Ecuador Compassion-07/18-25

Hello bloggers. Steph here. Rick and Rob have been on me this entire trip to blog, and since we’re leaving in 4hours, I thought this would be the time to do it.

let me see…

We arrived in the unique city of Ecuador so late Friday night as to get to our luxurious place of stay and get ready for bed. Our view of the city even allowed us to look down and watch fireworks being set off nearby. Each room had its own bathroom, though Anne and myself were both utterly distraught to find that the toilet water here does not flush the opposite direction on this side of the equator (at least not here).

We came in contact with quite a few people over the course of this trip, most loving and beautiful (especially the women! haha! I think I saw only four seemingly unattractive women in the duration of the trip! (maybe they weren’t natives)).  ;p

We worked at a local school a couple of days, painting and tiling.. met an amazing boy named Eric. You know the norm of society is messed up when it’s all you can do to hold back tears when a kid you’ve never met hugs you, and simply because you exist (this may seem insincere to some, but I promise you it’s not). It brings light upon an Instant Messaging away message of a former acquaintance of mine (wow, get to the quote, Steph): “learning that life is more than just who we are.” though easier stated than lived.

As I’m sure others have written, we also attended a native church. The songs were energetic, though strangely to me, they kept beat on 1,3,5,7, rather than our normal 2,4,6,8: really gives it a different feel/mood. The service was surprisingly very moving (we had a translator), partially I think because of the wonderful people there: so warm and welcoming (I think I like “w” words this evening).

After church we went to the park (awesome!!! soooo different from the parks in the states) and played soccer with some of the street kids. We had a ball. Get it?

I wish you could all see these kids. 

Interesting fact: around 30,000 kids under the age of 5 die a DAY.

We all grew so close and accustomed to one another on this trip as well. It’s amazing how an experience like this can really open up people.

Did I mention that there were wild dogs EVERYWHERE?

Inevitably the day spent with the sponsored Compassion Kids was emotional. I think it was love at first sight for everyone.

The dump was crushing to witness.

I’d like to go into detail about these two things, but I’m afraid I don’t have the brain power this late at night and I’d like to share, in detail, one other experience…

One day we toured Quito’s Compassion International building. After that we drove to one of their projects (124). This particular project involved 198 children from birth until the age of three. The project workers there work with these children and their mothers 5-6 times a week, supplying them with basic needs, childcare lessons, and schooling/spiritual education. The day was interesting, but slow… that is until we split into groups, piled in vans and visited the home of a family involved in this program. The family that I visited consisted of a mother (Veronica), father (Ivan), 2 year-old son (Joel), and a recently named (a title that I didn’t understand) 10 month-old daughter (you may have guessed that they only name them after they trust in the child’s survival).

It was a long drive up a few dirt roads. Finally the van stopped in front of a cement wall with a rotted wooden door for an entrance. We walked in to a dirt font yard. It contained only a bit of junk, a seemingly 3×3 foot outhouse, a skeletal-looking dog and 2 clotheslines. Their shelter, made-up of sloppily layed cement blocks and a tin roof was no bigger than my kitchen. There were two rooms. The parents/baby’s bedroom and Joel’s bedroom/the kitchen. The floor was dirt and the ceiling a trash bag-material tarp. There was a newly owned bed, 2 shelves (for toys and dishes), 2 chairs (which they insisted we use… not to mention their apology that it was all they had to offer), one tiny counter, some nails holding up Ivan’s work tools and a refrigerator, containing a clove of broccoli and half of a 2L bottle of soda, which they shared with us. We talked back and forth to the family through a translator. We asked them about their working situation and although Ivan is skilled as a nutritionist, there is simply no work for him. And, although they would love to start a small business, there are no possible means to acquire a loan. When asked their dreams for their children, Ivan explained how all he wants is the best for them. He said he knows he doesn’t have much, but he will give them all he has. We also found out that they pay no rent, not that they would have money to pay it. They found their home and pray every day that the person who previously abandoned it doesn’t return.

Then someone asked them if they could have God change ANYTHING in the world for them, what they would choose. Ivan plainly replied that he would wish for a changed mindset of people, to be more like US, to care. And all we’re thinking as we weep at the dreams of this man who has NOTHING is how foolish it truly is for him to admire us for “caring”, because in all honesty I think we all know we generally do the bare minimum in our daily lives to care for people like Ivan and his wife and kids, or anyone for that matter… he was the admirable one.

I wish I could even describe in .0001%accuracycy the emotion in this experience. You really cannot comprehend it unless you are there. Heck, I was there and I’m STILL trying to comprehend it all.

