Ecuador director an answer to prayer

Dr. Sofia Cañadas provides an overview of her ministry work after taking on the director role in September. (Photo by Dr. Brent Van Andel)

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” ― Luke 9:23

QUININDÉ, ECUADOR ―Last January, Dr. Greg Kuiper wrote about Dr. Yeny Agila de Pino’s ministry transition in Quinindé Ecuador, seeking prayer for provision of a new medical director to take up the yoke of ministry due to Yeny’s pending retirement. Thank you for your prayers, as God has answered! He sent Dr. Sofia Cañadas who began as the director in September.

Trained as a family physician with a doctorate in public health, Dr. Sofia previously worked as a professor at a private hospital in the capital of Quito. She made a good salary and was well liked by her peers and the students. Then came the call of God on her life ― the call to leave her parents with whom she lived, both of whom are physicians, to move to rural Quinindé, five hours away. The town is known for poverty and violent gang activity.

As Sofia struggled with her decision. A year ago, God spoke to her through Elisha’s calling in 1 Kings 19. That call seemed to come out of the blue, Elijah and Elisha had never met. Yet when Elijah symbolically threw his cloak around Elisha, he didn’t confer with others. He didn’t delay. He simply said goodbye to his parents and followed. Not only that, but he also burned the yoke and sacrificed his 12 oxen, making it impossible for him to return to his former way of life. Sofia knew this was God’s way of asking her to do the same. So she did.

Pray for Sofia, her new ministry in Ecuador and Dr. Yeny as she transitions to serve in new ways, especially with her husband who has health issues. Pray for Sofia’s parents as they struggle to understand her decision. Pray for the clinic, children and elder ministries leads. Thank you, God, for hearing our prayers and calling Sofia to serve you as the new ministry director in Ecuador. You always provide as we follow and obey.