The medical outreach treated several hundred Bethlehem residents, including Palestinian Arabs.

BETHLEHEM, Israel – Whether it was 2,000 years ago or today, people still travel long distances to reach Bethlehem.

This month, a medical team from across the globe gathered in the city to provided desperately needed eye care. The group worked 12 to 14 hour days doing eye exams, handing out glasses and even performing cataract surgeries.

The OBI team partnered with First Baptist Church of Bethlehem to do the medical outreach, which treated hundreds of people just before Christmas.

"It's opened doors we've never expected," said Steve Khoury, pastor of the church. "People are coming that never would have come. We've seen people who have never entered our doors sit down with us and ask us questions."

The group worked 12 to 14 hour days doing eye exams, handing out glasses and even performing cataract surgeries.

Mark Eanes, who led the OBI medical outreach, says the project was initially intended to help those in the church, but as people started talking about the care provided, others ventured through the church doors, even Palestinian Arabs.

"To them it's like new life, a new beginning," said Maria Wojtaszewski, who volunteered at the event. "All their life they couldn't see, but now they have a future and a hope."

The OBI team also performed an urgent eye surgery for a Down syndrome child and heard from a grateful mother.

"I thank you," she said, "and I thank God."

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Be a part of OBI's ongoing medical relief efforts by making an online contribution to help those suffering from extreme poverty and sickness.

 

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