a letter written by me.....for you

To my friends and family,

I am writing you to inform you about a medical mission trip I will be taking this coming April. Myself and two nursing school friends will be teaming up with The Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA) and traveling to Ecuador, South America for a two week period. Our team will range from gynecologists, to nurses, to translators who will all be working together to provide surgeries to women with gynecological complications, preventative health education for the community, and support to the local church.

As many of you know, I have a strong desire to use my nursing skills to help people who are not able to receive basic health care. As a third year nursing student, I have dreamt for a long time about an opportunity to take my nursing abroad. After much thought and prayerful consideration, it was made clear that this trip to Ecuador was what God has in mind for us. And so, our long invested dream is becoming reality.

While in Ecuador we will be serving in two different locations for a week at a time. The first is Gualaquiza, a mountainous, rural community in South East Ecuador, and the second is the larger city of Cuenca. There is an existing relationship between CMDA teams and the local church and clinic in Cuenca, allowing us to continue building trust within that community.

The medical need is great within these communities. In Ecuador, when someone needs a surgical procedure done, they are required to purchase all of the necessary materials for the surgery. Therefore, it is largely impossible for most people to afford the health care they require.
Our team will be collecting all of the required medical supplies necessary for the surgeries we will be performing. In addition, we will be able to provide health education in hopes of impacting future health outcomes.

I am requesting your partnership with me in this ministry. I have chosen to send this letter to you in hopes that you will prayerfully consider how you can join me in this adventure. First and foremost, I hope you will consider praying for me and the team while we prepare for and during the actual trip. The dates of our trip are April 18-May 2.

Secondly, I would appreciate any financial support you may be able to offer. The cost of the trip is $1600 plus international airfare, totaling close to $2500. We trust that God will provide the necessary funds for our trip. If you are able to contribute financially, you have the option of writing out a cheque to myself or to a local church for a tax deduction. We have set up a fund through my team member's church so that there can be a tax deductible option for donors. If you choose this route, please write the cheque out to Mountainview Alliance Church and write "Ecuador trip" as the memo. My address is posted at the end of this letter for mailing purposes. Please contact me if you have any questions regarding this process.

I feel privileged to have an opportunity to live out my passions by serving God through serving his people. I feel blessed to have people in my life that share in this vision and are willing to walk alongside me. Thank you for your continued love and support in my life.

for His glory,
Renee Grootenboer

BC address:
#67 20875 80th Avenue
Langley, BC
V2Y 0B2