1980: Christie A Nelson served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador in Las Mercedes, La Florida, Pichincha, Ecuador beginning in 1980



Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Christie A Nelson can be contacted at bangkokjoyagmaildcom

Country of Service: Ecuador

Training Group: Cattle

Cities you served in: Las Mercedes, La Florida, Pichincha, Ecuador

Arrival Year: 1980

Departure Year: 1981

Work Description:

Served as an agricultural extension agent teaching basic veterinarian practices, cattle & pasture management, and various farming skills among the dairy farmers. Also had the joy of developing and implementing a hands-on training program for local area farmers.

Bring us up to date on your life after the peace corps:

Had open-heart surgery for WPW in March 1982 at Duke University Hospital (was flown back from Ecuador from Ecuador). Recovered and served as a missionary in Guatemala for 5 years teaching correspondence school to MK's and ESL at the local parochial school. Returned to the US and received a master's degree in Theology & Education as well as Deaconess Certification 3 years later. Was sent to Thailand to develop a home for young girls victimized by the sex trade. Served these girls and their families for 8 years and the next 7 years worked with EC-9th grade students living in one of Bangkok's slums as well as taught ESL to young adults through retirees. All the work was associated in one way or another with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After 15 years, returned home to the states to care for my mom who was not well. Cared for her for 15 months. Spent 5 months after that going through reaculturation and personal develpment programs. Later was responsible for the spiritual care of 80 residents at a refugee children's shelter in southwestern US. Presently I have obtained teacher certificates and am moving to China in August 2011. I'll be the English Language Specialist at a new international school.

Any thoughts you have now looking back on peace corps days?:

Peace Corps was the toughest job I ever loved! :-) I remember many of the new experiences I had as well as the joys and sorrows. If I could do it over again, I would in an instant!

Anyone you are looking for or would like to hear from?:

Yes! I'd love to hear from Loraine Haase, Richard Took, Elaine Campbell, Tim Kelly, Amanda Tolles, Kenton Ayers, Forrest Henderson, Don & Lucy Schuler, Deb Wilson, and anyone else who may remember me!

Any message for returned volunteers?:

I really have missed you!
Leave a message here if there was an incorrect or duplicate e-mail address for you in the "Directory of Volunteers": Email me at bangkokjoy@gmail.com soon! Can't wait to catch up!



Originally posted: 7/24/2011

Looking for another volunteer who served with this Group?

If you know this volunteer or someone from his or her group and are looking to reconnect with them,
leave a message above where it says "Create New Conversation."

If this is your profile, post any additions, updates or corrections to your profile below where it says "Add a Message."

RPCVs: To add your own RPCV profile click here.

The Peace Corps Library Peace Corps Online is proud to announce that the Peace Corps Library is now available online. With over 30,000 index entries in 500 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related stories in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can use the Main Index to find hundreds of stories about what RPCVs with your same interests or from your Country of Service are doing today.