Please pray for the people of Ecuador

March 4, 2025

Good morning Friends,                                                                    

This is an overdue update to keep you abreast of my coming and going to Ecuador and a prayer request.  First, I want you to know that my previous trip was cut very short – two weeks instead of three – since I received a call that my mother’s condition had taken a rapid change.  Thus, I contacted my siblings and quickly prepared for my own return to Colorado.  I am thankful that our family arrived on time to spend Mom’s last two days together with her aware of our presence.  She was 95 and as one of her friends said, “She has been wanting to go home to the Lord for the last two years!”  Actually, I think it was much longer, but she continued to ask others if they knew Jesus. . . She certainly did.  And now we have memories of a mom (and dad) who allowed no late Saturday nights as a reason for not being in church Sunday morning, loved laughter and close friendships with her own children and others.  Missed?  YES!  My 5-year-old granddaughter told me, “I think great grandma is telling ‘knock-knock’ jokes in heaven.”

Back tracking to my brief time in Floron. I was told of two drug gang hombres that paid a visit to the clinic – one carrying a gun in his waist.  The one demanded to see Dra. Kerly and told her he needed the bullet in his lower leg removed.  Upon examination she said the bullet was very deep and he needed to go to the hospital ER. . . After 45 minutes of haggling, he was convinced, and they departed to everyone’s relief.  Two weeks later they returned, and he wanted our nurse to remove the stitches which she did.  The incident was more than I could handle; thus, tongue in cheek I asked, “Did they pay?”  Nurse assistant Mayra replied with a smile, “Yes they did.”  Please continue to pray for the safety of our staff. . . and give thanks for this outcome.  The military continues to aid the police in scouring the area for cartel members.

Tomorrow I will briefly return to Ecuador and finish part of what was left undone last trip...shopping for fundraiser items.  However, the situation has drastically changed, and I sincerely ask for your prayers.  The drought has lapsed into torrential rains and the flooding is horrific – this is the normal rainy season time, but it is way more than they can endure. Mudslides covering mountainside homes are burying families as onlookers only have their hands to dig with in an attempt to save friends or family members.  Bamboo homes easily collapse under the weight of mud.  Please pray that God would have mercy on these people as they move through this rainy season.

Bless each of you for your prayers and partnership,  Elizabeth   <><