AdventHealth made its first mission trip to Ecuador to provide medical services to the local communities of Quito and Machachi. During the month of June, the team treated more than 1,400 people of all ages; this program was part of an international partnership between AdventHealth and Quito Adventist Clinic (CAQ), organized by AdventHealth's Global Missions program.

The team consisted of about 40 people, including 22 North American clinical workers, physicians specializing in the areas of neurology, oncology, and dermatology, as well as medical personnel and staff from CAQ.

The patients came with a variety of health conditions, including diabetes, heart problems, and traumatic situations. For this reason, a portable ultrasound scanner, donated by AdventhHealt as part of the mutual cooperation agreement, was incorporated into the medical brigade, in addition to free medical consultations and full prescriptions they provided to the community.

"We were able to purchase pharmaceuticals and deliver them to the patients in the small pharmacy we set up on site, and it has certainly been an exciting experience," said Joseph Rivera, AdventHealth's vice president of mission and ministry.

In addition to the medical services provided, the team attended to the spiritual needs of the residents, and with the consent of the residents, the doctors and staff prayed tearful prayers, denoting their gratitude for attending to them in a holistic manner. Residents were invited to the week of spiritual emphasis held in Machachi.

The spiritual blessings were not limited to the people of Quito and Machachi; they also transformed the hearts of the organizers and participants who showed more enthusiasm as the days went by.

"The commitment of Quito Adventist Clinic is to create projects that heal and save, and thus extend the healing ministry of Christ. Having the AdventHealth team serving in this country shows us that there is passion for caring for people in a holistic way, just as Jesus did," said Dr. Norca Huamalies, director of CAQ.

The AdventHealth team plans to return to Ecuador in the coming years, not only to provide medical services but also to train in areas such as marketing and accounting and continue preaching with a spirit of service.

The original version of this story was posted on the South American Division Spanish-language news site.