Letter from Mike: Ecuador – August 2022

“During His ministry Jesus devoted more time to healing the sick than to preaching. His miracles testified to the truth of His words, that He came not to destroy but to save…. As He passed through the towns and cities He was like a vital current, diffusing life and joy wherever He went.” Desire of Ages, 350.

When the Bible speaks of Jesus having compassion on people, it means more than simply feeling sorry for them. The Bible says Jesus was “moved with compassion” when He saw people in mental or physical distress—and when Jesus was “moved,” He took action to bring healing to both body and mind. Through these acts of kindness, Jesus won the hearts of the people to Himself.

Medical missionary work is one component of the last-day message that is to go to the entire world before Jesus comes. In Ecuador, Gaby and Fernando are doing a tremendous work among the underprivileged people of their country. Gaby is a dentist who is using her talents to provide dental work to those who can’t afford to pay for it. Fernando is an engineer who assists Gaby in her work. Both left their high-paying jobs to live among those who need their services. Even though both are professionals, they have a burning desire to see souls saved!

Medical missionary work has a way of bringing you face to face with cases of extreme suffering that can leave you in a state of shock, especially when children are involved. Compassion demands you to try everything to relieve the misery you see. Gaby and Fernando found themselves in this situation while working among the people in the small town of San Geronimo.

Two children had been taken from their parents and placed with their grandparents due to life-threatening neglect. The grandparents told Gaby and Fernando that the children had been drinking water from the toilet because of intense thirst, and that they often ate used toilet tissue to satisfy their hunger. Parasitic infection now ravished the children’s health, and the younger child, Caleb, suffered a rectal prolapse. Both had become severely anemic due to poor nutrition.

Gaby brought both children to her clinic to take care of their teeth, and then took them to the big city to see a pediatrician. The medical doctor told Gaby that Caleb would need surgery to correct his problem. The surgery, which will cost around $2,500, is well beyond Gaby and Fernando’s ability to pay—but you can help Caleb live a healthy and productive life by marking your gift “Poor Fund.”

Gaby and Fernando’s medical missionary work is a very worthy cause, as many people are coming to know Jesus through their acts of kindness. If you would like to help support their work, please mark your donations “Ecuador Evangelism” or “Ecuador Workers.” Thank you for helping the poor and suffering in Ecuador to find both bodily and spiritual healing!

Yours in bringing relief to our suffering world,