December 7, 2011

Last Full Day of Clinic

By dgarvin

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

LAST FULL DAY OF CLINIC!

So many kids with sight problems even today. After they wear their new pair of sunglasses the first reaction is a big smile. What a huge gratification.

Tanti bambini anche oggi con problemi alla vista. Appena mettono I loro nuovi occhiali la prima reazione e’ sempre un gran bel sorriso. Solo questo basta a farti sentire veramente bene.

(Nicola Bartolone)

An 85 year old lady kept thanking me for long because with her new reading glasses she’ll be able to sew again. So much kindness in these people, no matter what they are going through.

Una signora 85enne non smetteva di ringraziarmi perche’ con i suoi nuovi occhiali da lettura potra’ di nuovo cucire senza problemi. Questo popolo e’ cosi pieno di bonta’, nonstante tutto cio che sta passando.

(Nicola Bartolone) 

Once again the volunteers working with us are doing a great job. We couldn’t have made it without their huge help. Thank you all!

Perl’ennesimo giorno I volontari che stanno lavorando con noi stanno facendo un lavoro magnifico. Senza il loro aiuto non ce l’avremmo fatta. Un sentito ringraziamento a tutti loro!

(Nicola Bartolone)

 

Oggi una signora sulla cinquantina si e’ presentata alla postazione degli autorefrattometri, accompagnata da uno dei nostri migliori volontari. Gli ho chiesto se avesse dei particolari handicap o difficolta’ dato che il volontario la stava accompagnando di persona. Mi ha detto che la donna ha perso un figlio proprio un mezz’ora prima (incidente stradale)…. Stava piangendo, ma in modo molto composto … le ho fatto la lettura e poi ho chiesto al suo angelo custode di accompagnarla il piu’ velocemente possibile per tutto il processo, in modo che potesse tornare a casa propria quanto prima.

Ho pensato alla classica reazione che ci sarebbe stata da noi: svenimenti, urla disperate, follia per la perdita di un figlio. Mi sono chiesto: “ come e’ possibile che riescano a reagire in maniera cosi’ composta ? la sofferenza e’ la stessa che proveremmo noi “

Oggi una donna mi ha insegnato che di fronte a qualcunque cosa, bisogna andare avanti. Sempre e comunque

Speriamo che gli occhiali di oggi le siano utili per interpretare meglio il difficile futuro che la attende … (Alex MacRae-Brown)

Fiesta! Yes that is the theme of the week; this is a party and I am very lucky to have been invited. As Jose Antonio, Lorenzo and I have yelled all week, Fiesta! I have been able to look into the eyes of everyone around me, including the volunteers and patients and see the celebration of what is going on here. I can feel the excitement of all involved, and like a fine wine or a perfect truffle the taste of this experience will remain on my tongue for some time after it is gone. We have had a chance to meet some incredible people, forge friendships for a lifetime and return home with new perspectives on our own lives.  I hope that this experience has touched everyone involved as deeply as it has touched me, because I know that I am not exactly the same person as I was when this “fiesta” began.

Marlin “Fiesta” Mosher

 

Our clinic in Mamelodi  is soon approaching its end. The day begins at 7:00 am, as we board the bus and make our way to clinic. On arrival to the clinic we are greeted by hundreds of people in line. They are standing with their colorful umbrellas waving to us like we are celebrities.

I will have wonderful memories that will be etched in my mind and heart for a life time. Memories of friendships made, and who can forget the smiling faces of the children of Mamelodi?

Today I went on my home visits with Mama V. We delivered food supplies to the ill and less fortunate in the community. They were very gracious and welcomed us into their homes. We left them with reading glasses and sunglasses. It was touching to see their smiles and receive their thanks.

On the way back, Mama V asked the driver to pull over. It seemed that children appeared out of nowhere. Seven beautiful little children sang songs for us on the street. It was a fitting end to our home visits.

This journey has been both emotional and spiritual for me. I am anxious to go home and share my stories with my family and friends. Thanks OneSight!

Anne Di Francesco –LensCrafters 907, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

 

The onesight clinic in  mamelodi has been a great experience to me because I met friends from all over the world, and who are very kind and love working with  people and at the end of the onesight  clinic i learnt a lot  and the people from onesight are a blessing from God because not everybody would do what they have done.

 The onesight   clinic helped a lot of people in mamelodi  especialy those who could not afford glasses, people were very happy and emotional and some of them even prayed to thank God for people who volunteered and the doctors from onesight because they are indeed  blessings from God  and they are God sent.

During the clinic I met jenna, jennifer, ibte, dana, anne, Natalie, alex, ken, Carla, amedeo  and chrytal   whom we  taught how to speak a little bit of sotho  and that was nice, I wish that this clinic could come back to mamelodi every year so that people can get help because most of them are disadvantaged and need these glasses. We thank a lot for coming to our community, it really made a huge difference to the South Africans. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN ONESIGHT, IT MEANS A LOT!!!!!!

Dimpho makgetlane and Nthabiseng Kgadima- volunteers for the clinic-Mamelodi

 

Ke ne ka Itumela thata ka go dirisana le batho ba onsight,ke Ithutile dilo di le dintsi ele tota,thata thata gore matlho a batho a botlhokwa jang,mme go simolola gompieno ke a itse gore ke tshwanetse go thlokomela matlho a me jang le nna.Dingaka tsa onsight ke batho bao ba lukileng thata mme go nne ga nna bonolo gore re dirisane ka kutlwano. ke ne ke le mo mokgatlhong wa go thlalosetsa batho bao ba sa itseng go bua sekgowa,ke ne ke ba tlhalosetsa ke maleme a mangwe ao a farologaneng, mme ke ne ka itumelela go bona le nna ke thusa batho ba motse wa Mamelodi. Ke rata go leboga Charity and faith mission church,Bophelong le onsight go nneya monyetla wa go ithuta gole gontsi le go thusa batho ba bantsi bao batswang mafelong a farologaneng. Modimo a ba tlhonolofatse.

 ENGLISH TRANSLATION

I was really happy to work together alongside with people from onesight camppain,I have learned a lot, most of all on how to take care of our eyes as people and from today I know what to do to take care of my eyes. The doctors we worked with from onesight are good, kind and loving and it was so easy to work together with them and also understand each other and my experience was ‘SUPER’ nice with them because they are ‘SUPER’ people. I was on the interpreter’s  team translating for those who could not hear and speak English, I was translating in other South African languages and I was happy to found myself helping different people from my home town Mamelodi. I want to thank Charity and Faith Mission Church, Bophelong and onesight for giving me the opportunity to learn more and helping people from different backgrounds. God BLESS YOU and MAY HE DO YOU WELL!!!

KOKETSO MAHLANGU O (Volunteer)

1 Comment

  1. Emily Sheldrake says:

    Anne!!!

    We are so proud of you at store 907 and cannot wait to have you back and hear your wonderful stories. 

    Have a safe trip home!
    Emily and the 907 team

    Posted on Wed Dec 7, 2011 4:31 pm EST

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