Mangayacu

For months we have been asking the Lord for direction concerning the implementation stage of the I-Med training. Christian tribal leaders from the Amazon region have expressed their desire to have training centers where they can learn, and train trainers from within their own communities in both the Bible and livelihood skills. It is a strong desire that has been expressed by these leaders to Steve, as well as others. Lord willing a training center is the place where training, such as I-Med, can be implemented.

Back in November, Evan and I made a trip to Ecuador to look at a possible site for a training center near Shell Mera, Ecuador. One possible site we looked at was Mangayacu, a camp just 15 minutes outside of Shell. The camp is owned by a local church in Puyo, Ecuador which has had the desire to use the camp for Bible training courses and practical courses such as medicine, dentistry, mechanics and more. Doesn't that sound like what ITEC does?? ITEC has been exploring the possibility of partnering with this church and other organizations to start a training center for tribal believers in the Amazon region.

The camp is already being used for Bible training classes, and at the end of February Evan, Steve Saint and Troy Townsend from ITEC will join a group of dentists from the States to provide the first additional training course at Mangayacu. The ITEC team will use this training course as an opportunity to test the I-See and I-Med curriculum. These training programs are modeled after the I-Dent dental training program which has been used successfully in multiple countries to train indigenous believers in basic dentistry.

Evan will also use this trip to further explore the possibility of our family moving to Shell Mera in the spring to help start an ongoing training center. Please pray for continued guidance for us as we consider this move. As well, please pray for Evan as he continues to work on the curriculum.