Kept Promises.
Dear friends, it’s been months of transition, growth, and renewal. I feel blessed by everyone who has supported me during this time and helped me become a better version of myself. I have exciting news I want to share with you all. I hope you enjoy reading this post.
Residency completed.
Most of you know I finished my one year of residency in January 2023 (one year of service in a rural community). I learned a lot, cried a lot, got sicked, felt depressed, felt helpless, laughed a lot, built new friendships; but most important saw God’s sovereign hand working in my life in the midst of all. I am thankful for a one in a lifetime experience. I still believe the Public Healthcare System of Ecuador is broken and it will need new leaders, new mindsets, and beliefs to change for better and make a difference in the life of Ecuadorian individuals. I also know I can’t change it all in my country, but I can try my best to create small positive changes in some people’s lives.
Community Health Evangelism.
Right after I finished my residency, I started looking for jobs. Unfortunately finding a job in the country right now is hard because of the economic and political problems happening. Even for healthcare providers is hard to find a job. There is definitely a shortage of nurses, but the hospitals are not hiring a lot of nurses because they can’t afford them and when they hire them, they ask for at least 2 years experience. I Know, right? How do you even get that experience if they won’t give you a chance to work.
I have a lot of Nurses and Doctors friends who are still unemployed. It’s heartbreaking because these amazing talented people who have worked so hard to accomplish their goals, studied long hours and invested money in their studies can’t find a job. This reality obligates them to fly the country in search of better opportunities somewhere else, although many times as an immigrant in other countries you can’t even practice your own career. I know this is the heartbreaking reality of many young people not only in Ecuador but in other countries as well. As you read these paragraphs, I encourage you to remember how blessed you are for have been born where you were born, don’t ever take it for granted and even if it’s not your dream job remember others would kill to have the opportunities you have.
“Community Health Evangelism Coordinator” at Youth World, a Christian non-profit organization, that exists to identify, teach, and equip leaders to impact young people and families to be disciples of Jesus Christ that Education Equals Hope exists under in Ecuador.
Community Health Evangelism is a community health and development programme used by hundreds of churches and organisations across the world. Is a model that integrates health, evangelism, discipleship with community-based development.
Working as the new CHE Coordinator allows me the opportunity to help communities identify the problems they are facing and mobilize their own resources to achieve positive, sustainable change.
You know I decided to study nursing because I saw the need in my community, Cristo Liberador, for better healthcare services. Now, through this role as CHE Coordinator, I am able to help ease the need of many communities. providing care from a holistic point-of-view, which means addressing all the physical, mental, social, and spiritual components of our human life. There is nothing that pleases me most than promote a Christ-centered holistic healthcare through empowerment strategies that avoid unhealthy dependencies.
The Lord knows I’ve been praying for something like this. I have a heart for missions and this new role gives me the chance to spread the gospel, bring hope and education to empower communities to make changes needed to break the cycles of poverty and disease. This opportunity is a great example of God’s faithfulness and the way he keeps his promises.
Fundraising
I’m working under “missionary role “which means I need to fundraise my own salary. That’s why in March I went to South Carolina to visit all my supporters and friends. I am in owe of how generous people are. I am not going to lie; I had some doubts at first about asking people for support again. I was scared people were going to say no but God is Good, and he has put incredible people in my path. People who believe in me, support me, and love me so deeply that are willing to invest in what God is doing in my life and in the lives of others through me. Never in a million years I would’ve thought I would be so lucky to have this second family in Christ, which I’m so grateful to have now.
Trainings – Meetings – Teams
April and May flew by. I had to go through trainings about Community Health Evangelism and how I can apply it in the urban field. I also spend most of the first month having on- boarding meetings, which means meeting with each director or coordinator of the many Ministries in Youth World. I also was hosting teams from the US in April and May.
Grace Church
The first team I hosted back in April was Grace Church from Camden, SC. This incredible team and its people were fantastic. It was their first time in Ecuador, and they had a blast. I was able to create new friendships and share unforgettable memories. This team worked at my Church “Cristo liberador Episcopal Church” Some of the projects we worked on were:
- Electrical (changing all the lights and creating new electrical connections to bring more lightning to the church sanctuary and the Community store, the church has.
