Medical mission inspires graduate studies coordinator

Nick and Danielle Sewell with Pamela, an Ecuadoran girl.
PULLMAN – This summer, Nick Sewell found himself in a South American mountainside village, washing the dusty feet of peasants. It’s a story that began nine years ago when, after listening to a woman at his church share about her overseas medical trip, his 8-year-old daughter Danielle said she wanted to go Ecuador and help people.
 
Sewell is academic coordinator in the Washington State University College of Education Office of Graduate Studies. He will explain how he and Danielle realized their dream together and how the experience inspired and educated him at a free, public presentation at noon Wednesday, Sept. 5, in Cleveland Hall 160A.
 
He and his daughter joined a team organized by Pullman nurse practitioner Nancy Gregory, who has gone to Ecuador seven times in the last nine years for a short-term mission she calls Ecuador Medical. Local Ecuadoran political leaders and ministries determine which villages will receive care, Sewell said. Gregory’s trips have won the attention and support of the Ecuadorian military, which for the last several years has assisted in transporting supplies and setting up the clinic at each location.
 
“We brought bread with us to one village after realizing that many of the children come to school without breakfast and have nothing to eat until they arrive home in the afternoon,” Sewell wrote in a guest post on the EduCoug blog, Experience in Ecuador redefines ‘need’ for father and daughter. “Though we were able to get the children to smile when we played with them, we seldom saw adult villagers smile.”
 
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