2/2/10
Today was great because we did not have to get up until 6:45 am which was nice because it gave us a chance to catch up on a little sleep. It was something all of us desperately needed. I know I did. J Scott actually got up a little earlier and attempted to work out. It did not go well. The machines were slow and there was no air conditioning in the gym. Needless to say, I do not think he will attempt that again. (I am little worried about training when I get back, but I will think about that when we are home.)
We had a wonderful breakfast and once again the Pastor for our trip, Pastor Pete, shared an amazing message. Today he focused on two things really. The first was just a little bonus story that he felt lead to share. He talked about Acts 1:8 and the Ascension of Jesus. He talked about how the disciples looked up to watch Jesus go, and that when the angels appeared before them to ask why they were looking up, the angels were actually on the ground. In other words, the angels were reminding the disciples and all of us that our work is here on earth. We need to be focused on what is around us, and not lose sight of the fact that God called us to witness here and now.
He then gave his main message which came from Genesis where Abraham was called to sacrifice Isaac. Pastor Pete said,” We love the promise (of God) and we love his provisions, but it is what is in between the two that is important. It is here where a price must be paid.” He went on to tell us that you can have a vision, but all visions must come with a sacrifice and if you are not willing to pay then your vision is worthless. Jesus will not look you over someday for medals but rather for scars. WOW! He is so right. It was so great to be reminded that there will never be anything worth doing that doesn’t require a sacrifice. That is exactly what Christ did for each of us, and we are called to pick up our crosses and follow him. After a message like that we were ready to go and do it.
So pumped up and ready to go, we were off for our first distribution. Little did I know what impact this one was going to have on me. You see, here in Ecuador, there are hundreds of people who live in or just outside of the local dump, or landfill. They work there. They scrounge through the trash looking for valuables and anything that can be recycled. Many, if not all, of them have children and up until a couple of years ago the children would work in the dump alongside their parents, then a group created a school where the children of the dump could go to school. So it then became a rule that in order for parents to work in the dump they had to let their children go to school.
I will tell you, after the distribution we went to the dump, itself because where we were for the distribution was just outside. I can not put into words what we experienced there. For everything I write right now, just know it was ten times worse, maybe even 100 times. The mounds of filth went on for miles, and unlike us in the states, there trash was not in bags. The smell was unbearable. There were hundreds of flies everywhere you looked. At different points, you saw smoke rising from the ground caused from the combustion of decomposing trash. There were makeshift homes built periodically out of plywood and cardboard. The most amazing thing was that even in this filthy, smelly, horrific place, the people were still so friendly. They would stop their work and wave to us on the bus. They would smile and wave! They had a job and they were doing what they had to do. I couldn’t help but think about how we would be in the states. It just wouldn’t be the same. It was truly a sight, an experience I will never forget. EVER!
- There were pigs in the back of the area where we were distributing.
- I got to sit and interact with children by handing out stickers. One little girl named Juliasey (spelling is not correct) stole my heart. She was so sweet. She wanted stickers everywhere and loved to try to talk to me. We smiled a lot and she hugged me several times throughout the day. At one point I tried to have someone who could speak more Spanish than I can, explain to Julieasey that Scott was my husband. Well, in her poor Spanish my friend told Juliesay that Scott was Julieasey’s husband. She was not happy about that. Eventually we got that corrected. I thought she was going to avoid me after that, but children are so forgiving and soon she was back at my side.
- The pastor was filled with the spirit of God. He was one of those people who truly shines. I mean SHINES the glory of God. He was radiating.
- We sang the song “Undignified.” They sang in Spanish, and Scott and I sang in English. We all danced.
- We had two interpreters with us who were amazing. Chi-Chi was 41 and a local. He had been to the states quite a bit and was just a great guy. Ale (short for Alejandro) was 19 and an amazing young man. He learned to speak English at school. Neither of them are Christians and most were amazed at what they were seeing. Ale even brought his camera with him on this day because he was wowed at what he was seeing. (We had many talks about religion.)
- When the children received their boxes, they lined up by age group one group at a time. I had the privilege of handing the boxes to the boys (el ninos) ages 2-4. I got to give the their shoebox with the “The Greatest Gift” booklet, and I got to tell the “Christo te ama!” Their smiles were priceless! Priceless!
- There were about 15-20 women with small babies who desperately wanted a box for their babies. At first we had to tell them no, but eventually we discovered that we had enough for each of them as well.
