Getting Out of Ourselves

The news from all over the world is harsh and depressing. I've found myself caught in loops of trolling the news and (ack!) reading the comments on the articles. (Side note: never...ever...read the comments, it's so completely soul crushing.) 

How I feel about current events

I knew I had a problem when I'd already cried before 10:30am last Thursday. What I was doing wasn't healthy for me and I was starting to obsess, no matter my good intentions to stand up for those that were being maligned.  A friend of ours invited us out to help an indigenous family that was building a new home with supplies and labour donated by CETAP-Lucy, a foundation and school that helps children with developmental disabilities and Hearts of Gold Foundation, that helps link immigrants from North America to charities here in Cuenca, plus another local charity that I don't know the name of. (Okay I know that's poor English, but I don't care.) Here's a special shout-out to Ric, the friend that invited us and official photographer. I totally forgot to take any pictures at all. The existing house is quite small, maybe 2 metres wide and 4 long. The new house will be double in length and triple in width, with two (maybe three) bedrooms and a nice long combined living/kitchen area.

Here's the some of the family:

Jhon, one of the family's three sons

Junior, another of the sons

Rocio, Angel (volunteers) and Juan Diego, one of the sons

On Saturday we headed out early (not my forte) and met at CETAP-Lucy and headed out to the work site. We'd been told that the conditions weren't ideal, that the lot was steep and the work hard. They hadn't undersold it. The slope of the plot had to be around 45 degrees.and only near the current house was there a path carved into the rock. It took a while to get used to moving up and down the grade, but, surprisingly, I got used to it. (Sort of...)

Super steep

The existing house is (as Ron described) rudimentary, but they now have running water and electricity, which is a definite improvement. Some initial foundation supports had been poured, but the government is improving the road by widening it, which means that the placement of the new house must change, rendering one foundation wall completely useless and required that new posts be poured further down the property. 

Existing house

The kitchen

 Much digging ensued. Rock, clay, stone and soil was slowly chipped away to allow space for the new foundation posts. In addition the garbage that was strewn around the lot was gathered and burned. (This is common here. There is little regard for clouds of toxic smoke in the face of "free" rubbish removal. I don't believe there are sanitation services in that part of town.)

Franny - our intrepid organiser

Me wielding a pick axe

Pedro (a volunteer) and Nellie, the mother

Nellie and Ron

Ric, our official photographer and invitor

Hauling away the rubble with Robert

Rocio (from CETAP-Lucy) and Salvador, the father

Nellie, Robert and Ron working on the solid rock.

Ron, enjoying every minute

Salvador chipping away at the wall of dirt and rock

We spent around four hours on site and managed to clear most of what was necessary to get ready to put in the new posts, which will have to wait for at least another week. The going is slow, the work manual and the technology basic: shovels, pick axes and chisels, for the most part. I know the concrete will be mixed by hand and painstakingly poured, wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow, but it's a great way to focus on something positive. It also is exhausting and we slept pretty well last night. Sure we have some sore muscles and Ron is sporting a couple of blisters, but it was worth it.

If you would like to help out by donating towards the project please go to Hearts of Gold. CETAP-Lucy is also supported, in part, by donations to Hearts of Gold. Or, if you'd like to volunteer your time, drop me a line and I'll get you in touch with Franny.

Paute, Ecuador - A Christmas Mission

Amidst the craziness that most of us experience as part of Christmas, Ron and I suited up to play elves in the town of Paute (pronounced POW-tay) about 45 minutes outside of Cuenca.  We were fortunate enough to be some of the volunteers included in one of the major holiday deliveries through Hearts of Gold Foundation, a non-profit agency here in Cuenca. (I've also written an article for them on their website.) This was our very first trip out of Cuenca since we arrived!  We were quite excited to go.

The trip to Paute was quite beautiful.  We passed through a region that is well known for growing flowers and you could see green houses and fields stretching out to the foothills.  Babies breath seemed the most prevalent crop at this time of year.  I'd love to take time to tour some of the farms sometime in the future.

