The Mission really IS Ecuador

Hello to my friends in different parts who continue to follow their investment (on all levels) of Mission: Ecuador.

I have some country updates that I think you´d be interested in knowing,, whether you´re supporting Compassion children, participating in medical missions trips, or maintaining a prayer or economic ministry here.

1. I saw yesterday on the news that the Ecuadorian government is planning on handing out contraceptives free, to control the alarming teen pregnancy rate in the country.

2. Ecuador has now been listed the second most dangerous country on the continent according to El Barómetro de las Américas, cited by Vistazo Jan 5, 2011. Assaults, kidnappings, and murder-for-hire have been increasing at an alarming rate (which I have alluded to in previous blogs), to the point that Ecuatorian citizens have demanded government action. In response, the government has gathered statistics and one gentleman has offered a 10-point plan to keep from becoming a "narcosociety".
I also saw on the news last night that a (particularly white-looking) couple was kidnapped in the province of Pichincha (the city of Quito) and taken to Santo Domingo de los Áchilas,,, with demand of $100,00.00 ransom. The Ecuatorian Police, Kidnap Unit apparently did an outstanding job of finding the couple and capturing their kidnappers.
There are lots of reports of murders at the ATM´s at all hours.

3. Although the list of signatures that was being collected early this year apparently has been abandoned, there is evidence of growing dissent related to the current govt.

4. Healthcare is in apparent crisis, with many reports of overtaxed hospitals, unqualified workers, inadequate supplies --- and just announced last week by the govt., 24-hour care for all hospitals and clinics. Medical professionals are being pressed on all sides. There are reports this weekend about the death of 10 babies in one single hospital.

M