Ecuador Update

Just thought I would let you all in on the latest action in Ecuador. The church has assigned a part time missionary in Salt Lake to develop medical work for eyes in Ecuador. He met with Dr. Zambrano for a week and returned with a great report.

The first letter you read is the missionary, Dr. Christiansen, responding to another eye doctor in Otavalo, Gaby. She is 28, lds, and has to work for the government for 2 years before she works for us.

Dr. Christiansen called me yesterday and reported that the church is going to purchase eye surgery equipment and supplies for our clinics in Otavalo and Quito. Dr. Christiansen will also have Gaby come to the states and receive more training. This partnership will blossom into providing all of Ecuador with some wonderful vision care. Dr. Christiansen will also have eye doctors going to Ecuador to work in our clinics.

One other exciting news for Ecuador. Shell Oil has contracted with CAF on serving the indigenous tribes in the headwaters of the Amazon. Once every month for a year, CAF will send a team of doctors and dentists for a week to provide health care. Shell will fit the bill.

Hope this gives you something to smile about tonight.

Be good and do good.

Gordon

Great Ecuador Team

We were delighted to meet and see first hand what the Ecuador Team have been accomplishing. They are fun, hardworking, dedicated individuals who are making a HUGE difference in their country. We helped work in 2 of the clinics, one in Tena and one in Esmeraldes. When we arrived in each place the people were lined up to receive the free medical and dental work they CAF offered. The crew included doctors, dentists, surgeons, drivers, assistants and technicians. They worked hard hour after hour helping to relieve the pain and suffering of the people.
I was so excited to see the equipment that had been donated by the people in the US being used so well. I had only seen the supplies as we dug them out of storage units or lugged them up the stairs from the basement accumulation spot. They were dirty from not being used and some of them lacked this or that part to make them functional. But here they were, all clean and detailed and repaired. It made all the work of picking them up, transporting them and putting them on containers and dealing with customs, worthwhile. The experience there also brought firmly to our hearts and minds the NEED for help in this country.