Weekly Wrap Up from Calacali, Ecuador, August 15, 2007

Weekly Wrap Up from Calacali, Ecuador August 15, 2007

THE POWER OF A TEAM

We just finished with our last group of the summer. They came from the Detroit Michigan area and were our smallest group. (The minimum usually is ten people). There were eight people and their medium age was 39. To illustrate the impact even a group this size can have, I have included two photos. The first is Howard standing on the pad of the PTC (Professional Training Center) when the group arrived and what they accomplished in just eight days. We are thankful for this incredible group of people and their investment into our lives.

As we click off our six month anniversary, we are aware all the groups to visit Hacienda El Refugio, have been from the Mid-West. As we plan for next summer, we would love to have a group from any of the churches in California to plan a work trip. We would invite and encourage our west coast supporters to explore the possibility of coming for the summer of 2008. Basically what it looks like for a group to come is to have a minimum of ten people and eleven days. The group spends several days working here at the camp. They take a trip to the jungle where they either complete a work project or VBS. Then there are 2-3 days to experience Ecuador, mixed in. For example, groups usually visit Mitad del Mundo (The Middle of the World) and Otavalo, an Ecuadorian market place. For every group it looks a little different, however we won’t know what it will look like for your church until you plan a trip

We are spending our final days with Nicole. She flies home next Thursday, so you can pray for us as we adjust to her leaving. She has accomplished so much with the horses and in just six weeks made such an impact. One of the men in the group just here had some physical limitations. Nicole arranged a horse ride. Afterwards, this man was glowing. He said, “I never dreamed I’d be able to go to the top of the mountain and see the view, Thank You!” That made it all worth it.

We think of you all so often and wonder how you are. I wrote a friend and said, “Just send me details of you life, that is what I love to hear about.” She did and I loved it! Which reminds me again, we could not be here without your faithful love and support.

As God is Our Refuge, Mary for the Scholl family

Weekly Wrap Up from Calacali, Ecuador

Weekly Wrap Up from Calacali, Ecuador

August 1, 2007

On Friday of last week HER hosted vet students from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. The group consisted of around twenty, third and fourth year students and four Veterinary Doctors. They all belong to an organization of Christian Vets who make a bi annual trip to Ecuador to offer services for animals. The HER horses were some of their beneficiaries this year. Each horse received physical examines, rabies vaccines, and some had their teeth floated. To have their teeth floated is a dentistry term which means, they had their teeth filed down. For instance, one of our horses Espanola, had lost a top tooth and the bottom tooth was literally growing up into her jaw, which helps explain why she was having a problem gaining weight and just a little crabby. (Nicole is pictured with Espanola below). They also performed a worm count (you don’t even want to know how this is obtained) and found that every horse literally had numerous worms and the treatment is much more aggressive here because it never freezes, so the worms never die on the ground. One of the horses sadly received a grim diagnosis as the owners thought he just had warts, when in actuality it is an aggressive form of skin cancer and lymphoma. The cool part is before the vet students got here, Nicole had done her homework online and had already accurately diagnosed his condition. Now with the help of the Vet team, a reliable health care plan will be implemented for each of the horses here on the property.

For those of you who have kept up on our Blogspot, you will know that since Nicole has been here, she turned down a spot at Vet school for numerous reasons. While here she has been a whirlwind, preparing the horses and stables for the Vet group to visit. Then to watch her interact with the group and her obvious passion for the care and treatment of horses, we became convinced she should apply again next year. This belief was confirmed by the Veterinary Doctors who encouraged her to apply at their school and use them for a reference. Also, they felt she should list the time spent here as an equine intern, so that is another addition to her already lengthy resume. Who knows maybe she’ll return as our equine program intern!

Just a little update on what is going on near the middle of the world. Please let us know what is happening on your side of the equator.

As God is our Refuge, Mary for the Scholl Family

Horse Stables Vet Group Jonathan & our baby Nicole & Espanola