Hawks resident plans another mission trip
by Peter Jakey—Managing Editor
Alan Claus, 75, of Hawks was back in the mission field this summer on trips to Israel for an Alzheimer’s disease presentation and to deliver eyeglasses to another poor Central American country.
Claus, who is a member of Faith Lutheran Church, has spent thousands of dollars self-financing the trips. They all have been led by his deep faith and the desire to help others.
“It’s part of me now, going on these mission trips,” said Claus.
Fellow church member Eleanor Prell approached the retired Calcite machinist leader three years ago and it sparked an interest. Claus’ first mission trip was to Panama City in 2011 to take hundreds of eyeglasses to the needy.
He went to El Salvador in 2012 for a construction mission, while the last two years have included trips to Guatemala, again, to deliver eyeglasses.
From May 31 to June 8, Claus traveled 10 1/2 hours from Newark, New Jersey to the Palestinian city of Bethlehem as part of a six-member team who presented a workshop on Alzheimer’s disease. His late wife Violet, who had the disease, passed away in 1999.
“We each had a part of the presentation,” said Claus. For the first three days, the team visited some well-known Biblical sites, but the best part was the interaction with the locals.
“My part of the presentation was caring for the caregiver,” said Claus. “I cared for my wife at home for six years. I was her sole caregiver, so that’s what my presentation was about.”
He enjoyed visiting and talking with the people in Bethlehem. “I enjoyed being one-on-one with the people,” said Claus.
He participates with the Ann Arbor-based sending agency Mission Opportunities Short Term (MOST). It’s an organization celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Claus was in a mountainous area of Guatemala from June 20 to 28. “Nothing is leveled off…you are either walking up hill or downhill,” he added.
The teams conduct eyeglass clinics to match th
According to the MOST Web site, more than four million pairs of eyeglasses will be thrown away in the U.S. while 158 million people worldwide suffer from uncorrected vision.
“I have been fortunate,” said Claus. “I’ve always been able to put the glasses on the clients. The testing is not always accurate, but we keep trying different glasses until we find the best fit.”
He said it has been very rewarding. “I’m eager to go again next year,” he added.
Claus will be making a presentation at his church, possibly on the last Sunday in September. He also is open to making presentations at other churches or for other organizations. His phone number is 989-734-4637.