Posted in Musings

Jose Salazar was a medical doctor in the capital city of Quito, Ecuador. When his young son was chronically ill due to complications resulting from the high altitude of the city, Jose moved his family to Guayaquil, on the Ecuadorian coast.

After some time in Guayaquil he began to notice old people who were living on the streets. These people had been abandoned by their families who could or would not take care of them. One by one, Jose began to take them into his home. He would treat their medical needs while treating their other needs as well. He fed them, bathed them, gave them a bed to sleep on and made them a part of his family. Everything he had he shared with them.

Taking care of them took time away from his practice of medicine and he was soon without an income. But Jose was doing this because of the love God had put in his heart for these people. He started praying to God for sustenance. And God answered. People began to leave food on his doorstep. They never knew what they would be eating from day to day. Some days it would be a bunch of bananas. Sometimes just milk. But always there was something there.

Once the government came in and told him that he was not fulfilling the requirements and restrictions for having an "old folks home" in his home and that he would have just a few days to close it down and move all the people out. Jose prayed and within a week there was a coup that brought in a new government (coincidence?).

God has blessed Jose and this ministry in ways that border on the miraculous. He has never asked anyone but God for his needs and still depends upon God to provide. God has moved many people to help in many ways.

A few years ago they were given land by the government and a rich Ecuadorian living in California donated money for a building. There are currently over 70 residents at the Fundacion Clemencia where Jose lives with his family. They have ministered and taken care of hundreds of abandoned elderly in the last days of their lives. Many of them have come to have new life before departing the old.

Over the years we have had the joy of seeing God work and grow this ministry. Jose and Adriana have become friends. Yesterday, we went there to join in on their festivities for Father's Day. I thought you might like to see a little of what we saw. Enjoy!