Ecuador

I'm sorry for the lack of blog posts. We continue to serve day in and day out in Haiti. I'll try to post some updates on Haiti soon. We just had an amazing medical team leave yesterday and the week before we did trauma training as well as some sustainability training for missionaries.

But....for this post: I'd like to say a few things about Ecuador. I've been in the planning process of gathering a medical team to Ecuador for many years. Up until this past year, we really felt called to place Ecuador on hold as we settled in more fully to life in Haiti and continued with our ongoing projects in Guatemala.

This year though, we felt strongly called to look at Ecuador again. One of our sons is from Ecuador, so suffice it to say, Ecuador has a strong place in our hearts. I began the process of details for a team going down many months ago. Doors began to open. Amazing things happened and connections on the ground have been incredibly generous to offer their support in logistics, but also their support in lodging (thank you so much Robbie!).  It looked beneficial to fly down to secure some details prior to a full team, so I booked a flight for a quick trip before the orphan summit (which is the first part of May). And then the Earthquake happened....

I will still be going down this coming week to make some plans for the September team, but an added focus has been added to the trip. Unicef is saying that at least 150,000 children have been affected by the earthquake. I think most people are aware that I specialize in trauma, attachment, adoption, and abuse. Most are probably also aware that we personally have 14 children that have suffered from significant trauma histories. Assisting families in distress is dear to my heart. Helping relief workers to serve more effectively within trauma is needed. Many relief workers run themselves to the ground without taking time to make sure they are ok as well. We hope to assist those on the ground that are helping others.



I will be flying into Guayaquil and driving 2.5 hours to the coast where I will be staying. I will then drive another 2-3 hours north to where destruction has impacted so many families. Please keep Ecuador in your thoughts and prayers! My understanding from people on the ground is that the news is under reporting the devastation. Reports are showing hundreds of aftershocks that continue. The country is in need of much love and support!

I will be stopping in Florida on the way to Ecuador and plan to purchase supplies to bring down. If you feel called to help financially with supplies or would like to help with baggage expenses, your assistance would be greatly appreciated. No donation is too small and all donations are tax deductible. 

Now the we live full time on the field, we realize more fully how destructive "drop in" missions/help can be. For this reason, we will be directly helping those that are already in place in Ecuador.

Donations can be sent to:

The Chance to Dream (reference Ecuador in memo line)
4208 E 32nd Avenue
Spokane, WA 99223

Or donations can be made online: www.thechancetodream.com

It would be helpful if a message could be sent to me at linda@aafcs.net regarding the donation and specifically how you would like the donation to be spent.

The Chance to Dream is a small non profit without any paid staff. Tana (fellow founder) lost her dad to cancer this past week. Please keep her and her uncle Bob, who lost his brother (also fellow founder) in prayer.