Dear friends and family,
Greetings from Ecuador! Despite some snags along the way, Linda and I have arrived safely.
We got off to a great start on Wednesday morning, and had no problems with flight changes in Miami. We and the rest of the team of 17 enjoyed the beautiful flight to Quito, but that's when the challenges began. All but one of us had cleared customs in Quito, when we learned that the officials wanted all of us to return to the airport when they discovered that we were carrying a large amount of medication. We spent the next two hours trying to resolve the issue that not all of our bags of medication had an expiration date. When the dust finally settled, about 200 courses of treatment (enough medication for about 200 people) was confiscated.
However, everything else (about 95% of our total baggage) was allowed into the country. The team worked superbly under some duress, and no one was arrested (although I did speak with some passion for one brief moment). We all got to bed at Casa Sol by midnight that night.
As is usually the case, we have been operating at full speed since. We saw 240 patients on the first day at the clinic in Quito, and we saw about 150 people today at the Punyaro school here in Otavalo. I saw lots of sick people both days. The team has had a great time, and Linda is doing great. She is in charge of measuring all patients vision. She has been given much adulation, hugs and appreciation.
So, although we are physically exhausted, we are emotionally and spiritually energized. I am looking to our first devotion tonight (which is now Friday). The team really is working well together. We appreciate all of you, and ask that you continue to keep us in your prayers. Tomorrow and Sunday are days for rest and for looking around. Linda gets to go to the big market here in Otavalo tomorrow. Many people we saw today expressed their thanks to you -- our family and church -- that we were here to serve them. I believe that God has already received glory. May that continue.
Love from Otavalo in Imbaburra province,
Tim and Linda
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