The Stories 2023
Grown Kids of the Amazon
Meet the 'Grown Kids of the Amazon,' four boys aged 5-8, skillfully navigating the waters of the Amazon River. Their determined journey holds a vital purpose—to fish and provide sustenance for their families. As strangers appeared on their river, confusion painted their faces. This is one of my favorite photos I took this year. In July we took our medical team to the amazon Jungle. We shared the Gospel while we ran medical and dental clinics in very isolated Remarkably, we were the first medical team to venture this far into their village at 'Comunidad Nativa Estibó de Cuzco.'
In this encounter, we not only witnessed the resilience of these young navigators but also marked a significant milestone as we introduced healthcare to a community previously untouched by medical aid. The Grown Kids of the Amazon left an indelible impression, a testament to the impact we can make when reaching the most remote corners of our global family.
Go Tell It On The Mountain
This captivating photo captures a momentous trek as we followed a father to his home, a challenging 45-minute ascent up the mountain. Our mission: to offer prayers for his ailing son. Upon reaching their humble abode, we engaged in heartfelt conversations with his wife and three children, culminating in a powerful prayer for the youngest, who had endured a stubborn fever for three days. Witnessing a divine miracle, joy overwhelmed us all!
The following day, the father earnestly invited our team to revisit his property, where we fervently prayed over his home. In a symbolic act of spiritual renewal, we set fire to the idols and witchcraft altars that had lingered on his land. As we reflect on this transformative experience, we are reminded of the timeless pledge: 'As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.’
On this trip, we had a team of 50 volunteers, including doctors, dentists, nurses, chiropractors, an optometrist, and psychologists offering biblical counseling. We conducted full-day medical clinics, followed by Vacation Bible School (VBS) and revival services in the evenings. God moved greatly in the three villages we worked in, in the mountains of Oaxaca.
A Glimpse into Hope
In this poignant photo, a young girl stands resilient in the slums of Guatemala, a harsh reality for many. Alongside her brother, they sought refuge in our clinic set up at the heart of the garbage dump they call home. Here, we performed a minor surgery on her brother's hand, offering not only medical aid but also the uplifting message of the Gospel and the boundless love of Jesus.
Despite the challenges of their daily life, spent scavenging through the garbage for items to resell or use, the joy on their faces was undeniable as they received much-needed support. Our connection with them extended beyond the clinic as we introduced them to the local church. Since then, we've visited them twice, fostering a bond that goes beyond mere medical care—a testament to the transformative power of compassion and connection.
Rising from the Wreckage
A Beacon of Hope in Post-Hurricane Acapulco, In the aftermath of a devastating Category Five hurricane that laid waste to most of Acapulco, aid trickled in slowly. This poignant photo captures the outskirts of the city where relief had yet to reach. Following our Gospel program, we distributed over 125 care bags containing groceries and essential supplies, providing much-needed assistance to those grappling with the aftermath.
Since the hurricane's destructive path, our efforts have extended beyond immediate relief. We've played a pivotal role in rebuilding two churches and have reached out to over 600 individuals with humanitarian aid, establishing connections with the local church and, most importantly, introducing them to the transformative love of Jesus.
First Visit to the Doctor's Office
Our medical team embarked on a unique journey, introducing concepts like 'High blood pressure' to the Bora people in their inaugural visit to the doctors. For many, these terms were unfamiliar, as some natives are unaware of their own date of birth or age. Upon reaching the 'Comunidad Nativa Estibó de Cuzco,' we learned that we were the first-ever medical team to set foot in their community.
The excitement was palpable as we provided a level of care previously unknown to many. Armed with essential supplies and medications, our team delivered over $4k worth of much-needed medicines, marking a significant milestone in extending quality healthcare to this deserving community
The people in that community are so thirsty for God's Word, as their hunger for spiritual nourishment knows no bounds. Almost every day, after the conclusion of our medical clinics, we devoted ourselves to hosting uplifting church services. In these services, we not only shared the life-transforming Gospel message, but also provided them with valuable resources and knowledge to empower them in cultivating a robust and thriving church community.
Encounter with Los Boras: Bridging the Gap in the Amazon Jungle.
Captured in this photo is a man bidding farewell after a visit to one of our clinics nestled in the heart of the Amazon jungle. The Boras, an indigenous people residing in the remote northeastern reaches of the Peruvian jungle, lack access to the Bible in their native language. In response to this need, we are actively fundraising and earnestly seeking divine guidance to determine the most impactful way to bring the sacred Scriptures into the hands of the Bora People.
2023 Update:
Houston:
We are excited to be able to continue working with the teens from the shelters for the unaccompanied minors. We do events for them every month and this year we have worked with almost four thousand teens. Many of the shelter staff always share how the teens are aways excited to be apart of our events and the positive impact they witness within their lives. One of the teens shared how he felt felts that God had healed him and truly felt peace for the first time. We are always exited to introduce them to Jesus to the healer and the one who brings restoration to their lives. This year, we've worked with over 5,000 teens in shelters for unaccompanied minors, representing countries such as Guatemala, Venezuela, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Cuba, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Haiti, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and the democratic republic of the Congo and others.
Mexico:
This year the projects in Mexico have been very exiting as our team is growing and this year we have been able to provide the highest level of medical care so far. We resonantly we blessed with the opportunity to purchase an ultrasound, a new dental unit and X-ray machine. This year we have had a very full team including dozens of dentist, doctors, optometrists, chiropractors, nurses and psychologists doing biblical counseling.
Central America:
We are very proud of the team in Central America. After the youth conferences and several mission trips we are happy to see that they are beginning to be empowered to do local missions on their own and we are so happy watching them grow
Peru:
This year we focused on the Amazon jungle. We were very excited to work with “Los Boras” We shared the Gospel and ran medical clinics with them and we are prayerfully working on seeing how we can help them with their biblical translation project into their native “Bora” language. We are excited to see how the local church deep in the jungle is growing and we are excited to see what the Lord will do through them.
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This year we have reached over 10,927+ people with the Gospel and love of Jesus Christ! Glory to God for what He has done through E.C.H.O. ! Thank you for your prayers and support!
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