Dear friends,
March 2023
When we founded the first outpatient clinic in 2015, we found within 5 months that we had let ourselves be ripped off and didn’t know what to do anymore. Had we misunderstood God’s commission? At that time, the team felt an abrupt jerk. We realized that we had set the wrong priorities and changed our policy. That was the start of a team that was later ready to take over the hospital in the old building and even buy it. Now we are at that point again. All the management tasks had been distributed, the Wolffs left the hospital, retired and were living in Germany. Half a year later, it seemed like the end had come again, and it especially hurt to watch it from afar. The new director, Dr. Jorge Rivera, was about to throw it all away. It was similar for others. Could God have been wrong? Did we hear wrong? We prayed mightily, and suddenly new doors opened:
In a few days we will see an experienced family practitioner, Dr. Amparo Torres, start in Shell. She has a lot of experience in organization. Her husband, also a family medicine physician, is planning to retire as a professor at a university in Quito, and then will also move to Shell. The two have been closely associated with the hospital foundation for years. This closes a big gap.
The staff also recognized the situation. Everyone was gathered at a chapel service every 3 months. Here, too, we notice a change. So far, these services have been for more of the “pious of the group”. Now, almost everyone is present at this time.
The hospital was financially drained. We tried to cost costs and save money everywhere, especially when renovating. Thanks to many donations, we can now continue. The guest house for international short-term employees is almost completely financed. At the moment, there is a group from Germany with our son-in-law Rico in Shell. They are hanging the ceilings so that the individual rooms can then be built. The tiles for the showers and toilets have already been ordered. We need this house as a base for international encounters.
The operating room is a pleasure. Here our surgeon, Dr. A. Morales, performs major surgeries. Recently, he took care of a woman with long standing complaints and a difficult diagnosis. She was found to have a presumably benign, extremely rare tumor near the rectum. That’s what our team is there for, and it is growing together more and more.
A 14 years old girl committed intention of suicide. She came to our hospital. A team from Shell visited her and set up an outpatient clinic in the church of her village. As a result of treatment of Family Medicine and Psychology she also became a Christian and finally the girl was baptized.
What often seems a disaster in human terms has turned out to be a change of direction. God still has something planned for Shell. We must change and wait for His direction. Your prayers are the most important thing, and the gifts came at a time when we as leaders were desperate. As a sign, the Lord sent us your practical support, which gives courage and shows that the “Adventure Hospital Shell” is HIS work that we are all working on together.
Thank you for being a part of holding this community together.
The Shell team
ECKEHART & KLAUDIA WOLFF
Eckehart.Wolff@gmx.net
KlaudiaWolff@gmx.de
You can send your tax deductible US contributions to Lightway Medical Foundation at the address below. As of right now, 100% of your contribution will be given to efforts here in Shell. There is NO administration fee because of the volunteer service of those running Lightway.
Contributions can be sent to:
Lightway Medical Foundation
PO Box 8066
Fort Wayne, IN 46898
Or you can donate through the website:
Donations – Lightway Medical Foundation
or
Hospital Shell
