July 27, 2023
This morning we made our way north toward Quito into the city of Pujilí to observe a medical clinic and meet Pastor Felix Torres. This was day 4 for the medical clinic with 6 doctors, 3 dentists, 2 pharmacists, and many nurses, translators, and other volunteers. Most of the medical professionals came from a partnering church in Shreveport, LA. They have been coming once per year for about 17 years. Everybody who was seen at the clinic was given a gospel presentation using the evangecube, a New Testament, and a gospel tract. They were then triaged (blood pressure, temperature, questionnaire, etc.) before moving on to a deworming station. Standard procedure is everyone receives deworming medication once every six months unless there are complicating factors. The patients then tried on reading glasses and/or sunglasses. Many were able to see clearly for the first time in years. The next stop was in the doctor’s office who could prescribe certain medications. They would take their scripts to the pharmacy and be on their way unless there was a need to visit the dentist upstairs. Three dentists were working this week, 2 filled cavities while one other did extractions (25 by 10:30 AM). By Wednesday (day 3), they had seen 1500 patients. All heard the gospel and had the chance to respond and all who responded will be followed up with next week. Simply amazing!
Oftentimes, one of the more difficult logistical hurdles is finding a space for the clinic. The facility being used this week is the meeting place for the local chauffeur association. The owner of the property told the clinic he would not charge rent because he knew this would be a good thing for the community. As it turns out, he also heard the gospel…and…is also now a believer! God is good.
We came back to the Patate for lunch about 1:00 and then had some down time at the camp. This afternoon, we went back into Patate to visit the Catholic Church, Señor del Terremoto or Lord of the Earthquake. The church’s teaching is blended with local pagan deities and Mary is idolized. Chris wanted us to go back over to Baños to visit the larger Catholic Church there, also. Upon arrival, we noticed they had just started 6:00 mass, but the doors were open to visitors.
Immediately upon entering, I noticed Mary’s prominence in the church. Paintings and depictions all around the sanctuary made it clear that people must pray the rosary to gain access to Mary and then pray to Mary to gain access to Christ. Many paintings attributed local miracles to Mary. Another showed Mary crushing Satan under her feet as she stomped on his head. Still another showed Mary with a scale of justice in her hand enthroned over what appeared to be tormented people in purgatory. Jesus was always shown in a defeated state, mostly on the cross but in one painting a dejected Jesus, seated with his head in his hands, saying, “What more could I have done?” There was even a station that showed Jesus’ body in a casket.
I felt myself becoming angry. Is this what Jesus felt when he called the Pharisees a brood of vipers? There may have been 100 in the congregation and I wanted so badly to tell them to read their Bibles but — no one had a copy of God’s Word with them. How can people be so blind? Can’t they just read the words of the Bible? How can the “church” leaders live with themselves, deceiving people in the name of King Jesus!
To preach the gospel here, salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone, is such a greater work because of the perversion of Catholic doctrine. The veil is torn. Jesus is the Great High Priest. He, alone, is our mediator. His blood is sufficient. I am saved by grace through faith, not of works. Mary has no more to do with my salvation than the llama that roams this campground. It’s Jesus, only Jesus.
I could be wrong, but from what I understand, the IMB considers this area as a reached people group. I don’t have anything official, but my observation and estimation is less than 2% are true believers.
Ragamuffin Warrior 