- Construction: We also worked in the new church building, breaking down walls, changing floor tiles, etc.
- Home visits: They got to visit the homes of some church members; these families are part of the “Education equals hope” scholarship program. Doing home visits is an eye-opening experience and amazing opportunity to learn how others live while sharing a nice meal, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company.
Vanguard University
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We had a fabulous two-week experience in Quito and the Jungle. We had a packed schedule because they had to accomplish clinical hours here.
In Quito we did activities in a private Hospital, Clinic, Center for people with disabilities and did pop up clinics in various churches. While in the jungle we worked with the local Clinic in the town, the clinic is part of the Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador.
We partnered with “Jungle kids for Christ” (an organization who is passionate about empowering children in the jungle of Ecuador so that they can break the cycle of poverty and abuse
and share a message of transformation
with their family, community,
country, and world).
PS: If you are curious about JKC and want to learn more about it I am attaching the website link at the end of this post.
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| Fresh fruit and fish from the Jungle. |
Hillsborough Community College
Some of the activities we did were:
- Tour of the University, simulation lab, clinical labs. The team got to spend time with Ecuadorian nursing college students.
- We visited a public health center in the city.
- Visited “Dunamis Foundation” a non- profit organization that shelters young girls who have been rescued from sex trafficking and sexual abuse. We had an amazing time playing games with the girls, doing crafts, and sharing stories.
- We also visited a foundation for people with disabilities “FAD” this foundation builds wheelchairs and all the needed accessories for people with disabilities and sells them for a cheaper price to help low-income families. They also donate wheelchairs to those families in vulnerable situations and in great need.
- In the Jungle we visited a Public Hospital, Urgent Care Clinic, Nursing home and got the chance to meet a Shaman and a community Midwife. We learned about natural medicine and the beliefs of the indigenous people from the Jungle.
It has been wonderful to have all my family and friends helping me, loving me and cheering me up every step of the way. I couldn't have asked for a better work environment. I have amazing bosses and coworkers, Whom I also get to call friends and brothers and sisters in Christ. What else Can you ask for, right?
Even though I haven’t fully started working with partner Churches yet, I feel so ready to get CHE started. This upcoming month I will still have more meetings with Directors, Priests, and church leaders to identify the churches biggest issue and come up with the best plan to work through the problem.
I shared with most of you that I will be working on “development” not relief, which means it’s a long process. It will take months to start making changes in communities and people’s lives and witnessing the fruit of my work; but it’s so much more rewarding and impactful than just putting a band aid to the community’s problem.
If you are reading this post. THANK YOU! Thank you for your trust, love, generosity, and encouragement. I could not be here if it weren’t for all of you and God’s provision. If you have questions, comments or prayers request please don’t hesitate to send those to me via email. I will be more than happy to answer any question or add you to my prayer list. I also want to encourage you to Trust God and his perfect timing, I know it can be challenging at times; specially for those who like me are impatient. But never stop trusting, He knows our needs, biggest secrets, sorrows, dreams, etc. He will fulfill the promises he has made for your life and your purpose here on earth.
“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Genesis 28:15
PRAYER REQUESTS
· Please pray for my new role as Community Health Evangelism Coordinator and all the responsibilities that come with it.
· Please pray for my integral health (spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional)
· Please pray for my relationship with God, that I will continue growing and getting stronger.
· Please pray all the unemployed people in Ecuador and everywhere.
· Please pray for my family, church family and family by choice.
· Please pray for all my supporters and friends who have made it possible for me to work in this amazing Ministry and for future supporters.
· Please pray for safety. Ecuador has experienced a lot of delinquency lately and it can be dangerous for young people, especially young women.
If you want to support my Ministry Click the link below 👇👇👇
https://educationequalshope-bloom.kindful.com/?campaign=1241783
Support Jungle Christ for Christ. 👇
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