Non Profits - Heart for Ecuador

Letting go of the familiar... stepping out of a comfort zone... it's one of the most basic fears so many of us have. It’s like topping that first hill on the roller coaster. You’re a little anxious, nervous and not entirely sure you made the right choice. There may even be a few regrets leading up to that highly anticipated “drop”. And then, even as you drop down and begin the circuitous, crazy trip along the tracks, you still vacillate between whether or not you made the right decision.

 

Just like with a roller coaster, and a new experience and journey, you never know what’s in store, or where the next turn will take you.

 

But once you do take that first step, in this case, to serve, every step thereafter becomes easier, surer, and you realize that what you are doing has the potential to change lives.

 

And often, it’s not so much other’s lives, but your own.

 

A few short weeks ago, a team of a 72 of us travelled to the Northern Highlands of Ecuador to help, treat, love on and minister to the beautiful villagers of several communities in and around Ibarra. Over the course of the week the small local communities and villages included Urcuqui, Cajas, Quicocha Pana, Lago and Porta Longa. These are small, out of the way locations where medical and dental treatment is a far-off prospect, water is scarce and unclean, and hope can seem to be in short supply.

 

But, where there is hope, there is a way.

And there’s Jesus.

Hosteria Natabuela…

 

Home away from home for the week was as quaint hotel named Hosteria Natabuela. Saying it was perfect would be an understatement. The grounds were beautiful and reminded you of an off the radar oasis, worthy of a Conde Nast write up. The staff was over and beyond friendly, the rooms were immaculate, and the food was scrumptious to say the least.

 

Day in and day out travelling to each location, setting everything up, seeing and working with 100’s and even 1000’s of individuals over 8-9 hours, you tend to work up an appetite, and are even a little sore at times. Coming home to an amazing meal prepared by an incredible chef and his staff was welcoming. Then, lounging around the premises, the patios, the pool and having coffee and tea with friends, was always the icing on the cake at the end of the day.

 

At the end of the week, it came to our attention that our group had been their first customers in a very long time. They were extremely grateful for our stay. I would say there is a good chance we will be back at the same location next summer.

Preparation day…

 

After arriving late Saturday evening, the following day was “make-ready” day. Getting thousands and thousands of medical and dental supplies, equipment, tools, thousands of eyeglasses, hundreds of water buckets and filters and so much more was a big undertaking to say the least. It was all hands-on deck.

 

This was also the day our translators arrived. And what a terrific group they were! We had 30 young adults that travelled from all over Ecuador, to the Highlands area, to help us during the week. You could not quantify the importance and impact each one of them had on the week ahead. In fact, it would have been impossible in many ways to have as successful of a week as we had, without them. 

Ice cream break…

 

At the end of make-ready day, we took a break from all the hard work and hopped over to Ibarra, to a specialty ice cream shop called Momalia. Holy toledo batman, talk about knock out ice cream. If their flooring had of been gold colored, I am pretty sure that place would have been actual Heaven! Lol!

Medical…

 

One of the primary ministries of the week was medical and pharmacy.

 

Medical treatment (and dental and eyeglasses for that matter) is simply not available in Ecuador and other 3rd world countries like it is here in the US. It’s taken for granted to say the least. We see the little orphan boy and girl on TV, on the news and in media. We faintly hear about some distance people group and tribe that’s being talked about in church. But until you see it with your own eyes and experience the lack of access to health and human services these individuals don’t have, it’s difficult to fathom what many of these beautiful people endure every day.

 

After intake and then being seen by the doctors and receiving treatment, they would be given a prescription of sorts and sent to pharmacy. Back on preparation day several groups broke off to package and organize THOUSANDS of small brown paper bags filled with different medications. It was incredible to see and know how much medicine had been donated! It was an organized and highly efficient process.

Home visit…

 

At the end of the day in Lago we had been approached by a man whose mother was at home and bedridden. She had multiple ailments and simply couldn’t get out of bed and travel down the mountain they lived along. So, our primary physician/surgeon, Dr. Tinsley and several others all piled in the man’s small pickup truck, and we went on a home visit.

 

I may have had a joint or two pop out of place, bouncing along the dirt road, but I am pretty sure I could ride a bull now!

 

The small house we arrived at was beautiful. It was small, open air and had 3 small rooms. Everything had a place and was perfectly in place. Their kitchen was organized, equipped with a small fridge and all their small bowls and utensils were all the colors of rainbow. There were flowers here and there, several chickens, and one of my favorite things to find and shoot when I am on trips such as these, a clothesline with bright colored clothing and fabrics. You could just tell, these were proud, hopeful and loving people who lived here.

 

After visiting, and praying over the elderly mother, we spent a few minutes with the man and his wife simply talking about life, their country and what it was like living there….

 

…before climbing back on the motorized bull.

Baptism…

 

On the way home one day we had someone make the decision it was time to publicly make a statement of faith and be baptized. Of course, when this happens here at home in the US, it’s usually at a church, or some pre-determined location. It is not typically on the way home from working with and serving individuals all day long, in an Ecuador village.

 

But, not to worry, our drive home that evening took us across a bridge and a river running beneath. And there just so happened to be a perfect place to park our two large tour buses, along the road!

 

It took a few minutes for everyone to climb out and climb down the mountain side to the river’s edge. After making the small hike it was time to take the plunge! Literally!

