I will be serving this summer with HCJB Global in Shell, Ecuador
for a six week medical internship. During my time in Shell, I will be working
and volunteering at Hospital Vozandes del Oriente. This hospital has an
incredible history. I included a quote below that highlights on the history of
this hospital and the influence that Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, Pete Fleming, Ed
McCully and Roger Youderian ultimately had on the region of Shell Ecuador.
“World-wide attention focused on Shell in January 1956 at the
news of the disappearance of Saint and four other missionaries - Jim Elliot,
Pete Fleming, Ed McCully, and Roger Youderian. They had been trying to reach
the Huaorani tribe, and had been making aerial reconnaissance missions. When
they landed in Huaorani territory they were killed by the natives, their bodies
thrown into the Curaray River. Once again, Shell served as a base of operations,
this time for the families of the victims and rescue workers.
Two years later, in 1958, the Hospital Vozandes Del Oriente
opened its doors as the first hospital in that region of Ecuador. The hospital
was the dream of Nate Saint, who donated both land and time to work on its
construction before his death in 1956. It served an estimated 65,000 people who
lived on the eastern side of the Andes and in the jungle. In 1985 a new
Hospital Vozandes was opened on the other side of the Motolo River, and the old
hospital was converted to a guest house, lasting until 2007 when weather and
termites forced it to be torn down.
In August 1964, Nate Saint Memorial School opened in Shell for
missionary children. The school was the realization of an idea Saint had of
starting a mission school. He believed it was important for children to go to
school close to home. The school was started by MAF, and later was transferred
to HCJB who now operate it.”
