Sucre Clinic Continued

Pastor Juan Bayo grew up in a Quechua Indian family in Sucre, Bolivia . Their religion was a religion of idolatry. The only doctors they had were the witch doctors. At a very early age, Juan began to question his mother about why they had to go to the witch doctors. He observed that no one ever really got well. As Juan watched his grandmother become completely blind, he wanted to know why they could not take her to a medical doctor in town. Sometimes on holidays when his family went into town, Juan would hear the Gospel message being preached in the public square. Even as a boy, Juan felt that God was calling him to bring health care to the Quechua people.

When Juan was 11 years old, his father became very sick. Again, Juan asked his mother why they could not take his father to the hospital. Juan's father died, and Juan dropped out of school to get a job and help his mother support his 4 younger brothers and sisters. In the years that followed, Juan was a very sick teenager, but his mother refused to take him to a medical doctor. She was afraid of what the witchdoctors would do if they found out. So, whenever Juan was sick, they continued to visit the witchdoctor and sacrifice animals to appease the spirit of his dead father.

At the age of 16, as Juan lay sick and dying, some people from the town passed by with a horse drawn cart and insisted on taking Juan to the hospital. His mother finally consented and his life was saved. This experience served to strengthen Juan's vision to bring health care to the Quechua people. When he was 18, he gave his life to the Lord Jesus. Juan was discipled by American missionaries and became a pastor. Then he met Pastor Ruben Baldiviezo, who was our mission pastor in Santa Cruz. Pastor Ruben told Juan about the work of Mission of Hope, where the poor can receive free medical care and medicines and also hear the Gospel message of salvation. Juan told Pastor Ruben that this was his dream for the Quechua people of Sucre.

Juan had land that he inherited from his father. He told Pastor Ruben that he wanted to donate this land to Mission of Hope. Not long after that, a team from St. Simons Island, Georgia went to Sucre to lay the foundation for this clinic. A year later, a second team went to Sucre to paint the inside and lay the tile flooring. As funds continued to come in, local workers were hired to finish the job. We, at Mission of Hope, are excited to see how God will use this facility to reach the Quechua Indian people for Christ.

If you would like to make a donation to furnish and equip the Sucre clinic, click here.

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2009 Contruction Team

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