Health Education

Within the last month, I had the privilege of traveling again with HCM. My traveling companions included another nurse, a pharmacist, a clinical psychologist, and an optometrist. We had the privilege of doing health education sessions and providing optical exams and eyeglasses. We were able to teach on a wide variety of subjects, including HIV/AIDS, nutrition, hygiene, first aid, feminine health, prenatal/postnatal care, and mental health. For our sessions, we went to two large public schools and two universities. At the public schools, we primarily taught high school aged students, but we taught a few younger classes as well. At the first university we taught first and second year students who were training to be teachers. At the second university we taught first year medical students (who are the equivalent of college freshmen in America). However, the most fun sessions I taught were with teenage girls about feminine health subjects! They soaked the information up like sponges and I discovered that teenage girls everywhere want to know about how to get rid of acne! If I had a suitcase large enough to take them all home, I would have about 150 teenage girls living in our house right now! If my dad thinks he has it rough with three girls, just imagine what his life could be like . . . *wink*

The main purpose of the trip was to help strengthen the present ministries of those who serve there full time, as well as giving them a foundation to build upon through our outreach to the community. We were so grateful for the opportunity to serve them. Althought most of the time we could not openly share about Christ due to the sensitive nature of the country, the Lord gave us a number of divine appointments where we were able to minister in a more open and spiritual way to a couple women who were undergoing tremendous suffering due to the oppression of women in the community. I love how the sorrows of the most "unnoticed" suffering woman do not escape the eye of our Father!

Ecuador

"Fashionably late" doesn't even describe the tardiness of this post!

Two months ago I arrived back home from our outreach to jungle villages of northeastern Ecuador. Our team consisted of 6 American medical professionals, 4 American missionaries, and 13 Ecuadorians (translators, boat drivers, and support). We traveled 220 miles by motorized canoe on the Rio Aquarico and visited 5 tribal groups in 6 different villages. Our team was able to see 468 patients and 7 individuals accepted Christ as their Savior! It was an amazing time. Let me share one story with you.

We were on the river on our way to a village to set up a clinic when our boat driver stopped at a home along the banks. He knew there was an old man who lived there who was experiencing pain and would like a home visit from the doctor. One of the missionaries, the doctor, and the boat driver walked up to the home. The 87-year-old man (his age was quite an achievement in a place where most people live to about 50) was treated for his pain and they were able to share the gospel with him. He accepted Christ as his Savior . . . along with 4 other members in his home! The missionary encouraged them to read a portion of the book of Matthew. The next day someone from the family came to the clinic and told us that they had stayed up the whole night reading the Bible! A medical professional and some medicine were the tickets that let us in the door of that home. And they were also the things that brought a man on the edge of eternity to Christ.

As the Lord reminds you, please pray for this man and his family. Also, pray for the Lord to raise up leaders from within these tribal groups to lead their own people to Christ.

Thank you for your prayers and financial gifts that made it possible for me to serve the people, the missionaries and the national church of Ecuador. You were a partner in this story!

For the Kingdom of God,

Jessica

Getting ready to load the boats.

Loading up for the trip.

This is the boat I was on. The photo was taken from the other boat.

Pulling into a village.

An older man trying out his new glasses for things close up. :)

Our physician's assistant examining a patient.

Getting pharmacy set up.

This is where Jenny (one of the other nurses) and I spent a lot of our time.

A church in one of the villages where we held clinic.

Getting health histories. Jennifer was a missionary associate and also a nurse! Since she was fluent in Spanish, she did a lot of the health histories.

Checking him over. Gotta love that face!! Kids are my favorite! :)

Our mosquito nets set up inside one of the community buildings where we all slept.

Another clinic site.

The whole team!

You can't go to Ecuador and not visit the Equator!!

I wanted to keep this one!!

Her eyes just beg to know Jesus, don't they?

Stay tuned!

Please don't give up on me! There will be a blog post soon (complete with pictures!!) of my trip to Ecuador. It was AMAZING.