Our team was composed of old and young, from teen high school student to an over-80 lady. We were male and female, tall and short, slim and wide, black and brown and white. We left from North Carolina, Virginia, Alabama, Louisiana and from the countries of Colombia and Ecuador. Some flew in by plane, rode in by car or bus, and one bicycled to the hotel. We added gradually and became a team quickly. Some were the rawest amateurs, but some most-seasoned veterans.
Our bags were literally mixed as we distributed all our gifts in all our luggage. For the children, we brought crayons and colored paper, scissors and glue and vitamins; and for all ages, we brought bandages, lotions and a variety of over-the-counter health care items.
We were loaded when we came and when we left we had refilled our bags with beautiful scarves, blankets and colorful fabrics, and bread-dough ornaments, and paintings of llamas and snow-covered mountains.
Our motives for making the trip may have been mixed, but I think we all shared a common respect for the mission of SIFAT and a desire to observe first-hand the day-care centers and churches many teams over the years had helped to build.
We came as servants in faith and appropriate technology. Ours was a visit to provide health care to several hundred at one of the sites SIFAT had begun in Ecuador. But some were coming to revisit long-time friends; a few thinking this might be a final visit to Ecuador. I was coming for my first visit after being awed for over 60 years by my girlhood friend Sarah, who has given and is giving her life to helping others find the Good Life in service and faith.
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