- I gave Juliesay the box that Torii packed. I then got to watch her open it up, and talk to her about what she was seeing. While she was waiting to open her box, Julieasey was looking through her booklet. (The children have to wait until everyone has a box before they can open it. That is a highlight in itself because the kids are so patient and good.) Anyway, she was looking at the story of Jesus, so I pointed to a picture and said “Jesus.” She began speaking quickly so I grabbed Chi-Chi and aske him what she was saying. He told me she was talking about the chains and whips they used on Jesus and the fact that he was hung on a cross. I then turned a couple of pages to the picture of the resurrection and told her that he died for her and that he also rose again so that we could be with him in heaven one day. (Chi Chi interpreted for me of course.) She smiled. It was great.
- Scott got to give one of the River Run box to a little boy named Gabriel. He was adorable. He had the opportunity to watch Gabriel open it as well. He said that Gabriel really liked a Mister Potato Head that Brian Dorn gave to us. He played with it and Scott got to show him how it worked.
- As we were getting ready to leave, a car pulled up and three children got out of the car. They were late and we did not have any more shoeboxes. Scott quickly remembered that we lunchbags filled with toys and things. So he took them to the children, they were so happy. The parents thanked us several times and once again we got to see how awesome our God really is.
- Major lesson learned: You cannot be a part of something if all you do is stand outside and watch.
- By the way, it was soooooo hot, but we just didn’t care.
- After many hugs, kisses and much gratitude we got in the bus to move on our next stop.
After this emotionally draining distribution, and the trip through the dump, we headed off to find a place to eat and unwind. Our interpreter, Chi Chi took us to a town, San Mateo, where he had lived for quite some time. It was awesome. His face lit up as he showed where he was lived, where his brother worked, where different things took place. He even had the bus stop down by the ocean where they do a lot fishing so that we could take pictures. He was so proud. We loved it. We then drove down onto the beach where there was an old bar that was no longer open. It was a welcome change and a great place to decompress. We went down to the ocean and walked along it’s edge. There were so many beautiful rocks being brought up onto the sand. They were beautiful in color like reds and even blues. It was definitely something all of us needed. We then headed off for our second distribution.
Distribution #4
Site Name: Communidad Cristiana Casa de Dios
- While everyone was waiting for the activities to begin, Scott and several others on our team made balloon animals for the kids. They were so happy. Eventually we had to just blow the balloons up and hand them out because we did not have the time to make everyone one. The amazing thing was the kids were just as happy with a balloon as with one shaped like something. WOW!
- I started taking pictures and the moms would ask me to take pictures of their children. They wanted to see the picture on the screen of my camera. They would straighten the children’s clothes and hair. It was like they were getting portraits done.
- The children from the orphanage helped run the worship. Some of them performed in the skit that was done, others sang, and they all danced to “Every Step I Take.” We found out many stories of their lives and discovered that it nearly impossible for Americans to adopt from Ecuador. Their government does not allow it.
- The children were broken into groups. Some of them did a craft, others learned a Bible verse, and some went to “play” baseball. Scott joined the baseball group, and he had a blast helping the kids hit a ball with the bat.
- Scott met a boy named Robinson and he thought that was pretty cool.
- Our bus driver, Julio, came out and helped distribute the boxes. He usually stayed with the bus. Instead this time, he joined us. It was great.
- One of the children, Layton, received a box loved sports and in the box he got there was a soccer ball. One of the people on our team was the person who packed the box and he gave it to him.
- I had brought a really cute white bear with me that would not fit in shoebox. I carried it around in my backpack. There was a young pregnant girl there. I was able to give her my bear and tell her that Jesus loved her and her baby. She smiled. It was very sweet.
- When we prayed with the pastor at the end of the distribution, I got chills. I know God was smiling that day.
By the time we got back to the hotel, we were hot and smelly. We were emotionally spent and yet so high. We had seen the love of God. The children from these distributions showed us clearly what God is all about. I think we were more blessed than the children themselves. We all agreed to go directly to dinner just as we were. We would celebrate our stinkiness. It was great. (Ale was the only who changed because there was young lady there he enjoyed being around.)
After dinner we heard another great speaker tell us about the number of boxes there were in Ecuador and how many were needed. Let me summarize simply what was said:
- This year they received: 99, 778 boxes
- There are 4,532,234 children between the ages of 0-14 in Ecuador alone
- That means that only 4.9% of the children received a shoebox
WE NEED MORE BOXES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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