Dear friends, the Christmas story according to the Gospel of Luke (Chapter 2) is a narrative of the question of power. It begins with the, from the Roman perspective, brilliant Emperor Augustus, who brought peace to Italy with his power apparatus. The provinces paid for it, and Rome flourished. Then the middle third of the Christmas story (verses 8-14) illuminates the heavenly, spiritual dimension, with the city of David at its center. In the third part of the story (verses 15-21), the focus is on the opponent of political power, Jesus as the savior, a contrast that could not be greater or sharper. His name is at the end in verse 21. That is the message even today, when political powers are fighting for supremacy, in many countries demarcation is the premise and strangers are enemies. Only a spiritual movement like the one in Bethlehem can change egoism.
The Shell Hospital is far removed from world events in a country that still has power cuts lasting many hours daily. There is not enough rain and the many new hydroelectric power stations only work intermittently. Many people now have private generators, all gas subsidized by the government: these additional costs make life more expensive. Our hospital generator also needs repairs after constant use, and the “new used” one is not yet ready for use.
Ecuador is a country with large banana exports manly to Europe. And coca also travels all over the world in containers in enormous quantities. These mafia structures are not easy to break through. For example, 55 tons of coca were recently confiscated in Europe. This has not affected the price of coca on the street here. There is enough stuff for consumers. The crime rate in South America and especially in Ecuador is still high.
AND DESPITE THAT: The Shell Hospital managed these critical months, because September to November are the “expensive months” due to Christmas bonus payments and other special expenses, as well as many November festivals in Shell and the Pastaza province.
On December 7th, the team celebrated Christmas together. Before that, there was a medical mission in a church in Puyo for the poor population. Even dental treatment took place there. These are opportunities to combine spiritual and medical messages.
Young people keep coming to us with unclear complaints such as headaches and lack of motivation. Here, too, there are many forms of anxiety and depression. These treatments are time-consuming but particularly effective.
A young woman, a worker on a plantation, comes with a rare worm infection under her skin that requires local treatment, but can also quickly become systemic. Here we rely on knowledge of tropical medicine. Thanks to the team!!!
The team works together and has overcome crises. But Shell actually lives in some kind of crisis almost permanently.
The furniture for the international guest house is making progress. Small monkeys from the area are always enthusiastic spectators.
We are still missing to pay the last bit of the area for the radio area and we are asking for your help.
The next big project is the floor of the operating room. We have painted it several times with a special varnish. However, as this part of the building is a little lower, water is penetrating from below: A company has offered to improve this area with a special linoleum in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s specifications, including some of the walls. They are giving us a 10-year guarantee. The cost is $25,000 and we have until the end of February 25. Please keep this matter in prayer, because the operating room is an important part of our work.
Ecuador is not the most important country in the world when we look at major world politics. And Shell is just a small corner of the world, like Bethlehem back then. And yet something big is happening there right now: A team in a newly found unity is living faith, which is being put to the test day after day. The employees are happy to receive your prayers and donations. They are thinking of you this Christmas and wish you a
Blessed New Year 2025. THANK YOU.
The Shell Team
(Eckehart & Klaudia Wolff)
Donations: Lightway Medical Foundation
PO Box 8066
Fort Wayne, IN 46898
Checks can be mailed there, or you can donate through the websites.
LightwayMedical.org/donations.