School

Another year of school has started for kids in Quito.  I knew that kids have to pay  to go to school here (even public schools), but before this year I didn’t realize to what extent.  Here are some examples:

• $50+ in school supplies (a list about a page long); including books, pencils, markers etc.
• $60+ for one uniform (most kids in Carmen Bajo only have one and wear them until they are threadbare)
• $5 – $40 registration fee (huge range depending on school)
• $5 – $40 monthly fee (huge range depending on school)
• $5 – $10 monthly transportation

If you are already living day-to-day, where is this money supposed to come from to start the school year?

Parents not only need to have money, but they also need to care.  Obviously this is true anywhere in the world, but here it seems even more apparent.  Kids are not assigned a school based on where they live.  The parent needs to make the effort to find a school for their child and register them.  There are good schools and horrible schools.  Spots at the good schools fill up fast.  You can imagine where the kids end up whose parents don’t care.

Thankfully the kids in the Carmen Bajo project receive a lot of help and support – both financially and in navigating the school system.  It definitely makes me wonder what happens to the kids who don’t have anyone to stand in the gap for them?

First day of school for the kindergarten class in Carmen Bajo:

Hospitals

I recently had the chance to observe the medical system here while keeping a friend company whose husband was in the hospital.  I am fascinated by a number of things.

You are not charged for the hospital stay or the doctors’ services (in a public hospital), but every little thing costs money.  Family members are constantly sent out to buy supplies – IV bags, rubber gloves, bandages, a spoon (since the lunch comes without silverware) etc.  And, a good chunk of the time it seems like the family member buys the wrong thing (really … how do they know what the doctor means?) and has to run back to the pharmacy to exchange it for the right thing.  Plus, they are sent out to buy prescriptions.  And, everything seems to happen at the last minute so that family members are literally running through the halls.

I was left pondering the following questions:  What happens if you don’t have a family member in the hospital to do all this running around and taking care of you?  And, what happens if you don’t have the money to pay for all the prescriptions and supplies required?

Thankfully I have not found myself in hospitals in Canada very often, but I know enough to realize how good we have things.

Numbers vs. People

Perhaps you have already heard my theory.  I share it a lot, so it is possible.  Some people think I am crazy because I like working with numbers.  But, my theory is that working with numbers is much better than working with people because:

1) Numbers are predictable – everyday, no matter what is going on, no matter where you are, 1 + 1 is always 2.

2) Numbers can’t talk back (in fact, they can’t talk at all!)

3) Numbers can’t disappoint you or break your heart

I had a difficult morning today.  One of the girls we have been working with really crushed me.  I know it isn’t true, but the thought “have we just wasted the last year investing in these girls” crossed my mind.

Now I am back in the office, trying to take comfort in the predictability of the numbers around me.  And it’s not as if I needed it, but I now have more proof that my theory is indeed correct … it’s much easier to work with numbers than people!

At the rink

When my friend was visiting from Canada, I took advantage of her skills to help me take some ecuadorian friends skating.  Yes, there is one skating rink here in Quito.  It is extremely small, has horrible ice and the skates that you rent are by far the dullest I have ever used.  But, when you have never seen ice before,  it is still a pretty incredible experience.  My friends fared pretty well and by the end they were cautiously skating on their own.  It was a real pleasure to be able to share one of my favourite activities.

My 2 favourite lines of the day:

“Can we take some ice home to show my dad” … the 5 yr old

“What’s McDonald’s?” … all 3 when asked if they preferred McDonald’s or KFC for lunch.  We went to KFC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cotopaxi

What an amazing feeling to have a snowball fight in Ecuador!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cotopaxi is one of the highest volcanos in Ecuador.  I am constantly amazed at the mountain views from Quito, but before this I had never been up close and personal with one.  The drive to Cotopaxi is along a road known as the “route of the volcanoes”.  We had an amazingly clear day and because of recent precipitation (which is just rain in the city), the mountains were covered in snow.  I don’t know if I have ever used the word “wow” so many times!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then we arrived at Cotopaxi.  Again … wow!  We drove through the park and up a long road to the parking lot, which is at an altitude of 4,500 metres.  We then walked up the short, but exhausting trek (for lack of oxygen!) to the Refuge – the place where the serious mountain climbers start their summit.  We were fortunate to have the clouds break up for a few minutes so that we could see the top of the mountain.

