(Click picture to view full size.) Front Row: Chris Cicchetti, Jesse Stanley, Tracy Stanley, Terry Horner, Michael Pasnik, Madeline Oliver, Austin Oliver, Maria Gomez, Back Row: Judy Pasnik, Michael Pasnik, Miles Cicchetti, Olivia Cicchetti, Rose Nelson, Josh Felter, Ned Nelson, Kimberly Pasnik, Joe Horner, Bill Emmitt, Dana Oliver, Matt Oliver, Rosario (driver). Missing from picture: Judith Cook.
On the Fourth of July, twenty tired but excited and fulfilled people arrived back in New Jersey from the work trip to La Union, Ecuador. There were accomplishments to celebrate and many plans for the 2016 trip ahead. This was our 6th trip to Ecuador to work with Hogar de Cristo, and our second trip to our adopted barrio of La Union, a small barrio located in the Rio Guayas. On the last trip to La Union we saw that there were many critical necessities lacking in this small community and on this trip we tried to meet some of their most urgent needs.
Through the hard work of the team, substantial mission funds from Basking Ridge and Pluckemin Presbyterian Churches as well as generous donations raised by the team, we were able to complete the following:
Houses: The team built 15 houses in 5 days in the hottest and most humid weather we have had in the history of our trips to Ecuador… thanks to El Nino. But, as we looked around at the dire housing conditions we were replacing, there were no complaints, just a lot of water consumption and sweating. When each house was completed, we provided the family with bags of rice and beans for their first meals in their new home.
Health Clinic: The team painted the health clinic that donations from our churches and friends of our team had built. The clinic has two examining rooms, an office/reception area and the first functioning bathroom in La Union. We supplied furniture for the clinic. We brought with us 70 pounds of medical equipment and supplies for the clinic. We met with the two nurses whose salaries we will pay for at least the next 6 months so they can operate the clinic three days a week. This is the first time the barrio will have any health care. The nurses will address prenatal care, nutrition, sanitation, clean water, child health issues, and other day-to-day health and first aid concerns.
Water Filters: We brought with us 50 Sawyer water filters, which will be provided to 50 of the families of La Union with the plan to supply filters to all the families in the near future. We paid for the transportation of a medical mission (MAP) expert on clean water – Geovanny Santamaria – to come from Quito to give instruction in the use of the filters. While there, he instructed the first 20 families and the two nurses. We provided the families with medication to treat their intestinal parasites before they received the filters. The nurses will treat the families, train them in the use of the filters and conduct follow up visits and testing. Geovanny will return to La Union in 3 months to survey the families and make changes to the program as needed. Not all families want the filters because they do not understand all the problems that are caused by poor water and a state of constant dehydration. Not only parasites, but urinary tract infections, rage issues, poor milk for nursing babies, skin diseases, etc… come with this problem. We also learned a lot from Geovanny. It is hoped that as more people see the good results from using clean water, they will want to use the filters.
Dresses and Shorts: The women of the Oak Tree Quilters, made dozens of colorful dresses and short for the girls and boys of La Union. Giving them out was a great fun. The children’s excitement at having a new dress or shorts made us wish all the Quilters could have been with us to see how happy they made these children!
Planning: While we were in La Union, an organized group of 20 mothers with pre-school children approached us to ask us if there was a way we could help them start a pre-school for their children. They want their children to have a better life through early education. The group had permission to use the annex to a Catholic Church in the village that is used only two days a year. But, they told us, the annex is “no puede usarlo”, not usable. That afternoon, four of us went to the church annex and found that the church and annex were totally infested by a dangerous form of large wasp. The high ceiling was covered with nests. The women were cleaning the area and trying to burn rags to smoke out the wasps. We discussed professional fumigation with the people from Hogar de Cristo and were advised that in order to get rid of this type of wasps, all wood in the structure would have to be burned. It was the reason the church was in such disrepair.
The next day we met with the mothers, the people from Hogar de Cristo and a pre-school teacher from the government who could teach preschool if there was a place to teach. By the next day we all had a plan. The man who donated the land for the health clinic, offered to donate the land next to the clinic for a preschool building. The people of La Union will raise and prepare the land for the clinic and put down a cement pad for the school. When that is finished, we promised to put up a building similar in construction to the clinic, with a bathroom and two large class rooms. The clinic and the school will share the roof water tank and the sewerage disposal pipes.
The last day some of us sat with Patricia and Anita, from Hogar de Cristo, the two nurses, and the pre-school teacher to look to the future and how to continue to combine all our efforts to make a better way of life for the families of La Union. We have received the comprehensive plan developed that day and are now studying it to see what part we will continue to take in the future development of the community.
Last… but certainly not least… Socialization and Fun: We had 5 teens with us and it was wonderful to see how quickly the children of La Union formed bonds with our younger team members… learning to jump rope in the dust, playing running games and tag, riding on strong backs, joking across language barriers, sharing quiet moment holding hands, walking together along the canal or sitting under a rare shade tree… hugging and laughing… and, finally on the last day, saying sad good byes… “Hasta dos anos”… See you in two years!
As with the youth, the older team members also built bonds with the wonderful people of La Union that will last a lifetime in all our hearts.