(Elizabeth Engkjer is the founder of FYTA: Fundacion "Yo Te Amo." She and her husband Richard travel back and forth between their homes in Englewood, CO and El Floron, Ecuador. Just Jump has had the joy of partnering with FYTA with two medical mission teams.)
“Elizabeth, What are You Going to do About This?”
Richard and I are not what people usually think of as ‘missionary’; on the other hand, I think every invested follower of Jesus Christ has a mission. In 1998 I went on a women’s mission after declining the invitation three times. That third time Elsie bristled a bit as she said, “Elizabeth, if you won’t go, we have to cancel the trip because we don’t have enough people.”
“I’d love to go, Elsie.” And that is where the past 23 years began. Fast forward to today; I am reflecting on one of many, many instances where I was mentally paralyzed as I was by Nurse Practitioner Kay Alsum’s question as she showed me little five-year-old Maria Angelica’s horribly twisted club foot. In this dusty little village of Carnitas Maria Angelica lived with her grandmother in a shack on stilts with their two pigs and a few chickens living below. The mother of Maria Angelica had committed suicide and her father an alcoholic who was nowhere to be found. With her deformity little Maria Angelica was treated as an outcast. I wrote down her name, village and talked to the pastor. . . I felt horrible.. . incompetent. . . I had no answer to NP Kay Alsum’s question.
The next week the medical mission team returned to the USA and I was attempting to organize the clinic building that had finally been finished and the Project C.U.R.E. shipment arrived after being held (actually confiscated) in Guayaquil by authorities for six weeks. Being an American ‘gringo’ in Ecuador did not help the situation even if you were working among the impoverished as was the squatter’s village of El Floron. . .laden with gangs, drugs, prostitution and Friday night through Sunday alcohol fiestas with ammo sound effects.
A car drove in and out stepped Dr. Mendoza and another man who clearly was not his bodyguard. (At that time no one came to El Floron without protection.) I was well acquainted with Dr. Mendoza through the Rotary Water Project years earlier. He spoke minimal English and my Spanish was so-so.
Dr. Mendoza introduced me to Dr. Cristobal Alban who was orthopedic surgeon. .. In case I ever needed one. Was this really happening!?! I burst into tears and struggled to compose myself as I told them about little Maria Angelica. Yes, he could see her the next week. . . surgery was scheduled. . . and then delayed since her father had to be located and then refused to sign for the surgery. Finally, he was convinced, and the surgery proceeded. I was allowed to scrub in and observe the surgery; post op I stayed with Maria Angelica. . . Pain medications are sparse, and her wailing was gruesome.
Months later Maria Angelica and grandmother came to visit us at the clinic. She was all smiles as she confidently walked in with her one shoe elevated. I don’t know when I have been so overwhelmed with praise and thanksgiving for God’s benevolence and mercy spoken through NP Kay Alsum, Dr. Mendoza and Dr. Albon . I sent pictures to NP Kay. And once again, God, Our Father took a floundering fledgling missionary by the hand to reveal His omnipotent power and might . . . to Him be the glory. . . again and again!!!
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for all the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly: defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
Proverbs 31:8 & 9
