While I was in Ecuador last month, I witnessed Dr. Gaby and Fernando’s work firsthand. Their team set up a health expo along a major highway in the town of Limonal. Travelers stopped in to see what was going on; other people came because they had seen an advertisement. Every individual who came to the expo received The Great Controversy and Steps to Christ. They were educated about the eight laws of health and offered haircuts and even a chair massage. In coming close to the people, the health team introduced Christ in a non-confrontational way. This broke down barriers and opened the way for the Bible worker to set up Bible studies with people in their homes.

Health outreach has already been used to plant a new church in the town of Gualchan, some distance from Limonal. Only one Adventist lady lived in this community. She had been sharing her faith for years and wanted to take it to the next level by establishing a new church. When she talked to Dr. Gaby and Fernando and two elders from the Limonal church, they formulated plans to reach this new community. One of the elder’s wives, who loves health ministry, held cooking classes and offered hydrotherapy treatments to the sick, and in so doing way she found the way to people’s hearts. The two elders from Limonal followed up with small group Bible studies with everyone interested.