22 January 2003
We are quickly approaching the departure date. We leave the USA on 15 February 2003 and return on 1 March.
We welcome high school students Hilary and Molly as recipients of our scholarship award to come as translators. Both attend George Stevens Academy. We had eight applicants for the all-expenses-paid award, and choosing two of them was extremely difficult. The future looks bright with so many bright students in our area. Several other students will be coming as well, as general helpers or translators.
We plan to work in Vilcabamba, Ecuador with Medical Ministry International (MMI) as our host organization in-country. The project will be Medical-Surgical-Dental.
We are all happy with the idea of getting back to Ecuador, and Vilcabamba is an old familiar place. Also, there is general agreement about getting back with MMI, a well-established group with lots of in-country logistics and connections.
Those of us already signed up: We need your check for the air fare no later than 24 January 2003. Send to treasurer Rick Henion, Hancock County Medical Mission, P.O. Box 241, Ellsworth, ME 04605. The amount for the round-trip flight is $745, check made out to Hancock County Medical Mission. Chartered bus from Ellsworth to Boston will be paid for by the Mission. Any questions, call Rick at 207-963-4052 or rickandbev@acadia.net
Your check for the project fee should be paid directly to MMI no later than one month before departure. You should be receiving instructions from MMI any day now, if not already.
Mesa Taveras, MMI director in Ecuador, is scheduled to lead the team while there. We plan to land in Guayaquil on the coast and overnight there, then ride 12 hours by bus up into the Andes Mountains to Vilcabamba. Yyesssss!!!
Pay no attention to the editorial outburst.
Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 4, 2003 at 6:30 P.M.
New Location: Medical Office Building of the Maine Coast Memorial Hospital, Ellsworth, Maine -- in the office of Dr. Charles Hendricks -- Room 3400 -- If there are a lot of people (and there likely will be for this last meeting before the trip) we'll move to another room and post notice on the door.
And be sure to congratulate Lou on his award, but remind him not to puff up like a toad sculpin.
By the way: Lou went to Mongolia in September with an MMI group of 23 (medical-surgical-dental) serving street kids and orphans. He returned with some pitiful stories and photos of people in serious need.
¡Nos veremos pronto! Que Dios les bendiga.
Ted Spurling, Jr. ><> (from an internet cafe in Costa Rica---here for language school)
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