The Last Few Days

7/27/17

As you all could guess we went out on the town last night. We took a few cars into town for ice cream and internet. I think everyone was more interested in the internet, but the ice cream wasn’t bad.

Today was our first day in Cebadas. We have spent a few years in this community. Since we have been here with a medical team multiple times before, people are much healthier. A stark contrast from Basan. We were able to see over 100 people today!

Every year my Mama makes a quilt for me to give to someone on the trip. I met a wonderful little girl named Lady Michelle. She has a heart defect requiring surgery. She was so excited when I asked if I could give her the quilt and would not let it go. Through the translator she was told all about the wonderful lady that made the quilt for her.

I met the future president of Ecuador at the end of the day. We see patients in family groups. This little boy marched right in and said “my name is Mateo but everyone calls me Matthew. I am top of my class.” He was so cute! Besides a bad tooth, he was perfectly healthy. We told him how important it was to brush his teeth twice a day. He said, “ok! I have it in my memory and will do it morning and night!” He was a very sweet boy.

7/28/17

Our last day in Cebadas was a good one. Again, we saw over 100 people.  They are working on expanding the church that we have worked in for a number of years. They currently cut the building in half. Even with half the size of normal we worked like a well-oiled machine. This team works so well together. I haven’t seen a hiccup yet!

During clinic we saw a man with his four children. Their health problems were not too troubling. Andrea felt the pull to ask the father if he knew the Lord. He said that he did not, but he thought he would be going to heaven because he was a good person. Through the spiritual bracelets that we give to all of the children, she shared the gospel with the family. In the end, they all accepted the Lord. As soon as we finished praying he asked if we could get him a bible.

It is such a humbling feeling to give a person something as simple as sunglasses or a blanket and have them be grateful to the point of tears.

7/29/17

We packed up our clinic and moved to the town of Jatar Campesino. Since we have done the set up a couple of times it took us no time at all. We saw 120 people by 3pm.  The set up was premo!

In clinic we saw a little boy with cancer. He had a tumor removed from his head. From what I have seen the Ecuadorians do not hold much stock in their suturing skills. Every person I have seen who has had surgery has a scar like Frankenstein.  Keeping in line with this, the little boy had a big scar across half his head.

After dinner we had a party for all five of our teammates who had birthdays during the trip: Jacqueline, Cheryl, Emma, Erik, and myself. It was a great time! There was food and dancing.