Pastor (left) and Mrs. Luther Sastry point out the location of Chirala in Andhra Pradesh, India, location of the AFLC-India's "Church Workers Training Conference" in late January-Early February 2007.

Pastor Dave, an Alabama licensed audiologist, brought 15 solar powered hearing aids with him to Chirala. Hearing aid candidates came from a variety of referral sources. Here a patient (left) poses with her new left body aid with referring homeopathy physician, Dr. Anand Kumar who works closely with the AFLC-India.

     R. V. Bursatsermo is a lady about 70 years old. Her hearing has been decreasing for at least three years. Her ears were filled with cerumen and she was referred to Dr. Kumar for follow-up. Audiometrics suggested this lady did have a moderate hearing loss and that a hearing aid would be of potential benefit. She has a moderate hearing loss which means she can hear in a face to face setting, but she will misunderstand when she cannot see faces. Solar-powered hearing aid cost with shipping estimate: $125.

     T. Vekat Rao was a 19 year old homeless, deaf-mute young man brought in by his pastor. At some point in the past his family had been advised that he would be able to talk if he could hear. His ear structures appeared to be within the normal range on physical exam. Unfortunately the audiometer was not functional at the time of this young man's evaluation. (The power grid in India is inconsistent and not always reliable!) Classic tuning fork tests revealed that his greater loss is on his left ear side and that there is significant conductive involvement on both sides. It was our impression that this young man had major conductive hearing loss and given his tuning fork responses, his hearing could be helped with bone-ossilator variety hearing aid. Solar-powered hearing aid cost, bone ossilator cost, with shipping estimate: $195.

Dr. Anand Kumar has worked closely with the AFLC-I in establishing a basic clinical structure working through the churches of the AFLC-I as a community outreach. His "First Aid Homeopathy Clinics" have been a blessing to the AFLC-I churches and the communities which they serve. He works also with the "VFC Trust" which seeks to develop Christian ministry.

Pastor Dave works with audiometer plugged into the Indian power grid. Not the transformer on the wall. Inconsistencies in power supply through the grid caused artifacts during the testing process. Note that the woman being tested, back to Pastor Dave, raises her hand to indicate hearing of the little beeping sound used to measure hearing. She subsequently received one of fifteen hearing aids through Zion Lutheran Church's India Hearing Project.

     I would like to complete these last four fittings by ordering them and shipping them to Dr. Anand Kumar c/o St. Paul's Lutheran Public School in Chirala. If the Lord motivates you to contribute to these hearing aid costs (total of $570), please make your check for any portion payable to Zion Lutheran Church re India Hearing Aid Project.

     ~ Pastor Dave