(July 27, 2015 - by Laura Rescorla)  In the Ecuadorian mountains, dinnertime might find tables laden with steamy chicken soup, heaping bowls of boiled potatoes and cuy (guinea pig)—a local delicacy. Down in the low-lying jungle, dinner often consists of freshly caught fish and game (such as monkey, armadillo or capybara) along with plantain and yuca (cassava), and if you’re lucky, fresh fruit.

Rather than down sleeping bags and warm socks like in the mountains, sleeping accommodations in the jungle typically consist of mosquito-netted hammocks hanging from wooden rafters.

The past year has brought many changes for Reach Beyond’s mobile medical clinic outreach in Ecuador—changes that go beyond food and sleeping arrangements. After decades of being based in Quito, the capital city, this arm of the mission has relocated to Shell, a town on the edge of Ecuador’s eastern rainforest.

This growing community long served as Reach Beyond’s base for its jungle hospital, serving the Amazon region. While Hospital Vozandes-Shell closed in 2014, new opportunities for medical caravans are increasing.

“The requests for caravans from Quito had been dwindling in the past years, due in part to the government opening many small clinics in villages where there was previously no medical care,” explained nurse Linda McFarland, a longtime Reach Beyond missionary who serves in medical caravans together with her husband, Ian.

While the government is meeting many of the medical needs of people in mountainous regions around Quito, there are still many places in the jungle that do not have any access to medical or dental care. In response, Reach Beyond’s medical caravans have taken to the rainforest.

Even transportation for the caravans looks different in the jungle than it does in the mountains. The ministry truck, a small mobile medical clinic, has put on thousands of miles going up, down and around the Andes to reach rural communities.

In the jungle, however, many villages are not accessible by road. Thankfully, Reach Beyond has a longtime friend in Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) with an airbase in Shell. Small airstrips dot the jungle landscape, allowing access for MAF’s four-seater, propeller planes.

With this accessibility to the areas in need, plus adding some remote villages with road access, the number of Reach Beyond medical caravans is again increasing, although recent changes in the protocol of obtaining government permission to hold clinics in remote villages has hampered this outreach.

While each trip provides its own unique stories and experiences, medical caravans generally span five days—two days in each of two communities separated by a travel day. Modes of travel between villages can take various forms—a quick pick-up and drop-off by MAF, a motorized canoe ride, or a muddy trek across forested footpaths.

Other changes are becoming evident as well. Initially, medical caravans operated as a result of the vision of Reach Beyond missionaries. Now the Ecuadorian church is beginning to take the lead.

“We have been encouraged by the response of the national church to allow our team to work alongside their evangelistic efforts,” noted McFarland. Specifically, four local churches have expressed interest in integrating medical caravans with their outreach ministries.

Another recent partnership has found Reach Beyond teaming up with Compassion International, a Christian organization that focuses on child sponsorships. In 2014 alone, Reach Beyond provided medical caravans in 40 Ecuadorian communities where Compassion works with children.

Jonás, a local Ecuadorian worker with Compassion, is the bridge into these communities and a bold voice, proclaiming the gospel message.

Medical professionals who join the caravans do not limit themselves to addressing only physical health. They’re just as passionate about each patient’s spiritual health. While treating a patient for worms, fever or high blood pressure, they also share the good news that all who come to Christ can be renewed.

These partnerships—whether with local churches or other mission organizations—demonstrate Reach Beyond’s tagline, “The Voice and Hands of Jesus. Together.”

Source: Reach Beyond