Getting on the bus

Countryside of Azuay Prefecture

We planned on visiting a school for mentally challenged children and a home for abandoned elders to deliver gifts.  En route we stopped once to look at a project that was spear headed by Hearts of Gold.

The house on the left is a new build, with solid cement construction and luxuries like windows.  The building you see on the right is the residents' current home and also operates as their place of business.  They operate a small store out of the front of the shack.  As you can see, the new building has a nice weatherproof roof, much more space and offers far more security.  It was evident that the matriarch was thrilled with the progress of her new home.  

We arrived at the school and began to unpack the bus.  As soon as we stepped onto the school grounds we were rushed by enthusiastic children, all eager to give us hugs and kisses of greeting.  Even the parents and teachers were visibly excited to see us and greeted us with traditional cheek kisses and words of welcome.  Before we started giving out presents and food, the staff invited us to go out back of the school for a "celebration".  We spent a good hour dancing and clapping with all the children in their courtyard.  They were tireless, but we ended our fiesta with a rousing "Gangnam Style" ...yes, it has made it all the way to Paute, Ecuador!  Then our fun truly began.  We handed out food hampers to the mother's who waited with quiet anticipation and then gave stuffed animals to the students and bags of sweets to all the children which included the students and many of their siblings.

One of the students proudly showing off some of their Christmas arts & crafts made from reclaimed objects.

The start of the "fiesta"...I was too busy dancing to take more pictures.

One mother was moved to tears and gave a very emotional speech thanking Hearts of Gold for their good work.  Of course, we were also offered refreshments, as hospitality is not overlooked no matter how little people have. We left through a phalanx of mothers, wanting to kiss, hug and thank us...it was very very moving...I don't know if I can explain it and I can feel myself tearing up as I write.

Between the emotions, dancing and hot sun, we were all tired, so we took a lunch break and stopped at a Parradilla (Argentinian style barbeque) for lunch.  The restaurant is not yet open, but they allowed us to use their property for our break.  The mother is a volunteer at the abandoned elders home and generously opened her doors to us. (She actually housed many of the elders, while the residency was being built.)  Valley Farms Butchers is a lovely stop, with gorgeous grounds, a swimming pool and delicious and unique treats.  (We had canned green apricots, a local specialty, which were delicious!) They also offered up some very tasty strawberry ice-cream, which was perfect on a hot afternoon. (Another display of hospitality.) Can you believe that I didn't even think of taking pictures of the property???  I do have one of the apricots.

Well sated and partially rested we took the short trip to the old folks home.  We were more prepared, but the enthusiastic greeting was still heart rending.  Another fiesta ensued, with much dancing, this time to more traditional music and the residents danced us off our feet.  Even Ron got in to the action! (He said I was allowed to post his photo!)

Cutting a rug...the stuffed critters we gave as gifts are on the table.

 

Overview of most of the gang "gettin' down"

You might think it odd, to give elderly people stuffed toys, but they really enjoyed them.  They act as an additional pillow to prop up sore feet or stabilize aching backs and can also be hugged and chatted to in times of need.  One lady kept asking "Porque no bailan?" (Why aren't they dancing?) as the heat in the atrium soared and the day took it's toll on us weak gringos!  I did my best to keep up and slept like the dead last night.  We took time to stop and chat to each resident before we left and they pleaded for us to return.  I don't think they get a lot of visitors, as their own families are either gone or have abandoned them.  Of course, we were given gifts before we left, even though these lovely people have so little.  Mind boggling.

I was reminded that its not what we have that brings us happiness, but what lives in our hearts.  I started out the day thinking about how great it would be to do something for the people in need and I wound up getting so much more in return that my heart can't hold a single extra thing.  This is the Ecuador that I wanted to become a part of and Ron and I have been blessed to have experienced it so soon. (As I listen to "Van Diemen's Land" by U2...if you don't know it, look it up...it's about the struggle for rights and hope.)

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