Ecuador 2010 Trip

It has been almost two years since a surgical group from Southern Eye Associates traveled to Ecuador for the purpose of performing sight saving surgery.  This year, Matt Stillinger, Chevy Vice, Robin Heitman, Peter Heitman and Kurt Heitman took ten days out of their schedules to help the people of Puerto Viejo, Ecuador under the auspices of Surgeons for Sight and the local CAS foundation.

PuertoViejo is a poor coastal community of about 200,000 souls.  During their time there, the group was able to perform 22 eye surgeries in addition to examining and treating many other patients.  Although the surgeries were performed in the old facilities, everyone involved is looking forward to returning as CAS is nearing completion of “La Vida”, their new outpatient surgery center.

The group continues to reflect on the theme of their trip, “God was pleased to use us to serve the people of Ecuador.”  Their intent was not only to provide eye care, but to bring God’s love to the people of Puerto Viejo, by bringing Bibles in Spanish and a heart to serve and love others.  Old friendships were renewed and new friendships were gained.

There continues to be a great need for medical care among other things in Ecuador.  Poverty is rampant and seems highest in communities like Puerto Viejo.  Surgeons for Sight is committed to helping the people of Ecuador through mission trips such as this one.  We hope that God will be pleased to use us there in the future.