Later on we talked of how guilt is fluff that is not long-lasting and therefore doesn’t generally better anything, but how passion can change the world. I think this is true

I suppose one reflection of the trip is what I take seriously and what I don’t. Obviously a place like this is going to make anyone face the reality of their own selfish, spoiled mindset, complaining over lazy, American things such as “If Ihave to look under the couch for the remote one more time I’m going to kill my kids” or “As if I have time to hold this door open for you all day!” or even “I fricken got an F on this paper.” I think most people (myself included) would be ashamed to admit that this is us, especially seeing the poverty and trials that come with that poverty in a place such as Ecuador. Though, even this isn’t fully what I’m talking about. I’m talking about emotional, serious importances (or so we would call them) to us in our society: things we cry over, things that consumer our thoughts, and things we’ll have hour-long conversations about with our best friends. Being in a place like this really makes you think that practically everything we generally hold to importance in life hardly matters at all. I truly don’t mean this cynically, but if we stepped back and tried to look at it how God might view whatever “mega crisis” we’re having, I think we might find it’s not such a mega crisis after all. Surely I’m not saying that feeling things is wrong– IT ISN’T, nor is talking/experiencing/dealing with things you feel. All I mean is, maybe the things we so often wrap ourselves up in are not as important as we think. Maybe that promotion, that college acceptance letter, or even that breakup isn’t as serious as we, ourselves nor society make it out to be. This also goes for anything troubling to us, whether it be an occurrence or not. So I hereby challenge myself (and any crazy person who actually reads this ridiculously long blog whatchamacallit) to ask what’s really serious and important in this life.

Basically: being here, in this place of these circumstances and with these people, things that usually matter, don’t seem to matter at all.

Alright, I’m done trying to explain this via wretched blog (and the people sigh in relief).

Alright, well now that I’ve practically written a novel, I should catch some Zs.

Love love love.

Steph

Who was more nervous?   Edison Andy or me?  I’ll probably never know, but by the time we were walking towards the group of children, family, tutors and translators I was so excited!  Would he know me?  Would I know him?  He really traveled 12 hours to get here to meet me?  Wow!  Sure enough I recognized him.  Roberto, a Compassion International Guide/Translator, mentioned Edison’s name and I knew immediately I was looking at him.  We went straight for each other with a hug and many smiles.  Edison Andy is 11 and much smaller than my 10 year old grandson.  Indeed, his 15 year old brother, Jose, looked more my grandson, Baylee’s, height. 

Sure enough, Edison had never been to a city before let alone an amusement park.  Of course, he was shy.  Our translator, Malayna, helped us tremendously.  Before I even had time to give him his presents, he was presenting me with a hand made necklace made by his mother!  Then came 2 necklaces with boar’s teeth for my husband, Jim, and a hand stitched purse for me.  I was overwhelmed and spilling tears.  I never expected something from him and after what I’ve seen this week, I could hardly bare to accept a gift.  To refuse would be worse.  Then he opened his gifts and he was thrilled.  His favorite seemed to be a small picture album because after that he gave me such a spontaneous hug I was thrilled and teary again!  He was too.  We walked and talked and got acquainted.  Then we went for a paddle-boat ride.  I found out he had never tasted ice cream (my favorite) so we promptly took care of that. 

Roberto showed up with a soccer ball to kick around.  So we got out Edison’s new one, and soon he and his brother and Edison’s tutor and Grandma Jane were kicking around a soccer ball.  At my age, only love could get me into a game!  He asked what sports I liked and I mentioned baseball and volley ball, and pretty soon we were smacking the ball around by hand.  What a blast!

As the day moved on, I came to learn that Edison is an aborigine from Ecaudor!  His parents’ tribe is the Waudani tribe.  Edison swims and bathes in the Amazon (snakes and all - sorry Greg) and he hunts with his father.  Edison spears fish and actually kills bears with a bean shooter!!!!  His favorite food is some kind of green banana that his mother cooks andsmashes.  Another favorite food is MONKEY.  He gets good grades and right now his favorite subject is language.  He speaks 2 of them already.  He speaks his tribal language which I can’t pronounce and he speaks Spanish.   He has 7 brothers and sisters, and so do I!

He enjoyed our Kentucky Fried Chicken but he prefers chicken as a pet rather than a food.   His pet is a duck which he decided to name Toby while we were together.  Funny thing is I have a stuffed little duck sitting on my desk at work.  Guess I’ll call him Toby.  When I get frustrated, I just squeeze it and it quacks.  Edison and I and his tutor and brother rode rides and played various games.  Normally I want nothing to do with a roller coaster.  As for the games, Edison kept winning at everything!  He has many abilities.  His last game was a miniature horse race.  He won - again.  The prize he picked?  It was the biggest stuffed animal he won today.  A yellow duck - and he gave it to me.

When we got back to our Hostel today, we ran into the Director of Extreme Reponse - which is their building we are staying in.  I mentioned Edison’s tribe.  His tribe is the same tribe that killed 5 missionaries in Ecuador in the 50’s when I grew up. 

Aslan is on the move!

