Our preparations for Fiji

In September 2014, we made the decision to leave Rick’s busy optometric practice for a six month period to go to the country of Fiji to provide humanitarian eye exams and glasses, starting in October 2015.   We figured that this would not only be an exciting adventure, but most importantly, it would be a small way we could pay back to those needy people in the world for the successful practice we’ve been blessed with over all these years.

To help prepare for this trip, we went on a 10 day trip with the charitable group, “Canadian Vision Care”, to Jamaica in January 2015 to help provide eye care and glasses to the needy in that country.  It gave us a chance to get oriented on how we can best do things in Fiji when we go.  We really enjoyed the experience, and came to love the people there.  It gave us just a small flavor of the joy that comes from helping others.

 It’s been a busy year of preparation to make this dream a reality.  Different staff and doctors have been trained to take over various responsibilities in Rick’s absence.  A new doctor, Dr. Craig, was hired to take Rick’s place, seeing patients for the time we will be away.  All kinds of permits and legal paperwork have been completed.  Arrangements for different kinds of portable eye testing equipment and several different kinds of glasses, have been made.  We were able to secure 6000 donated used glasses, of various prescriptions, from the Lion’s Club.  We would also like to thank the many patients and friends who have donated their old used glasses, as well.  We were able to collect over 1000 glasses from all of you.  You can feel good knowing that you helped provide the gift of sight to people who would normally not have the opportunity to receive an eye exam and glasses.

In early September, we were able to drop off 16 boxes containing 7000 used glasses, to be shipped by boat over to Fiji.  It will take about 5 weeks for the glasses to travel across the ocean to Fiji, which is about the same time we will arrive there.

We are looking forward to the opportunity of matching patients to the closest prescription glasses from our large inventory of used glasses. 

So how did this Humanitarian Mission to Fiji come to pass?

In August 2014, a friend, Frank Stanford, came in to see Rick for an eye exam.  He and his wife had been living in Fiji off & on for the past five years, doing their own self-appointed humanitarian mission.  As Rick heard him speak about his love for the Fijian people, and how much he enjoyed his humanitarian work there, and what a need there was for different kinds of service in Fiji, he began to think about what it was that we could offer over there.  As we spoke more with Frank and his wife, Susan, a seed began to grow inside of us, moving us to leave Rick’s practice to go do something useful and give back to the world in a small way, for the great blessings we have been enjoying in a busy and successful optometric practice.  Those poor people in the remote villages in Fiji, who would never have eye exams or glasses, really could benefit from us going over there to offer this service. 

As Rick & I discussed this together, it seemed that everything we heard and read, pointed for us to go.  One article from the September 2014 Ensign, entitled, “Your Journey of Giving”, by Elder Robert C. Gay, was especially poignant.  “Everything we receive in this life is a blessing from a loving Father in Heaven. But with blessings comes responsibility.  A fundamental question you should consider is this: “What am I going to do with the blessings that have been bestowed upon me?” Will you be like those of the world to whom the prophet Moroni says, “Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life?” (Mormon 8:39). Or will you rise like disciples to whom the Savior says, “Unto whom much is given much is required”? (D&C 82:3). … We are to leave our comfort zones and bless those around us, including strangers…    I knew then, as I hope you know now, that everyone has something to give. God asks that we act courageously in giving of ourselves and sharing the gifts and blessings He has given us. Take the talents and skills you have developed and go out and be a positive force for and on behalf of our Savior.”

The words in this article really spoke to us, and helped us know the direction we should go.  After fasting & prayer, we decided that it was the Lord’s will that we go on this self-appointed Humanitarian mission.  It will be one of the hardest things we have ever done to leave our 4 married children and our 12 grandkids.  Those little children are such a joy in our life.  How we will miss them!

Once we made the decision to go, it was amazing to watch how many times different people were put in our path to help us with the exact things we needed to prepare for our mission to Fiji.  This included where to get over 6000 glasses from the Lion’s Club, and much of the “handheld” eye testing equipment from the charitable organization, “Canadian Vision Care".

Although we’ve felt the Lord’s hand in helping us decide to go, and in getting everything ready to go, it hasn’t been without obstacles or challenges.  In July of 2015, my mother was diagnosed with multiple forms of cancer throughout her body, with no hope of recovery.  As more testing was done, it was not looking good, and we wondered if she would even make it to Christmas.  It looked like we should postpone our Fiji trip, allowing us to help and comfort her to the end.  Then at an appointment with the Oncologist in late August, we both felt impressed that we should go on our mission to Fiji, and that she would live for at least another year, although she would feel ill during this time.  My mother also insisted that we not postpone our trip, and that she would be okay, and hang on until we get back.   Although she is now experiencing some bad days among a few better days, we are moving forward in our preparations.  It will be a tearful and sad good-bye to her though, as well as to my father, who is also not well.

Another concern to going is that our youngest child, Ashlyn (married to Jeff Ady) is expecting her second child in early February (our 13^th grandchild).  It will be very difficult for us not to be around to help and support Ashlyn during this time.  I know she has Jeff’s family as well as siblings to help her, but it is definitely a time when one needs and likes to have her ‘mom’ nearby.

Another obstacle, you could say,  is that our daughter,  Jocelyn (married to Jeff Fox) and her four young children are moving to Arizona in late December (if their house sells).  Not only will we really miss having them nearby, participating in all the family dinners and events, but we would have liked to be around to help them with their move and say our goodbyes.   It has been wonderful having every one of our married children and grandchildren living within a 5 to 10 minute drive from our house. To return home next spring and not have them here will be extremely sad.  Of course we wish them the best and know we will have wonderful visits with them in Arizona.

We are now very busy with our final preparations for this trip, and are busy visiting all our different friends and family members.  I know that we are only going to be away for six months, but for us, thinking about that, seems like a very long time.  We will miss all of our family and friends, but are excited for this adventure….