| A member of this Church
is an optometrist at this clinic and her husband is an ophthalmologist. This
is a story of the mission that is being carried out at their clinic.
For the
past several years the Henry Presbyterian Church has supported Volenteer
Optometric Services to Humanity in Pennsylvania. VOSH PA has been one of
the principle supporters of the Vincent Pescatore Eye Association in
Guatemala. One of the many programs that the eye clinics have been able to
offer the materially poor of Guatemala is the Ventainitas de Luz program.
Ventanitas de Luz sends health promoters into the public schools to find
children with eye problems. The child is then referred back to one of two
clinics where they will receive the treatment that they need for free. This
program has been made possible thru outside donations like those made by the
Henry Presbyterian Church. Below you find the story of just one of the
children that Ventanitas de Luz has been able to help.
Ada
Michel Chitay Canel, age 6, lives with her parents and two brothers in a
three room home. The walls of the house are made of wood with a hard
plastic sheet for a roof. The floor is made of pieces of concrete. Ada’s
father works hard pumping gasoline every day to support his family. Her
mother stays home to take care of her younger brothers. Her parents have
been very worried about Ada since she was born. They immediately noticed
that her eye turned in. They sought help at the public hospital but were
unable to afford the surgery to help their daughter. Ada was referred to
the eye clinic in Guatemala City by one of the Ventanitas de Luz health
promoters. She was treated for no charge. Her treatment was made possible
thru the Ventanitas de Luz program.
Ada is
doing quite well since her surgery. She no longer struggles to read and
loves to go to school. The other children no longer stare or make fun of
her because of her eye problem. Her parents commented how she is now a much
happier little girl and that her smile tells the whole story. VOSH PA is
currently working to raise a 2.5 million dollars endowment to ensure that
all children like Ada will receive the eye care they need.
This
project is supported by the Ministry of the Mission and Outreach Committee
of the First Presbyterian Church of Henry, Illinois
Back to the Mission and
Outreach page. |