Jane Plummer

I 

My word for the day is SINCERE.  Each day during our debriefing we have had to choose a word to describe the day - yesterday’s was HEART-WRENCHING, but we couldn’t use the same word. Today, meeting our Compassion child was really beyond words!  We are told prior to the trip, that our child may be shy or a bit unresponsive when we first meet them.  I did not see that with any of the greetings more the opposite.  the children knew us from our pictures and ran up to us with smiles on their faces and open arms.  I found out how precious this bond is just from writing letters.  Their love and appreciation for us is so sincere.  Anderson and I spent several  hours playing with the frisbee, soccer ball, and bubbles.  We rode the paddle boats at the park, although Jonathan, my  interpretor for the day couldn’t keep it going straight, we had KFC for lunch then headed to the amusement park. It was wonderful until we had to say goodbye.  My heart just felt like it was breaking in to tiny pieces.  We prayed for each other and both Anderson and his father said they will keep me in their hearts and prayers.  And, I  in theirs.  We hugged, we cried, we had to go our separate ways, but we know we will meet again. 

Jen Sigler-Enochs

Here’s a pic from today’s meeting w/ my 2nd “daughter”, Deseny and her mother, Dianne. I can’t even begin to tell you of the joy and the sadness in my heart. They arrived in Quito last night and are riding a bus for 8 hours tonight to return home. We had a GREAT day in the park (paddle boat ride, a game of soccer, and a picnic) then off to an amusement park (similar to the Stark County fair). The 3 of us sobbed at departure. They have taken a large piece of my heart with them. Regardless of skin tone, language, or geographic, love has no boundaries. sigh, tear, ahhhh. Tomorrow morning is the trip to the dump. In the afternoon, off to the park to shop and to finally walk the equator! Friday morn is the 4 a.m. departure for home. Sssssssssoo much has happened this week. Sssssooo much of my life has changed. I hope this clarity continues after my return. God has surely been with me every minute of this trip. I am looking forward to being home but am greiving the loss of my newly found Ecuadorian friends (and my Rivertree roomates, too!).

Anne

Well with everything that God has provided us this week, today he has moved me more to serving the children on the fringe than ever. I had the pleasure to meet my compassion child Dellaneira for the first time. There are not enough words to express the amount of love, gratitude, and emotion that was shared between our two families. This little 8 year old girl, who has only seen a picture of me, picked me out of a crowd of over 30 people and gave me the biggest hug any one could ever want. We spent the day playing and sharing things about each of our families and sharing our faith in Jesus Christ as our savor. WOW GOD is great. From Our first day till now God has not stopped working in me, shaping me and molding me into a man he want me to become. With all of our team and those here in Ecuador being part of that process I can only Praise God for using all of use together for his eternal plan. God’s blessing to all.

Gary Kropf

Yesterday we walked the neighborhood of La Comuna. We walked from the poorest section to the church and Nuevos Amigos. It was great to talk to people as we walked. The kids came out from everywhere as we handed out candy.

We didn’t get as much work done on the school as we would have liked because after lunch we went to Ricardo’s casa. He is a true craftsman. We toured his house and stayed for some juice. Ricardo and his esposa Maria are such gracious people. You can tell the love of Jesus just seeps from their soul.

The teachers at the school, and what a fun bunch they were, asked us to go to the park and ride the cable car. I am not much for heights on things like that, but I went along. It wasn’t too bad. The view at the top was worth it. Again, even though we didn’t have a translator, we could understand each other. We had great impromtu visit.

Then we grilled out at the hostel. Michelle came early and prepared the meat for Gary to grill. What a feast.

God is good.

Rob

Today I visited Compassion International Ecuador’s office in Quito. Can I say how impressed I am with this organization. You can’t understand unless you witness thier work firsthand.

We then visited the church where the Child Survival Program 124 is run from. Again, I was very impressed. We got to spend time learning more about how the Compassion tutors do their jobs.

But the most emotional part of the day for me was when I visited the home of Joann. The home had one room and was about 8 feet by 8 feet. Joann told us about her husband and what he does. She told us that he has a dream to move them to a better place but right now they can’t because she stays home with her 8 month old. She continued to say that the fact that they couldn’t afford to move was okay because what they had was enough.

ENOUGH! That’s what it is all about.

Rob

Words have not be created to describe what I am experiencing.  Talk about Amazing Grace!  Yesterday’s church service was a very moving, heart warming, God discovering experience.  I have never felt such joy/love/peace.  What a quawinkeedink—Jesus was born in a humble manger in the middle of nowhere and He/She was born in me in the humble church in the middle of nowhere.  The Equadorian people are sssooo happy/loving.  But, but, but they have absolutely nothing.  I sssooo admire them…I want to adopt their mindset.  I am enjoying the evolution of God’s work in me, the …..

never mind——-the clock is ticking…..more later—–(ilovemyroomatesilovemyroomatesilovemyroomates………)

byebye

Anne