Hurricane Dorian Update

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The support from the Christian Ophthalmology Society in the wake of the devastation left by Hurricane Dorian on the island nation of the Bahamas has been tremendous. The pictures and words in this update convey some of what is being done by COS Board Member Dr. Duranda Ash, the people in her practice, and the volunteers and donations made by the COS and many others.

His Gift of Sight (HGOS) Social Clinic is a socially conscious ophthalmic clinic operated by the Ash Eye Institute and during the first week of January, they hosted a Free Vision Outreach for evacuees and other people that were directly affected by hurricane Dorian. The outreach was held on two islands -- New Providence and Grand Bahama.

Duranda writes, “The team consisted of 3 missionary ophthalmologists, 1 missionary optometrist and 19 volunteers (including RNs and the staff of Ash Eye Institute). We had the pleasure of serving and providing treatment to almost 800 people during the outreach (turned away much more than we saw), as well as distributing over 250 glasses. The outreach enabled us to identify individuals that needed vision threatening eye care and glasses.

“It was a privilege to partner with the Christian Ophthalmology Society (COS) and Vision Outreach International (VOI) to provide services and glasses free of charge to these individuals. There were many people who were screened that has required follow up care. The eye care needs, especially in Freeport Grand Bahama, are great (multiple eye diseases).”

The screening personnel included Duranda Ash, M.D. and her staff, (Bahamas); Carol Johnston, M.D. and Carol Smith, O.D., (North Carolina); Mark Cichowski, M.D. and his wife Jan, (Washington); and Roger Cabe, MNA (Michigan).  It was truly a combined effort.

On one particular day they had the opportunity to drive out to an area of severe devastation. The eastern side of the Grand Bahamas was totally destroyed. Electrical poles for over 50 miles were flattened. After months of recovery, many are still without electricity and living in tents as they try to rebuild their lives.

Roger Cabe from VOI, writes, “There were a multitude of stories about God’s protection in the midst of flood waters, home destructions, and total loss. The aftermath has been almost as devastating as the hurricane. The stress and pressure of rebuilding lives and businesses with no money or insurances has caused anxiety, PTSD, and premature death for family and loved ones.

“YET, there is still HOPE in the midst of depression. Each day we would pray before our screening with doctors, staff, and patients. Each station of service was not only a place for screening, but for encouragement, prayer, counsel, and hope.

“There are REAL PEOPLE with real problems. Their needs exceeded our abilities in eye care. That’s when it is pertinent to know and share that GREATER HOPE beyond and above our abilities to bring healing. The hope and healing of the Holy Spirit. It also reminded us of the POWER OF A FRIEND. Just knowing that someone is out there who loves you unconditionally, is available and willing to walk by your side, hold your hand, and help you, gives HOPE for future days.”

From Duranda...”We extend our thanks and sincere gratitude to you for your generosity in support of those affected by hurricane Dorian. It is because of organizations like [the COS and VOI] that HGOS has been able to provide necessary eyecare for free to the Dorian Evacuees. May the Joy of the Lord be your strength, Duranda”

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Mentors and Mentees - the Glen Brindley Mentor Program

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Are you looking for a mentor?  If you're a young medical student, resident or fellow and looking for a mentor, please get in touch with us.  And, mentors, we need you too!

Mentors (and mentees) are needed in life -- someone who is a little further down the road than we are or has skills we would like to develop in our life, or someone who has the values or character we would like to emulate.  Likewise, we all have something to offer.  God has taught us much in our journey.    

If you have a mentor or mentee, here is an assignment you can do together.  We think you will get a lot out of it... 

Watch the first 27 minutes of this COUNTERFEIT GODS – VIDEO Sermon by TIM KELLER -- "Idols of the Heart" -- by clicking on the book cover.  Then take a few minutes to answer a few questions....use the discussion questions the next time you and your mentor or mentee connect.

What thing, if you lost it - could almost mean that you would lose the will to live -- What thing if you lost it, meant all significance and value would be drained out of your life --- Whatever that thing is, the Bible calls it an idol. The Israelites battled idols over and over and over -- the story of the Jewish people is largely one of following God then abandoning God as they chased after idols. Do we presume to think that our lives are any different?  Is it any accident that the Old Testament repeatedly shows us the reality of idols in our hearts?

