For our writing exercise, I asked my Writers Group to write for 15 minutes about what they saw. This is what I showed them:

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Kim Earle said,

As if disposed

The tubs of glasses sit before me

Conversation ensues about their cleanliness

While my mind wanders to those

Who wait for the chance to see.

Elaine Weaver: Bins full of Hope

I looked into these bins full of eyeglasses that Sally had run through her dishwasher. They sparkled like the bright shining stars of the sky on a clear summer night. Way across the world was a mass of people waiting for the opportunity to have a pair and see clearly again – maybe for the first time in their lives! This was hope for something better in their lives, and that hope lay in these bins in her kitchen! But how to bring this hope to them has been a focus for several people for the last three years. A plan had to be made. Prayers were first! Money had to be raised. God had to place a desire in their hearts to pursue this mission. So, all this has been accomplished and in March of 2019 they will take these bins of hope and fly to Africa where hundreds of adults and children are waiting for their answer to prayer. Soon they will see their futures through unclouded lenses!

Julia Thompson,

I looked into three totes and found eyeglasses filling each one. Eyeglasses! – sparkling, clean lenses inside frames of copper, gold, silver, black and other “shades” of color. These gifts were going to be delivered to Uganda via a missionary trip.

For a while, I gazed at them – those sparkling, clean lenses looked empty. There were no eyes in them! I’ve seen photos of people from underdeveloped countries whose eyes bore the same emptiness. And the frames of various colors, so fragile.

So many different prescriptions, too. We all seem to see situations and people differently.

I thank God often for my actual sight. But I pray daily that He will let me put on His “eyeglasses,” so I can see others through His eyes. Then perhaps He could use me to fill the emptiness in the lenses and add strength to those weary frames.

Heidi Bogue:

Totes, totes and more totes

Whatever, wherever

Full or empty?

What treasures do they hold?

Now, now, don’t rely on the label,

Take a peek!

Be brave and see for yourself!

What do they hold?

A faucet from a sink?

A wink?

Careful! It may stink!

Now… settle down!

Do not fear!

Pop the lid and peek.

Do you see? Surely you do!

If not… reach in, grab a pair!

Is it clearer now, dear?

Why we are here

With totes, totes and more totes?

It’s not boats you need, or even coats.

Now, now… no more tears.

Pick your glasses; fit them to your ears

And celebrate with

Hip hip hooray cheers.

That is why we are here.

Becki James wrote,

“Oh, if I had eyes to see,” I solemnly thought to myself as I boarded the plane to a country I had never been to before. My own vision was perfect as a child. As I grew older, presbyopia set in, attaching a pair of bifocals forever to my face. The suitcases I carried now were filled with vision: eyeglasses, to be exact.

Vision is such a vast word. Our missionary team carried vision. How many individual lives would be changed by a single pair of eyeglasses? Vision… how many lives would be changed by the grace and compassion of God?

“Help me see, Lord,” I urgently breathed out.

“Help me to see these people with your eyes of love. Let me see your people with your perfect and pure eyes. Amen.”

Eyeglasses: oodles and oodles of eyeglasses. I never realized how much I take my sight for granted. People in third world countries don’t have access to eye care like we do. Eyes get infected, yet not treated. Eyesight deteriorates, yet no intervention given. They don’t have government programs to give aid, no social workers to come alongside. If there are no family members to help, then there is no help.

In eight weeks, our Uganda Team will depart from Buffalo with thousands, yes, thousands of eye glasses and an eye doctor. We’ll conduct eight eye clinics where people can have eyes tested with a focometer and a prescription matched. It’s a giant effort, but allows us to be the hands and feet of Jesus to bring sight to the blind and Good News to all.

People need a soft touch and a kind word. They need to know someone cares. Will you add us to your prayer list? Pray for endurance and a good sense of humor during the long clinic days. Pray for health, and rest for the travel. And pray for hearts to “see” the Gospel in action.

Sally

P.S. We will be blogging during the trip here.