Dear friends,
The first Monday of September in Ecuador always marks the beginning of the school year. Twice a year, life starts afresh: in early January with the calendar year and new resolutions, and the exact same happens in September. We notice this because people are much more cautious with their finances, as school supplies must be purchased and less remains in the family budget for healthcare needs.
This is also a season to reflect on the ultimate purpose of Hospital Shell. Up until now, it has operated primarily as a day clinic. Surgical patients and emergency cases can stay overnight, but the facility was constructed and renovated for a much greater capacity. Do we truly want to open as a 24-hour hospital? To make that possible, an internist would be required on-call around the clock—meaning a permanent, full-time staff physician. That has been our goal for years, yet it has not become a reality to this day. Was it an misguided dream? Have we prayed too little?
We sense that for a long time the hospital has simply been coasting along. Various attempts—such as bringing on a second general practitioner—did not contribute to institutional growth; it was a constant back-and-forth. Financially, despite every effort made by hospital leadership, the breakthrough has not yet been achieved. We remain dependent on outside donations. At the very least, we have begun rebuilding the employee severance and social fund, laying the first foundation stone.
Right now, we eagerly await the decision of Jessica and Stephen Morse’s family. When will they truly arrive? However, before they can become fully available to serve at the hospital, quite some time will pass. First, they must complete their año rural (mandatory year of community health service) within the national public health system, and due to caring for four children, they will have to complete it one after the other. Furthermore, there is the question of whether Stephen will be legally permitted to perform endoscopy procedures. We hope that based on his credentials from the United States, proper authorization will be granted. In the meantime, several of our endoscopy devices are hardly usable: due to the high humidity, fungus has grown inside the optical components. Yet this is not just about replacing a single scope—it involves the entire system. As always in this field, technological advancements bring new connectors and ports that are no longer compatible with older equipment. Therefore, we will once again require designated donations for good-quality refurbished units, as brand-new equipment is far beyond our budget.
There is also the ongoing question of the proposed photovoltaic solar energy system. In October 2026, Dutch engineers plan to visit and present their recommendations. Only then will detailed planning begin, and once again we will need financial backing…
September 2026: a new beginning, not only in schools but also in our mindset. It is about fundamental decisions and planning for the future. Our faith develops in stages and transforms with our calling. Today, I have a different relationship with Jesus than I did 20 years ago. We are challenged to embrace new ways of thinking. Peter was called by Jesus beside the lake to be a fisher of men—a three-year learning journey—followed by the threefold renewal of his calling in John 21. Shortly thereafter, against his own ingrained preferences, he was sent a step further: to the house of Cornelius (Acts 10). Then came fundamental decisions for the early Church at the Jerusalem Council; yet Paul still had to rebuke him sharply to keep him from slipping back into old patterns of thought and prejudice (Galatians 2:11ff). Peter is a prime example of continuous transformation of faith—and that in a foundational apostle! Is it any different with our own faith?
This holds true for our brothers and sisters in Shell, as well as for all of us who share in the life of Hospital Shell and hold it close to our hearts. We ask for a renewal in our prayers and for new individuals whose hearts God will stir for this ministry.
Thank you for your prayers, contributions, and practical suggestions.
This shared mission must sprout and bear new life.
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.