Anglican Charitable Eye Hospital
Giddalur, India
Diocese of Andhra Pradesh
Anglican Church of India
Giddalur, India
Diocese of Andhra Pradesh
Anglican Church of India
Dear APA Brothers and Sisters,
For those who cannot see, can you imagine a better gift than the gift of sight? Our Lord knew how much His people needed this gift so He made the self- sacrificing effort to provide for this need, both physically and spiritually. Now that He is no longer bodily here He calls on His Church to continue to fill this need.
For several years the APA has responded and worked to provide the gift of sight to some of the poorest in Andhra Pradesh, South India. The Anglican Charitable Eye Hospital in Giddalur was built throughout 2007 using APA donations and the first Glaucoma operations were performed in January of 2008. During the first year we anticipated using donations to support an average of 30 operations a month. Bishop Jeedi and the staff at the hospital used the money so wisely however that the number of Glaucoma eye operations performed each month after April averaged a little over 50. In addition to the eye operations, the hospital tested a monthly average of 600 people for the high blood pressure and/or blood sugar irregularities which relate to eye disease. Also 45 to 50 free eye glasses, on a monthly average, were given to patients. And finally, six eye camps were conducted in Anglican churches in villages with names like Burjupalle, Diguvametta, Cholaveedu and Vellupalle. In these camps free medicines, glasses and eye examinations were provided. Patients were identified for future operations and plans were made for their transportation to the hospital.
Last year the APA conducted an appeal in order to fund the operation of the eye clinic. The APA churches responded to this Lenten appeal so well that we funded the whole year through this one appeal. Let's do it again! Bishop Grundorf and I are writing to you in the hopes that you will again present this idea to your congregation as a Lenten giving opportunity. Would the members of your congregation be willing to supply an operation? Would individual members of your congregation be willing to supply one or more operations? Would your Sunday school children or a committed member of the congregation be willing to sponsor a Change for Change jar and each Sunday organize the collection of congregation pocket change? Whatever way you think would be a good way to provide this opportunity for a Lenten gift of sight to our Indian Anglican brothers and sisters, please consider presenting it to your congregation.
The cost of an operation, including the medicines or glasses when appropriate, is amazing! Each operation costs $37.50. You can give the gift of sight for the cost of a dinner in a restaurant! Even the cost for the monthly average of 50 operations is only $1,875! Some of our churches could annually or bi-annually provide this gift of sight to over 50 people! Large or small, however it is done, when we collectively donate whatever we can, the story of Our Lord multiplying the loaves and fishes to sufficiency is replayed. But each church needs to do a part.
Mark your checks (or envelopes) with India Eye Operations on the note line. All monies will be sent the eye clinic to pay for eye operations. Or you can go to www.stmarydelray.org to donate via credit card. The Eye Operation donate link is on the right hand side of this page.
Close your eyes for a minute and imagine what it would be like to remain that way permanently. Please take this opportunity to help our less fortunate brothers and sisters. Let them see and experience the Love of Christ through your gift of sight.
Yours in Christ,
+Walter
The Most Rev. Walter H. Grundorf, D.D.
Bishop of the Eastern United States, Presiding Bishop
Tina
Dss. Tina Jenkins
APA Foreign Missions Coordinator
For those who cannot see, can you imagine a better gift than the gift of sight? Our Lord knew how much His people needed this gift so He made the self- sacrificing effort to provide for this need, both physically and spiritually. Now that He is no longer bodily here He calls on His Church to continue to fill this need.
For several years the APA has responded and worked to provide the gift of sight to some of the poorest in Andhra Pradesh, South India. The Anglican Charitable Eye Hospital in Giddalur was built throughout 2007 using APA donations and the first Glaucoma operations were performed in January of 2008. During the first year we anticipated using donations to support an average of 30 operations a month. Bishop Jeedi and the staff at the hospital used the money so wisely however that the number of Glaucoma eye operations performed each month after April averaged a little over 50. In addition to the eye operations, the hospital tested a monthly average of 600 people for the high blood pressure and/or blood sugar irregularities which relate to eye disease. Also 45 to 50 free eye glasses, on a monthly average, were given to patients. And finally, six eye camps were conducted in Anglican churches in villages with names like Burjupalle, Diguvametta, Cholaveedu and Vellupalle. In these camps free medicines, glasses and eye examinations were provided. Patients were identified for future operations and plans were made for their transportation to the hospital.
Last year the APA conducted an appeal in order to fund the operation of the eye clinic. The APA churches responded to this Lenten appeal so well that we funded the whole year through this one appeal. Let's do it again! Bishop Grundorf and I are writing to you in the hopes that you will again present this idea to your congregation as a Lenten giving opportunity. Would the members of your congregation be willing to supply an operation? Would individual members of your congregation be willing to supply one or more operations? Would your Sunday school children or a committed member of the congregation be willing to sponsor a Change for Change jar and each Sunday organize the collection of congregation pocket change? Whatever way you think would be a good way to provide this opportunity for a Lenten gift of sight to our Indian Anglican brothers and sisters, please consider presenting it to your congregation.
The cost of an operation, including the medicines or glasses when appropriate, is amazing! Each operation costs $37.50. You can give the gift of sight for the cost of a dinner in a restaurant! Even the cost for the monthly average of 50 operations is only $1,875! Some of our churches could annually or bi-annually provide this gift of sight to over 50 people! Large or small, however it is done, when we collectively donate whatever we can, the story of Our Lord multiplying the loaves and fishes to sufficiency is replayed. But each church needs to do a part.
Mark your checks (or envelopes) with India Eye Operations on the note line. All monies will be sent the eye clinic to pay for eye operations. Or you can go to www.stmarydelray.org to donate via credit card. The Eye Operation donate link is on the right hand side of this page.
Close your eyes for a minute and imagine what it would be like to remain that way permanently. Please take this opportunity to help our less fortunate brothers and sisters. Let them see and experience the Love of Christ through your gift of sight.
Yours in Christ,
+Walter
The Most Rev. Walter H. Grundorf, D.D.
Bishop of the Eastern United States, Presiding Bishop
Tina
Dss. Tina Jenkins
APA Foreign Missions Coordinator