stream of patients, ending with a total of 326 for the day and 905 for the week. Being in a new location with a new congregation, we expected to possibly have a slow start. It was an unusual week, Monday was a national holiday and Friday was as well. I think maybe Monday worked against us a bit through Tuesday and I think Friday was helpful. Regardless, we have learned some lessons when doing a vision camp in a new location. We need to have more advance notice to congregations in the area, we need to begin the week with a truck driving around with a bullhorn or speaker, we need to be on local radio, and we need to encourage our patients to tell their friends and family as they are leaving the clinic.

The tent full of patients waiting for an eye chart exam

There were blessings to having a slow week, we got to know our volunteers very well and it was sad when we were finally forced to leave today. We got to share in a fair amount of their music, I just love African harmonies and the call and response songs. 

Children from a local school for the vision impaired were treated

We also got to serve the least of the least in the community with love, dignity and respect. This included about 15 children today from a nearby school for the visually impaired and their matron, which is what they call the principal. They would have clogged up the clinic, but this is not our first rodeo. We ran them though each station of the clinic as high priority special guests and got them back to school quickly. 

Our team as we gathered to head in for the last day

I am packing up for a safari with four others to Masai Mara this weekend, a world class game park that is one end of the elephant, zebra, wildebeest and water buffalo migration. We will be leaving our large suitcases at Little Daughters and will be each taking our carry-on and backpack. My backpack is all photo gear, of course! More to follow as I am able, we fly back next Monday night from Nairobi to London and then have a direct flight from London to Austin. Please pray for travel mercies!