Foundation for International Self Help (FISH)
Eye-care Mission Trip
Kingston, Jamaica
University of Waterloo,
School of Optometry
(Parkdale United Church sponsored Carrie Badgley’s trip to Jamaica from our Mission Trip designated funds. This is her report. )
What an amazing experience! We arrived in Kingston, Jamaica on Friday, March 19, 2010 and this is where the journey began. I was unsure what the weeks ahead would bring, but it turns out that this would be one of the most rewarding experiences I could have ever asked for. Our apartment was located right in the FISH clinic compound, a nice quick walk to the eye clinic in the mornings, when we were actually stationed there! However, we only worked at the clinic 5 days out of the 3 weeks. The rest of the time we were on the road to visit other locations that required optometric services.
On our first day, we were working at the FISH clinic. The In-House Optometrist was not able to come into work and so all of the patients were shifted over to us! It was quite the busy first day. We saw 24 patients. I referred one patient for a glaucoma workup with the In-House Ophthalmologist, saw one patient with end-stage glaucoma, and one little girl with a very tough prescription (very high near-sightedness that was greatly unbalanced between her eyes). I really enjoyed the patients who we saw, and everyone was very nice. The people who come into the clinic are very appreciative of what they have, even though some don't have much, and of what you can provide for them.
Our next few days were spent at the J.C.F. Major Task Investigations office where we did eye exams on police officers. We saw 35 patients our first day, with most of them having young, healthy eyes. There was one patient who we had to refer for a glaucoma workup and another patient who had been previously shot in the face 3 times and had his whole face reconstructed. His vision was very poor, but he was still working hard and loving his job. The next day we saw another 35 patients, but again most were healthy, young eyes. Quite refreshing! That evening we were invited to the FISH 25th Anniversary dinner where our supervisor, Dr. Callender, was recognized for all his service to the FISH Clinic over the past 25 years! He was not expecting this honour, which made for an even better evening!
The patient population that comes to the FISH Clinic is extremely varied in need. We had a patient come in to see us who was almost completely blind from glaucoma and cataracts. His family was interested to know if cataract surgery would be beneficial to him. We determined that cataract surgery would benefit him in that he would be able to see a little bit more than he currently can, and he wouldn't have to be so dependent on others to guide him around to do his daily tasks. Another patient was a 9 year old boy with congenital nystagmus (shaky eyes) that had been to the clinic before to see the Canadian team. He had lost his glasses in the fall months and had been waiting for us to return so that he could get a new prescription. We were able to provide him with a brand new frame and the lab was able to make him some new lenses to take home that day. This was very important since the glasses were necessary to decrease the amount that his eyes shook.
On our first weekend we packed up our bags and drove 3 hours through the mountains to the north side of the island to the Ritz Carlton in Ocho Rios (about half an hour from Montego Bay). We did eye exams on many of the staff over the weekend. A lot of them worked outside, so education on sunglass eye protection was a vital part of this clinic.
Our second week began at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, where we did eye exams on students. We saw 109 patients in 2 days, all of which were full exams! This population was very interesting to us, because initially we thought that we'd be seeing a lot of young, healthy students who would pass each section of the eye exam with flying colors. This was not the case! We had a failure rate of about 85-90%, with most of the students requiring a spectacle correction of some kind! The two days spent at the UWI campus were a huge success. Every single person who had signed up to see us, plus more, showed up for their appointment! Another great way that FISH has been able to get involved in the community by means of the Canadian team. The staff at UWI is currently trying to set up future dates to provide many more students with the eye care that they need.
Back at the FISH clinic, I saw a little 13 year old boy whom I will probably never forget. He had been to the clinic to see the Canadian team in previous years and was returning to the clinic because his glasses had gotten stepped on at school by another student. This normally wouldn't have been such a big deal except that he had the highest prescription that I have ever encountered! He was extremely near-sighted, legally blind without any glasses, but correctable to 20/30! Amazing!
On our last day before the Easter long weekend we travelled to another division of the Jamaican police. The actual Easter weekend was spent in the country visiting friends of the FISH community and enjoying their Easter celebrations.
Our last week started at the Council for Voluntary and Social Services (CVSS) where we performed full eye exams on the volunteers who work there. A variety of pathologies were seen, including hypertensive retinopathy (resulting from uncontrolled high blood pressure), glaucoma, and dense cataracts.
Our last 2 days of clinic were spent at "home" at the FISH clinic. It is never ending, the things that you learn while on a mission trip! I think the two most interesting cases that I saw were on the last two days. The first was a young man with severe scarring of the right cornea from a childhood injury. He was completely blind in the right eye but had 20/20 vision in the left eye. The main objective was to stress the importance of protecting his good eye, because unfortunately there was nothing that could be done to restore the sight in the bad eye. The second patient was a 3 year-old boy who was congenitally blind due to a lack of development of the retina. His grandparents were the ones who brought him in and they knew that he would never be able to see, but they brought him in for our opinion on how to prevent him from rubbing his eyes constantly. He was starting to develop dark circles under his eyes from the persistent rubbing. A pair of spectacles was prescribed in an attempt to deter him from this activity. It was decided that he would come back to the clinic in late June when the Canadian team returns, to see if this helped.
