As most of you know, San Lorenzo is considered by most people to be a fairly dangerous place.  We are known for having high levels of crime, violence and murder.  But we have been very blessed at the Clinic – we have not had problems with violence inside the Clinic or on our property.  We did have a bit of a scare a couple weeks ago – BUT – it was at our office in Quito!

Years ago, when I came to San Lorenzo to live, we converted my apartment in Quito into an office for our Ecuadorian foundation that runs the Clinic.  I still have living space there, and stay there when I am in Quito.  This is where Dámarys and Loida work while they are in Quito.

Two weeks ago, Dámarys was alone in the office on a Friday afternoon.  She was working in her second floor office.  She heard a loud gunshot and then glass breaking inside the apartment.  It sounded quite close.  She waited, and after some time passed with no further activity – she went up to the small room that comprises the third floor of the apartment.  There she discovered a three inch hole in the window and shattered glass on the floor.  She could see where the bullet had passed through an adjacent cardboard box that held medical supplies.

Dámarys Reyes, the Clinic’s administrative director

Soon after she heard sirens, and the police showed up at the construction site next to the office.  Apparently it had been payday for the construction workers, and while they were receiving their pay someone tried to rob the workers – and gunshots were fired during the altercation.  It was a stray bullet that found its way to the third floor of our office.

We are thankful that Dámarys was not injured, and that she had not been on the third floor when the bullet entered the office.

And they say that San Lorenzo is dangerous….!!!