Store Update

On Friday we opened the thrift store for the last time until school starts up again in September.  Thanks to the donations from the recent team from Creekside, the hot-ticket item this week was underwear.  When you don’t have a lot of money, underwear is a luxury item.  So, it was a privelage to be able to sell brand-new undies of all shapes and sizes at the low, low price of 25 cents a pair.  They flew off the shelves.  Thanks Creekside!

Over the last 6 or so weeks since we opened the store, we have earned  a little over $1000!  With this money we are going to be able to help out with $20/person for each team member going on the up-coming missions trip to the jungle (plus have money to put towards future trips).  I don’t know if the store will have a long-life, or if it will soon come to an end, but even just up to this point it has been worth it.

Spectacular

Here are some photos from my mini-vacation this past weekend.

Climbing Mt. Fuya Fuya on Friday

The extremely steep ascent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The clouds roll in and the terrain gets a bit trickier

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The summit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The challenging descent … I fell at least 5 times on the way down … I blame the shoes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Random incredible views on Saturday – I am in awe of the beauty of this country

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the River

Last Sunday was a time to celebrate the baptisms of 8 people.  The team from Canada, along with at least 100 people from Carmen Bajo, boarded 3 big buses and drove 4 hours to a river in a town called Pachijal (pronounced Patch-e-hall).  It was amazing to hear the testimonies of those being baptized and remember that in the midst of all the problems (which often overwhelm me), lives are indeed being changed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bearer of Good News

One of the greatest things I get to do in my role with Carmen Bajo is deliver good news!  Just today I received thanks from two different people for two different things that I would like to pass along …

1) An eye doctor was part of a team that came down in March.  She took all the prescriptions back to Canada with her and made up the glasses.  When I was home for a visit in June, I was able to bring back the glasses.  Since then,  I have had the opportunity to place the glasses on the kids’ faces and see their expressions when they realize how much better they can see.  This mom, daughter and son all received their glasses today …

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2) Several families have been living as squatters on their land since the government relocated them there over 10 years ago.  Now, the municipality is asking those people to buy their land.  When the same team was here in March, they were touched by this need.  Together with the team and then with the Pastor, we discussed the trade-off between buying the land for the people (easier to do and feels good in the moment) and loaning the money (encouraging people to take responsibility, feel pride in owning their land).  Ultimately, we landed in the middle.  The families received part of the funds as a gift and the rest as a loan to be paid off in either monthly installments or through working in construction at the church.  Today I received a huge hug and thanks from one of the women whose family is part of this program.  She is so grateful and said that this lifts a tremendous burden off of her family.

SO, I just want to say THANKS to all those who give to and pray for Carmen Bajo and thanks for giving me the privilege of being the bearer of GOOD news!!

Grand Opening!

I have been waiting for this day for more than 6 months.  That’s how long it took for the idea to become reality.

The idea …. what if we could start a thrift store in Carmen Bajo?  What if people could have the dignity to look through a rack of clothes and actually choose what they want and when they want it (rather than being at the mercy of when the church decides to give out donations)?  What if the people paid a small price for their clothes so that they had the pride in owning something?  What if we could use currency in the store as a way to thank volunteers in the church?

When I was in Canada over Christmas, I began asking these questions.  Then, when I returned to Quito in January I continued bouncing this idea off anyone and everyone who would listen.  The overwhelming response was “go for it!”.  So, my amazing friend Laura (without whom this never would have happened) and I began to implement the idea.  Every step was probably 10 times more difficult than it would be in Canada, but at last we reached today … the Grand Opening!

Over 75 people came through the store today.  At times it was completely chaotic, but overall it was an amazing day.  We made over $350 that will all be invested in Carmen Bajo’s missions trips into the jungle.  And, it was a joy to be able to see the excitement as people made their purchases.

The room before …

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The process …

Proudly painting in our new hats that we won at the paint store!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clothing racks finally delivered (made by someone in Carmen Bajo) …

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorting clothes …

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Opening day … let the shopping begin!