Dear friends, A lesson from the Bible’s creation story: Man was created to make something out of the earth, to be creative, to organize, to realize new ideas with what God gave him. We have tried to implement this at Shell Hospital in recent years.
Shell has a unique background: It was the first hospital in the Amazon region of Ecuador, founded in the town that served as the base of the 5 martyrs who first brought the gospel to the Huahurani people in January 1956. It was operated as Hospital Vozandes del Oriente for over 50 years, a name still used by some locals to this day, but now it has undergone a reboot with a specific goal: helping Ecuadorians to reach their own people. Christian hospitals have existed for well over a thousand years, especially in the form of mission hospitals in modern times. However, two developments are evident in almost all of them: they grow, specialize,
become more and more recognized institutions, and then the spiritual aspect of the work disappears over the decades. They are still called a Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, or Evangelical Hospital, but usually this says more about the history than the present. The scientific often overshadows the spiritual, even if a team of chaplains still ministers faithfully and they are recognized and appreciated by the patients.
This development is also taking place in the mission hospitals that we know. But mission hospitals are becoming fewer and fewer and there are hardly any new ones left. Why? The era of large international mission movements is changing to smaller, local aid projects. These movements are often spontaneous, grassroots efforts that pop up suddenly but then disappear just as quickly. This is often not enough to run a hospital, and it is often only short-term help. The existing facilities are usually dependent on foreign help for personnel and finances. But the era of simple work permits for medical missions is becoming increasingly limited. For example, in the past it was easy for foreign doctors to work in the rural areas of Ecuador as long as they did not earn money personally. That era is over. Medical training certifications must be recognized by the state. Now this even applies to almost all countries in Africa, and indeed the entire world. The result: few people want to undergo this process, which often takes years. The missionaries’ “cheap” workforce for the operation is no longer available. This means that local staff have to be employed. The operation becomes more expensive. Such a hospital either closes or remains permanently dependent on foreign funding. Please, this is not a criticism of mission hospitals in general. Every situation is completely different, but are making every effort to beware of these pitfalls as we try to strive forward at Shell. In 2013, the mission closed the “Hospital Vozandes del Oriente.” We opened it under a new name:
“Hospital Shell.” From the beginning, the goal was: A FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE MISSION HOSPITAL UNDER LOCAL MANAGEMENT.
The beginning was hard. We had to buy the remaining contents of the old hospital and pay rent. Then we structured a purchase contract that would be executed over the next 4 years. We renovated the building completely. The purchase of some medical equipment was unfortunate. We learned from our mistakes. Many new government regulations have become more stringent. With the exception of one missionary (Dr. Bezemer), all staff are on the payroll, even if their salaries cannot be compared to those in government hospitals, which has also led to some attrition of our workforce. After two false starts, we have good spiritual and administrative leadership. The majority of employees run the hospital out of conviction and proclaim their faith in daily practice. They need our constant prayers that they do not lose this focus, because the situation is not easy: Floods or droughts, political instability, high crime rates and the national fight against drug gangs. There are hardly any tourists anymore, who were once an important source of income for the country, and repeated strikes, especially by the often-violent, politically-incited indigenous groups. Those who can prefer to leave the country and look for work abroad. And so the Shell Hospital is something very special:
We still need donations BUT:
Our international guest house will soon be ready with many guest beds, ready for an international exchange with shortterm employees.
At the end of February our operating rooms will be renovated so that
we can renew our permits from the
Ministry of Health again.
We are still a little ways out from paying off the site of the former radio station. Patient income is currently stable and has been increasing slowly.
After a long preparation, the Morse family from the USA is ready to come as missionaries at the end of the year, which will strengthen our team. They are about half way to being fully supported and will be starting to apply for visas soon. They will still have to complete the process of getting their medical credentials recognized and applying for the año rural (the rural year of service required for full licensure as Ecuadorian physicians).
The year 2025 is the time when it will be decided when the Hospital Shell will really be self-sufficient.
Time and again, a device breaks down, a roof needs to be replaced, etc.
We need a better financial cushion for times of need, which will surely come again.
Batallas
We pray for this miracle that we will be less dependent on outside help.
The Wolffs felt the call to continue in Shell in 2013. The road so far has been rocky, but God is faithful and we are sure that this was God’s long-term goal: An international ministry hub that is financially self-sustaining and is salt and light for this region and far beyond. Our team of employees carries this call forward. Thanks to everyone who is involved, especially in prayer.
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 website.
LightwayMedical.org/donations.