An idol is anything more fundamental to you or to your life than God -- to your sense of self, for your sense of self value. Idols are things you’re looking to to get fulfillment and meaning and a sense of life purpose from: power, comfort, financial security, your kids - your wife, career, achievement, maybe a political cause and on and on.

“An idol will always break your heart. No created thing can bear the 'freight' of your deepest hopes or the weight or your deepest longings. Idols will always break your heart.”

If you’re a phenomenal athlete, or you’re an incredibly successful businessman, or you’re a world class cataract surgeon -- if this very important, very fundamental piece of your identity was gone, how would you go on?

We may say to ourselves that if we were the best this or that, if we had the most toys, if we finally broke through, if we were finally rich, or extremely successful or highly esteemed and loved, we would be happy—we would be fulfilled…we may say this to ourselves but it’s a lie.

Pastor Keller says “Anything you worship, outside of God, will eat you alive"…If you worship money and things - if they are where you tap real meaning in life, then you will never have enough -- you will never be satisfied…this pursuit of things will never fulfill you because you can never have enough.

After you watch the first 25 minutes of Tim’s video, here are a few questions for discussion with you and your mentor.

What are some of the most prominent idols you see in our culture?

What are the idols you struggle with as it pertains to your career as an ophthalmologist?

How do you recognize the symptoms of idolatry in your life? You might do this by asking yourself, “What or where do I spend my money and time -- or to go much deeper…What is my worst nightmare -- What thing if I lost it, what thing if it were absent from my life, would almost take away my very desire to live?”

For some of us, career, kids, spouse, money and success are a large part of our sense of identity - our sense of acceptability, or our sense of worth - it’s not just money or prestige - in a very real sense it’s like a sense of salvation. Isn’t this an idol?

We say that God is most important to us, but honestly what is FUNCTIONALLY most important to us? For some, our parent’s approval, or spouse's approval, or societal approval is functionally more important to us than our relationship with the Lord.

The Glen Brindley Mentoring Program is run by the Christian Ophthalmology Society (cosw.org).

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Mentors and Mentees - "The Nature of Discipleship"

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For Mentors and Mentees and those we have yet to pair up....Great News!

Dr. Glenn Strauss will lead the Mentors/Mentees on Saturday, February 22th (Note the date change) at 9 a.m. Eastern time.  Glenn will talk about "The Nature of Discipleship". 

Please note this date in on your calendar as I'm sure you won't want to miss it...This will be an online gathering! 

To join us on Saturday, please click this link on Zoom at the appropriate date and time.

https://zoom.us/j/864090652

- COS Board and Staff

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Remembering a Past J Lawton Smith Award Recipient

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On Thursday, October 17, 2019, after bravely struggling for years with Alzheimer's disease, Dr. C. Roger DeHaven went to be with his Lord. He was 87.  As the 2005 J Lawton Smith Award Recipient, we would like to remember Dr. DeHaven and the work that he did. His faithful walk with Jesus and his efforts to give both physical and spiritual light to others is an inspiration. 

Dr. DeHaven was from Tyler, TX.  He set up his private ophthalmology practice in Tyler shortly after moving there in 1964. Over the course of his career, he did over 23,000 cataract operations and was the first surgeon in East Texas to design and build a Medicare approved ambulatory surgical center.  His involvement in the Lighthouse for Christ Eye Centre Mission in Kenya, East Africa was one of things he most treasured. He loved the Lighthouse and often said that was the reason he was put on this earth. He is responsible for the design and construction of their new Eye Center and building expansion that sits on the 2-acre Mombasa, Kenya, campus today. 

Here are some of the comments on the Lighthouse for Christ facebook page

He is survived by his wife Lou Anne whom he married on December 27, 1953. They enjoyed a long and happy marriage and were able to stay together throughout the progression of his disease, thanks to her tireless efforts.  They had 5 children including son Thomas DeHaven who still practices in Tyler at the DeHaven Eye Center.   

If you know the family, please send them a note of support or add your comments here..   Click here for his obituary.

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