All in all, this trip was one of the best experiences I've ever had. It has made me more aware of the kinds of things that these programs can do, and how important it is that we continue to help those in need. The local people very much appreciate our coming to provide these services. This was evident when a lady whom we saw at one of the police stations decided that if it was important enough for us to come out to see them in their environment, then it was important enough for her to bring her twin girls to the clinic to see us. Both of the girls ended up needing glasses!
I wish again to thank you very much for your financial support. Your help allowed me to realize how much of a difference can be made when people go out of their way to help others, and how much that help is appreciated when given in a compassionate way.
April 3-10, 2011 – Sabbath Week
We are inviting you to participate in a counter-cultural experiment! The idea grew out of conversations with the Christian Education Committee and the concerns so many parents express about their families being overburdened with activities and commitments and not having enough time to relax and really connect with the important relationships in their lives or even with God. We believe that it isn't just families but that singles and couples also feel the pressure of too many nights out. From CE talks grew the notion of holding a Sabbath week, and later, at church Council it was agreed to set aside one week during which no activities will be planned here at Parkdale, other than Sunday worship.
At the same time, we are asking our members to consider whether they want to join with us in this special time by clearing their many obligations to sports, extra-curricular activities, and meetings of all kinds. Of course, people would still have to go to school or work, but other than that, we would encourage you to stay home in the evenings and weekends, have long conversations around the dinner table, or invite friends over and show some Christian hospitality. You might want to visit an elderly aunt or friend in a nursing home, or take the time to go out for dinner with the person who moved in across the hall.
This would also be a good time to limit or forego the use of electronics so that you have real face-time for significant interactions. You might want to break out the board games or go for a hike with family or friends – anything that will get you talking and laughing with others and deepening your connections. A really important aspect of the experiment will be joining us for worship on April 3, the kick-off for the Sabbath week, so that you can experience community with others who will be doing this alongside you and be inspired to hear God's voice during an oasis of relative quiet in your lives.
We realize how busy people’s schedules are and that is why we are letting you know eight months in advance. Everyone might not wish to join with us but if you do, we are aware of how much planning is involved to clear your calendar. After the Week of Sabbath is over, an opportunity will be provided for any who wish to come together to reflect on what the experience was like.
DISPATCHES FROM BRAZIL
Back in Salvador... in July 2010
I spent May and June in Canada on “Home Assignment”, visiting churches, sharing information and, through stories and photos, illustrating the work of the United Church here in Brazil, with a particular emphasis on my work as an ecumenical advisor at CESE.
CESE, Coordenadoria Ecumênica de Serviço, was established in 1973 by six national churches as an ecumenical social service agency working to enhance human rights throughout Brazil. The Mission and Service Fund of the UCC has supported CESE for many years and also provides financial support enabling me to live and work here in Salvador, which is in the north-east region of Brazil.
An American Baptist in Salvador
Recently, after my return to Brazil in July, I was invited by my Baptist Pastor Joel to spend a day with him and an American visitor from North Carolina. Connie Gates is the liaison person between the Alliance of Baptists ,based in Atlanta, andtheir missions in Brazil. She speaks only English andJoel understands quite well but does not speak English so, as interpreter and companion, I happily set off with them one Monday morning. The main reason for Connie’s visit at this time was to attend the first assembly of the newly formed Aliança Batista do Brazil, bringing together Baptists and Baptist churches that want to work ecumenically, with other denominations and with other religions.
Connie and Joel and I started with an introduction to CESE, walking about our beautiful working environment with its spacious open offices and small but lush garden courtyards. We spent a few minutes chatting with staff members who explained their specific roles. We talked as well about CESE`s ecumenical foundation and the importance and impact of relationships between CESE and its founding churches and with other congregations that embrace ecumenism, like Joel`s, Igreja Batista Nazareth.
Sharing Mid-day Meal in Pedra Furada
We left CESE to share a mid-day meal with several other Baptist church members. As usual, the rest of the day unfolded a bit at a time – one more day when we didn`t really know what was going to happen until it happened.Connie and I talked about how surprisingly liberating this is. I was also surprised and happy that I was able to interpret for Connie (Portuguese to English and English toPortuguese) so she was able to participate in conversation and have her questions answered.
We paused for another typical mid-day experience in a very simple, ordinary-looking restaurantright on the water in arelatively poor but very picturesque neighbourhood called Pedra Furada. The restaurant is in the lower city on the edge of the Bay of All the Saints. Nearby are many very chic restaurants, but our church friends prefer – for very good reason – the food, ambiance and service at this particular little place. They are regular customers. By arrival time we had been joined by 5 other church members. This was the first time I had been together with them in such an informal social setting for more relaxed conversation. Splendid!
We started with delicious and beautiful octopus salad. We had stopped en route to buy some fresh bread as it is not served by the restaurant and our group prefers octopus salad with bread. Clearly we were expected andthe salad course was on the table before we were all seated... Then clams, very simply prepared, servedwith the broth from the steamingprocess. Then a shrimp stew,fish stew, grilled fish and vegetables...and nice cold drinks, of course, and doce de banana for dessert. Banana candy.
The restaurant owner is also a fisherman and clearly has a long-standing relationship with Joel and other church members. I had included a handful of balloons in the information package I prepared for Connie and, as you can see in the photo, some were blown up to decorate our table – to the delight of our host.
Residence Recriar, a boys` home called “Recreate”