 

Talk about a memorable experience. The entire scene reminded you of something straight out of scripture. Like if you closed your eyes, and opened them, John the Baptist would have been standing there baptizing Jesus.

 

….and I would have had about 1427 questions…for both Jesus…and John! Lol!

 

All in all, it was a beautiful reminder of the living, breathing sacrifice Christ made, just for us. It was an amazing way to close out our first full day serving.

Orphanage...

One of my favorite aspects of these ministry trips I go on, and shoot for, are the kids. I love children. And there is no place like a kid’s home to put your own life, and more specifically your own childhood, into perspective.

 

On Tuesday we had a small group consisting of 2 doctors, 2 dentists and a couple of other medical staff that spent about half the day traveling to a beautiful children’s home in Tabacundo. We went to provide as much medical and dental treatment as possible in the short time we had.

 

I can say it was one of the most gorgeous, loving, happy orphanages I have ever visited. And I have been to many!

 

After shooting content of some of the medical and dental treatment team, I did a little exploring of my own and quickly made some new BFF’s. They took me ALL.OVER the place! And it was BIG place! Lol! From their playground, to one of their houses where they were doing crafts, all the way up to their school and their lunchroom, to their classrooms, you name it! I was given the grand tour! And I loved every minute. I even gave a few photography lessons to them!

Dental…

 

If you have ever had a hurting tooth, or any dental related problem, you know how painful it can be. It can be so painful that it brings new meaning to the phrase “It hurts so bad I can’t even think.” Well, unfortunately poor dental hygiene is a main stay in underdeveloped countries such as Ecuador. From abbesses, to roots growing in unnatural ways, to gum disease, you see it all. And what’s even more sad is when and how it affects children.

 

The dental team pulled hundreds of teeth, performed thousands of cleanings and was able to send dental care kits home to thousands of both children and adults. They had some terrific donations of dental tools, equipment and even a couple of transportable dental chairs that were given.

Eyeglasses…

 

I have had the privilege of shooting for a lot of nonprofit ministries across many countries. Many of these ministries have the typical medical, construction, kids and other outreach programs. But eyeglasses is one that’s not quite as common. That said, if you want to “see”, pardon the pun, someone light up like the 4th of July, give them the gift of sight!

 

It’s amazing!

 

Some of these sweet souls have been living quite literally in darkness for years, if not a large portion of their lives. Especially the elderly. They simply can’t see, can’t read, can’t make people out, it’s difficult to cook, do chores, you name it, all because of their eyesight being so poor. And so, if you haven’t been able to see for so long, and then all the sudden, in the blink of an eye, by putting on readers, you can see, it can be like a modern-day miracle! Their faces light up! They throw on the biggest smile! And they will beam with joy at their newfound eyesight!

Water filtration…

 

Clean water. We take it for granted. We go turn on the faucet and within seconds have clean water to drink, to cook with, to wash clothes, wash our hands.

 

That’s not reality in many parts of the world.

 

With some very generous donations Heart for Ecuador was able to procure about 600 water filters and the same number of 5-gallon buckets necessary to create a complete home water filtering kit. A team of volunteers would take 10-12 villagers at a time, in a large group, and teach them not only how to set everything up and filter water, but why clean water is so important… even when doing simple tasks such as washing hands.

 

Heart for Ecuador is going to be expanding this ministry next year it was such a huge success!

Kids…

 

Last but not least was all the loving and caring for the kids! After the kids would go through triage, and while their parents were busy with things like medical, dental, etc., there was an awesome team of both adults and teens taking care of and playing with the kids. From coloring, to crafts, to making yarn dolls and playing games, there were buckets of fun to be had by all!

 

You know it’s interesting. Children in 3rd world countries and situations like this, don’t have much at all. They are quite literally living on the edge. Daily. Often not even knowing when their next meal is going to be, or if they are going to get some sickness, or if they are going to be abused and hurt. But regardless, often, you will still see them with smiles and hear laughter coming from the distance. They seem to have this unmistakable joy of simply being alive and even hope, amid uncertainty.

 

When working with children, you never really know what kind of an impact you have had. But assuredly, if you show love, compassion and interest to a child, it will change their lives. Forever.

 

No man is so tall as when he stoops to help a child. – Abraham Lincoln

Market day and sweet fairwells...

 

Last day, was market day.

 

On our final day we were able to sleep in a little and then had the opportunity to travel to two different communities and do a little exploring. The last stop was Otavalo, which is home to one of the largest outdoor markets in the area. It was as sensory experience to be sure! From all the spice booths, to custom jewelry, to local foods (careful, you may end up sampling guinea pig), to the incredibly beautiful blankets, rugs, curtains and so much more, it was sights and sounds to behold.

 

After rounding everyone up and heading back to the bus it was time to part ways with the interpreters.

 

It’s interesting. While you may have only meet someone a few days prior, it’s amazing how close new friends can become in such a short amount of time. You literally become best friends, for life, in a few days.

 

There were a lot of new friendships made and bonds formed over the week. Relationships that are sure to grow even after everyone has parted ways.

 

Here’s to next year!

 

If you would like to be a part of the group next year, let me know and I would love to get you connected with Heart for Ecuador’s incredible founder Stephanne Marsh. She’s the bomb!

 

Dates are July 26th – August 2nd

 

If you join us, you will be glad you did.

No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.

– Charles Dickens