Many Glasses Collected and On Their Way...

We have collected over 2000 pairs of eyeglasses which have been loaded into a forty foot container and will be shipped toward Zambia near the end of October. We are very excited to be partnering with The Zambia Project to expand our work in Zambia. The Zambia Project will allow Insightful Ministry to provide optical care as part of their expanded efforts to help rural poor communities in Zambia. Please visit their website to learn more about the types of work we are looking to deliver.

This will be on-going sustainable efforts as we teach Zambian medical officers and nurses to do a better job spotting and treating eye diseases. Our work in Zambia continues to make a huge difference in the lives of the local poor there. Until we go to a village, we see no glasses in the rural countryside. Until we come and deliver to them sight, they just wander around being led by family and friends or sit and beg. After they get glasses, they jump for joy and praise God. IM is a blessing to thousands of people as the Lord claims lives in that region.

How To Get Stuff Over There?

Knowing that we are not sending a container to Zambia this year, we've had to be much more creative and communicative (i think i just made up a word) in getting all our supplies, equipment, medicines, foods, etc. to Zambia. For instance, Judy and I through found out a group was heading over there from Springfield, TN, the middle of this month. Since they had 13-15 people going and room in their suitcases, we sent them 2 large boxes of reading glasses and sunglasses to add to their "stuff."

Judy and I have our confirmation on airfare and travel arrangements, we'll be heading out on the 26th of March. We are getting there a couple days early to talk about expanding the work there. We are so looking forward to it.

On another note, we just spoke with the missionary's brother (who just came back from Zambia yesterday) and he said there is a lot of new and exciting work going on over there. He also said we need to pray for the missionary and his wife that they don't get fatigued and burnt out. So add them to your prayer list.

4 Months From Today...

We will have arrived, unpacked, repacked, traveled to our base camp and will be awaiting out first day of clinic. Each day of clinic we anticipate seeing well over 1000 people. We have a larger American team this year, including 3 optometrists. We are excited about the additional expertise and know God will bless us as we provide care to those precious people.

For those who are supporting us - thanks! For those who would like to, please visit our website, www.InsightfulMinistry.org to make donations online, or mail them straight here via regular mail. Either way, we want you to know that 100% of what's donated goes straight to the work. Judy and I take care of all "corporate" expenses as well as donating all the time required to keep everything operational.

Wanted: Used Eye Glasses and Eye Drops

Every year we hand out nearly a 1000 pair of glasses and almost as many eye drops. This year we have already collect, bar-coded and entered in about half of what we need. So, if you have old glasses or can set up a spot to collect them (church, office, work, club, school, etc.), please do. The BIGGEST need right now would be eye drops. You can purchase the generic eye drops at Wal-Mart for about $1 a bottle. Look for the words "artificial tears." Should you prefer, you can send more (since it's cheaper to mail) and let us know it's for "eye drops." Due to the amount of dust in the air and the nearly constant sunshine, drops are needed by about every patient. thanks, - ty jones