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16 November
2005
Houston TX
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On August 10th, four
cadets and two senior members of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Marauder
Composite Squadron of Kingwood collected and delivered over one thousand
pairs of prescription eyeglasses to Martha Gallia, O.D. of Humble.
These much needed glasses will be taken into northern Mexico to the
Guerrero Eye Clinic, a medical mission, that serves the many poor people
in Chihuahua State twice a year. This mission was founded twenty-two
years ago in 1984 by Dr. Tom Pruett of Lake Jackson, Texas to
aid those weak of sight. Its genesis started after he was invited to
Mexico by a missionary couple who were caring for a few dozen children
from the poorest families in Juarez, Mexico in 1980. This couple hoped
that he could help these children and Dr. Pruett was stricken with the
sight of how many people did not get medical attention, so he decided to
come back on visits to aid them.
In the years
since then, his trips grew. Many people, who shared Pruett’s care for
the needy, accompanied him. Angrily, the local medical personnel
reacted. “This is our country and our business!” they implied. Suddenly,
these charity trips took a dangerous turn. Local governments threatened
to shut down the operation. Why would this happen? People did not react
favorably to Pruett and his group, for they still did not completely
understand his intention. Today, many people anticipate for their
arrival. Past enemies have become allies.
People come from miles
around, mostly on foot , to receive care, service and
hope.
These groups
contain diverse cultures and people, from Indian cave dwellers to German
Mennonites. “You won’t believe what kind of glasses we need.” Mentioned
Dr. Gallia. One Mennonite boy had
vision so poor, that he could barely
see shapes and color. Luckily, some one had donated “coke
bottle”
glasses that were almost his prescription.
“When he went home, he
stayed up with a candle and just looked around him all night.” Dr.
Gallia
said. Dr. Gallia has participated in this mission for seven
years. When asked why, she replied ,
“I believe that God gives people
talents, and to use these talents to help others communicates
His love
for them.”
The CAP
cadets were motivated to help because of a presentation made by Dr.
Gallia at a recent Moral Leadership training session for the Marauder
Squadron. Captain Al Bryant, the squadron commander, set a goal of one
thousand pairs of glasses and appointed Cadet Andrew Martin as the
project officer for the eyeglass project. With the help of the
residents of Kingwood, Humble, Huffman, and Atascocita through door to
door collections and donations from optometry offices.
The CAP is a nonprofit group of dedicated young men and women. The CAP
is designed to make a better community by providing emergency
services, helping local or national causes, and providing an
organization that nurtures leadership and self-discipline in its
members. The CAP is also the official auxiliary of the USAF. For more
information see
www.tx409.com,
Marauder Composite Squadron’s website.
Article written by C/SMSgt Thomas
Powerl |
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