Here I am on the way to the airport on the way to Ecuador. Last week Mike Brady asked if I had anything else to add. I could not believe all I could come up with is “I’m excited.” I am actually sort of overwhelmed with emotion. It is some like the anticipation of going to camp because we will see people that I have not seen since 2006 and 2007. The renewal of relationships offers deep joy. As usual, when I have gone to Ecuador, we are going someplace the team has not gone before which could be frightening if we really thought about it, but God always opens new doors for us to walk through.
Here is a schedule of our nighttime locations:
- 6/20 & 6/29 – Quito
- 6/21-6/23AM – Shell
- 6/23 – Otavalo
- 6/24-6/26 – Lita/Rio Verde
- 6/26 PM – 6/29 AM – Otavalo
We have already had much prayer covering our preparation to go to Ecuador. Last year the team had issues going thru customs with the medicines in Ecuador. This year we submitted all of our license and DEA info to the consulate in Houston to try to prevent problems thru customs. This was a huge risk since neither of the physicians are licensed to practice in Ecuador, and we do not work with physicians in the community. The consulate could have denied our request, and I think our mission would look very different. However, our request to go was approved.
Our team is small which allows us to travel to several sites in Ecuador. We go as physicians to serve as physicians, but I really do not feel like that is our main role (others may not agree with the opinion). For lack of a better analogy, I feel like we are the “circus show.” We work with established missionaries in every community that we visit. We act in part as a mechanism to recruit locals (and some from far away) to come hear the Word and establish relationships with the missionaries. I am sure some come just to see what the Americans look like. We feel like another major role is to bring encouragement to the missionaries that are there. I feel our third role is to treat the patients that come with the love of Christ and medical care as we can.
I just want to share some about the missionaries we will be working with. Chet and Katie Williams are the missionaries in Shell and affiliated with Mission Aviation Fellowship Youth World. This is the first time we have worked with this team. The River (local church in Lexington) is sponsoring a community meal (as recommended by the missionaries). We will be working with the Waorani and Puyo people. The believers here have had many recent difficulties: Gilberto and Silvia lost their 2 yo daughter in a drowning 2/2010 and Raynaldo and Blanca had a friend commit suicide. (This is the area Steve Saint speaks of in End of the Spear film.) The missionaries in the Otavalo area are local Ecuadorians. Wilman and Clemencia Varela are the ministers of Galilea Church (along with Roberto). Wilman was involved in a multiple vehicle accident in 2008 and suffered ankle injury that did not heal correctly and now has seizure disorder as result of injury. This has brought physical and financial hardship. Washington and Julie Pozo are also in this area (local from Ecuador but work with Liebenzel missionaries). Washington has been ill with an undiagnosed problem causing a large amount of wt loss. Doug and Dorkas Williams are missionaries with Liebenzel that are originally from the US. They work with the Awa people and are very much a vital part of that community. Rio Verde is way up the hill. However, we are excited to go there this year and anticipate a different setting because they have just completed a foot bridge over a large canyon there.
Pray for us and our trip. Until the whole world hears!
Kim
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