Today we had the honor to meet and learn of the their work for health and dignity in poor communities in Chile. EPES was founded in 1982 as a health training project of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile. The founder, Karen Anderson, was inspired by a vision of quality and fairness in healthcare for the poor. Karen came to Chile in 1981 as an ELCA missionary and EPES was started in 1982. It has now grown from a small, emergency-response team to a leader to improve health services and awareness in all of Chile.
We traveled to a community health center where we met several health coordinators and toured their neighborhood. They inspired us to use our gifts to make positive changes in our own communities. They have focused on issues related to HIV, violence against women, women and infant health, and environmental issues. Their use of theater, music and artistic murals to communicate good health was very effective. They offer training and workshops to raise health awareness, encourage empowerment and discuss educational strategies to improve health promotion. Their dedication to serve their neighbors and communities was inspirational. http://www.epes.cl
Later in the afternoon Rev. Marcelo Huenulef Ortega, pastor at Trinidad, gave us a presentation on the Lutheran ministry to and for immigrants. Pastor Marcelo shared with us his passion for developing a ministry to the immigrants in Chile. Sadly this also includes victims of human trafficking of women in this country. He was very excited to share with us the progress the church is making at developing a structured organization to better assist and minister to the immigrant's needs.
We have now come to the end of the day inspired and grateful for the Holy Spirit's work here in Chile and in our hearts. God is here with us and we have been blessed by these new brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen.
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