Medical mission group from Texas helps people in Ecuadorean village

Published: 2006-07-25

SAN PABLO, Ecuador (CNS) -- Off the coast of the small village of San Pablo, eight fishermen rowed their 12-foot, blue wooden boat out far enough to drop their huge nets into the surf in the early morning hours. The smell of wood-burning fires was constant, occasionally overpowering the stench of pigs, cow manure and fish caught the day before. The cool ocean breeze was a welcome relief but stirred up the dust, irritating the eyes and creating a thin film on every surface. In the summer, the temperature can reach 120 degrees. It was this world that 48 missionaries from Houston and Corpus Christi, Texas, entered in June for the second year of a medical mission to villagers. Although they were there mainly to address medical concerns, the mission also aims to help with other physical and spiritual needs. In five days, the dental clinic saw 1,609 patients. Dentists pulled 409 teeth and doctors did 43 cataract surgeries. "They're just so grateful," Belinda Gonzalez of Corpus Christi told the South Texas Catholic, Corpus Christi's diocesan newspaper. "This makes you realize how much we take for granted."

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