My time in Ecuador is over. It was an amazing summer filled with some great experiences. I’ve been back in the US for several days now and I don’t feel as though I’ve experienced too much reverse culture shock, although I do have to remind myself that I can throw toilet paper in the toilet now.
Our last two weeks in Ecuador flew by. We had our last day at the hospital in Quito and it was difficult to say goodbye to all the nurses I’d been working with for 6 weeks. I got some pictures, but I didn’t get pictures with some of the nurses that taught me the most. After finishing up our time in Quito, we spent five days in the Oriente (jungle). For two days we went farther in to the jungle than Shell and stayed at a field school in Waorani territory. We were able to participate in a Yuca planting ceremony as well as attend a Quichua church service. We also got to relax and float down the Napo river.
Once we returned to Shell we spent the next two days working at the hospital. It was a little boring for me because there were only 5 patients hospitalized and not too much going on in the Emergency room. All the other girls were working with doctors who were seeing outpatients. But a wonderful surprise came after lunch - I saw a doctor going into the delivery room and I followed him in there (we were basically given permission to go anywhere, including the OR, which several girls took advantage of). There was a girl who was going to have a baby that afternoon. The rest of the afternoon, I bounced between the ER and the delivery room, waiting for the baby to be born. After going home for a quick break when I was done at the hospital, I came back to find the doctors getting ready to deliver the baby, and I got to be part of it! It got a little stressful in the room during the delivery because the cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck, but the doctors did a wonderful job and Gladys had a beautiful baby girl! I went back the next morning and got a picture with Gladys and her baby - the first baby I ever saw delivered! The next day I was able to see another delivery as well. I am really thinking that I’d like to go into labor and delivery some day. The first thing the hospital administrator at Shell told us on our tour was that “we deliver a lot of babies at this hospital.” Who knows, maybe someday God will lead me back to Shell as a nurse.
Like I said before, this was an amazing experience. I keep thanking God for sending me to Ecuador. Last summer, going to Ecuador was the last thing I wanted to do. Even this past fall when my friend Jenna was talking about, my thoughts on the subject were along the lines of “yeah, that sounds great for you, but I’m going to stay here in the US...” God changed that and only God knows what He has in store for my future next.
Thank you all for your prayers and support. God used you to accomplish something in me. I really appreciate your partnership and all you have done in my life. Thank you!
