‘Come and See’

A Samaritan’s Purse-supported eye clinic brings physical and spiritual sight to those suffering from eye ailments

Dr. Matende Ibrahim has an affinity for the story of Jesus’ healing of blind Bartimaeus. It’s not uncommon to find him in the examination room, looking a patient directly in the eye, and telling the story with clarity and conviction.

Dr. Matende Ibrahim with a hospital staff member.
When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.
Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”
Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God. (Luke 18:41-43, NIV)

This miracle has special meaning for the patients and staff at Lighthouse for Christ Eye Clinic in Mombasa, Kenya. Since its humble birth as a general clinic in the parlor of a colonial-style home purchased by American missionaries in the ’60s, Lighthouse has continued to bring sight, both physically and spiritually, to those who suffer from eye ailments.

Mombasa is home to Fort Jesus, a military base established by the Portuguese in the 16th century. Ironically, it also has one of the nation’s lowest populations of Christians. Steeped in Middle Eastern influence both in architecture and culture, many people living in Mombasa see Christianity as an opposing faith, and Jesus, as merely a prophet.

But when Dr. Matende asks a fidgety patient if she would like prayer, he unashamedly invokes the Name of Jesus.

“Patients often ask why I pray to Jesus,” he said. “I tell them, ‘If I’m going to pray, I have to pray to something I believe in, so I have to pray to Jesus.’”

God is answering Dr. Matende’s prayers. In 2008, 748 people made decisions for Christ. Many say the love and care they received, void of corruption and manipulation, pointed them to its source—a Savior and Redeemer.

One patient, 45-year-old Kadzo Chengo, was screened for cataracts by Lighthouse doctors at a mobile clinic. She comes from a poor family, but had scraped together what little she had for the bus ride to the mobile clinic’s location in a nearby village.

At that time, Kadzo could no longer make out the faces of her children. They had become blurry, moving masses. The vision in her right eye was deteriorating rapidly, and she was afraid.

Doctors found cataracts in both eyes and transported Kadzo more than 300 miles to the clinic in Mombasa, where she received hot meals, lodging, and quality medical care during her stay.

“I was so excited to see again,” she said. “Even though I couldn’t pay anything, they also provided me with food and clean drinking water. I’m not religious, but I have much confidence in the Christian faith now. I’m so grateful.”

Despite their successes, Dr. Matende and his staff have become weary in recent months. Kenya’s bloody post-election violence in early 2008 cut short their supply of volunteer doctors, and the weight of running a clinic that sees 125 patients a day now falls on the shoulders of only four.

Dr. Matende jokes good-naturedly about his wife’s patience. On most days, he doesn’t return home until well after nightfall.

“This is a lot of work—too much work,” he said. “I don’t mind the work, though. I’ve found what I was looking for here.”

What keeps Dr. Matende and the staff going is the sense of fulfillment and purpose they find at the small clinic surrounded by palm trees and, at its highest point, a view of the Indian Ocean. He used to work in a government hospital in Nairobi, which was often marred with corruption and bribery. The patients with the greatest need and the least amount of money were often overlooked. Things are different at Lighthouse.

“If they don’t have money, they can still get help,” he said. “I leave in the evening knowing that every patient has been fairly treated. We don’t answer to money. Our first loyalty is to God.”

World Medical Mission, the medical arm of Samaritan’s Purse, is helping to lighten Dr. Matende’s load. In January, a volunteer doctor arrived at the clinic, who will assist with the dozens of cataract surgeries, mobile clinic outreaches, and day-to-day needs.

Since 1984, Samaritan’s Purse has also supplied Lighthouse with free medical supplies and equipment.

Lighthouse continues to seek ophthalmologists with specialty training and plastic surgeons who can perform reconstructive work on the skin around the eyes.

“It’s a good place for first-time missionary docs,” Lighthouse Mission Director Tim Ghrist said. “They will be able to see their eye care helping lots of patients and see the Gospel preached.”

WAYS YOU CAN HELP

PRAY:

• Please pray for Dr. Matende and his staff as they continue to show God’s love to Kenyan coastal communities.
• Pray that the Lord would go before them each week as they do mobile clinic outreaches.
• Pray for more volunteer doctors to join the Lighthouse staff.