Valentine show benefits mission to Ecuador
A Valentine’s Day variety show this Friday will offer a celebration of the holiday along with the chance to support a mission trip to Ecuador.
A Christmas variety show has traditionally supported the Shepherd’s Hand free clinic, but this year the show has taken on a Valentine theme and will support a different medical mission.
The “Love is in the Air” show is a fundraiser for a mission group, based out of the Christ Lutheran Church, that will travel to several villages in Ecuador. The group of almost 30 people will provide medical and dental care, along with assisting with building projects and putting on a children’s vacation Bible school.
Eureka physician Randy Butikofer is helping to lead the mission trip, which is making its fifth journey to Ecuador. The trips originally grew out of the idea of expanding Shepherd’s Hand to an international mission. The volunteers include doctors, dentists, nurses and others who will help in a variety of ways during the two-week trip.
The group will be based in a village in the Andes mountains and travel to other smaller villages to provide medical care and ministry.
“It’s truly a poor area,” Butikofer said. “Many of these people might never see a doctor or dentist. Our visit may be the only time they see someone.”
Butikofer said the conditions in the villages, which are only comprised of a school and a town hall building, are Third World. There is no modernization with the residents living in clay and thatch houses, and cooking over open fires.
Much of the trip will be spent administering medical and dental care to the people. There is often poor oral health and most of the dental work will involve tooth extractions.
Medical care will focus on treating intestinal parasites and worms, aches and pains, and skin diseases resulting from exposure.
“Most people work in agriculture farming on slopes we would ski on,” Butikofer said. “With that physical work environment comes a lot of aches and pains. There is also a lot of skin diseases and eye problems resulting from being exposed to the wind and sun at the high altitude.”
Patients will be provided with vitamins, worming medication and basic hygiene products.
The group will also hold a vacation Bible school, help with building projects and spend a couple days working at an orphanage and womens shelter.
Whitefish physician Ron Miller will be joining the mission trip for the first time this spring.
“We’re spreading a message of hope and love,” he said. “We want these people to know that someone cares about them as well as helping them be relieved of pain.”
Each volunteer member is responsible for their own air travel and in-country costs that include joint expenses for the team such as travel, food and interpreters. Fundraising efforts go toward the medical and dental supplies and medications that will be taken to Ecuador. North Valley Hospital and Kalispell Regional Medical Center have been among those who have provided support to the trip.
Butikofer said local financial and logistical support of the trip has been overwhelming. The variety show will help provide funds for the medical and dental supplies.
“Love is in the Air” variety show will take place Friday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church in Whitefish. A good will offering will be taken at the door.
Performers for the night include, Brigid NallyMadigan, Rachel Dunlap, Alex Breuer and Elsa Dodd, Backwoods Boys, Sophia Woodward, Sue Anton-Hruza, Ryan Trout, Sarah Mitchell, Charlene Prince and Mark McCrady and Amanda Caldwell.
Tickets will be sold during the show for Rob Akey’s “Awake My Glory,” an original oil painting of the Flathead River at Badrock Canyon. The raffle will be held at the end of the show.