SARAH KINGON
DURING the 11-day period that Logos Hope crew were in East London, they not only opened their ship for the public to explore reasonably priced literature, but also made a significant effort to uplift struggling sectors of the East London community.
One of their many projects involved eye testing in the Amalinda Forest community. On Monday from 6.30am, a team of Logos volunteers set up their eye-testing centre at Holy Covenant Ministries Church.
About 350 community members over the age of 40 queued at the church, where they underwent an eye test and received a suitable pair of reading glasses from the team.
Community member Adams Giwu, 66, who received a new pair of spectacles, said: “I have been struggling to read for a long time. The people from Logos Hope are making a real difference to our community.”
Monica Morrison, 40, who was also assisted with glasses, said she had been unable to read Whatsapp messages on her phone and commented that the new glasses made a world of difference.
“I love sewing but was never able to thread the needle, but now I can! They are a crew of wonderful good Samaritans. They are sent by God to help us because we are really struggling here,” Morrison said.
Mama Afrika Nondumiso Mpitimpiti, who runs a number of ministries to help the community from the church, said she was able to arrange for the Logos Hope team to visit thanks to her contacts at Amalinda Baptist Church.
“The team were supposed to be here on Friday but postponed until Monday.
“This didn’t stop the people from coming back, which shows their desperation,” Mpitimpiti said.
Annika Grebe from Logos Hope said they bring this ministry to almost every port they visit as there is such a need.
“People are initially unsure about the pr
ocess and look worried when we first arrive, but when they can open their eyes and see, there are many smiles. A huge part of our ministry is with books, but they are of no use to people if they can’t see,” Grebe said.
Logos Hope left East London on Tuesday and will visit Port Elizabeth and Cape Town in the coming weeks before heading up western Africa.
