Day 12 – January 18, 2025
Last night we determined to meet in the morning about 8 am to start our journey to Quito. Jane said we would stop at Lita, about an hour or so from San Lorenzo and have breakfast. I packed my suitcase last night so all I had to do this morning was get ready for the day. I then joined Claudia and Jane and we said our good-byes to Angelita, Carmen, and Piedad and then we were on our way.
Angelita was my last surgery yesterday. She was waiting on her ride home this morning. She was up and about and ready to go. It was such a great pleasure to know this wonderful woman. I first met her in 2004 and have worked with her every trip there. She is a real sweetheart. I am thankful she is recovering from the surgery very well. Our good-bye was a couple long hugs and some kisses and her plea to me to come back soon.
Loida rode with us as we headed to Lita and ultimately to Otavalo. The travel was easy although there were some areas of previous washouts and the gaps were filled with dirt and stones. Those spots were quite rough and one could only go over them slowly. We also came upon a landslide that blocked at least 2/3 of the road limiting traffic to one lane only. Also, there had been a lot of rain over the past couple days and we saw multiple waterfalls coming down the mountains by the roadside. Upon arriving to Lita Jane stopped at a new building that was built a year ago. It housed a nice restaurant so we enjoyed breakfast and a little break before traveling on to Otavalo.
Otavalo was humming with activity. The market is well known in Ecuador and there were multiple vendors displaying all their goods. We shopped for a couple hours and wandered around just looking at all the products, most of which were hand made by the Indians who live in this area. When we arrived in the parking lot for the market, we were met by Loida’s husband who had come from Quito to pick her up. She moved her stuff to their car and then they left for Quito. I had not met him before.
After Otavalo, Jane took us a short distance to another community that surrounds a big lake in the mountains. The lake is Lago San Pablo. She had reserved rooms for us for the night at a hotel here. The hotel was on water front property and was beautifully kept. For dinner we drove a short distance to another hotel where the dining was fabulous. Tomorrow, we will make our way to Quito.
I think about the privilege of being able to come here and be empowered by the Lord to serve people here in His name. It is a joy to see lives changed for the better by restoring health physically and especially spiritually. It is a joy to work with like-minded people who are on the same page as you are and desire to help introduce people to Christ. Thank You, Jesus, for bringing me here and allowing me to shine Your light into the hearts of several people. Thank You Lord! Amen.
Medical Missions 