Loss, Hurt, And Healing

From a June 8, 2014, Experiences In Ecuador post

A team of seven architects and engineers from Engineering Ministries International (eMi) arrived at the Cooper-Benitez-Hebert-Waggoner B&B at 2:30 am Saturday morning. Four of the members were from Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver in Canada. Three members were from Washington, D.C., Cleveland, and Dallas in the U.S. It was a very diverse group, both geographically and culturally. However, they all shared the same deep commitments to ministry, serving, engineering, and architecture.

Many of the team members had not known each other personally before this trip. Therefore, time was set aside Saturday night to give testimonies about their lives and how they arrived at Engineering Ministries International (eMi). Members of the FEDICE team were also included, though we had obviously not been associated with eMi before the wee hours of Saturday morning. By the time we were through learning about each other's journeys to this point in time, I think we felt we had known our fellow travelers all of our lives. I know I felt that way. Each one of us had a pretty remarkable story to tell.

Before Marilyn and I went to sleep, we remarked on the recurrent themes of the testimonies. One was, of course, a strong belief in God. Another was a strong desire to make our world a better place by using our various talents and skills for the benefit of all. But another recurrent theme that some may not have quite expected was the theme of loss, hurt, and healing - the healing power of Jesus Christ. Nearly everyone had a story to tell that touched on this theme. It's possible that most of us have to experience loss, hurt, and healing before we can truly understand how to connect with and love every one and every thing around us.

During my testimony, I mentioned respecting people and helping people. I'm sorry I forgot to mention loving people, because I certainly believe in that. It may be spiritual love, it may be platonic love, it may be romantic love, it may be open-minded love, it may be tough love, but, in my heart, I know beyond doubt that we are hard-wired to love one another.




--Glenn Hebert

Heating Up

From a June 6, 2014, Experiences In Ecuador post

It's summer. Where I come from, Texas, things heat up drastically in the summer. It's no different in the Andes of Ecuador - unless you happen to be talking about the weather and comparing apples to apples. I happen to be comparing weather predictions to human development projects.

In Texas, the temperature will likely be predicted to hit 100 degrees in the not-too-distant future, if it hasn't already happened. In the Andes of Ecuador, there's no need to worry about 100º Fahrenheit temps (one reason might be that temps are measured in Celsius). The weather is spring-like year-round in the Ecuadorian Andes. No, the heating up I'm referring to is the Lord's work that FEDICE accomplishes in the summer. FEDICE is and has been very busy.

From May 24th to May 29th, FEDICE hosted a group from Fort Worth Country Day School who worked in Romerillos, south of Quito. Marilyn and I didn't have an opportunity to go down there, but we understand that these high schoolers were simply amazing. They helped pour a concrete slab for the roof of the second floor of a preschool that FEDICE helped build a few years ago with the Lisa Franke family of Illinois. It was originally built for 20-25 children. However, last summer the government decided to consolidate preschools so that each had at least 40 children. Because of the quality, this school was kept open but is now overcrowded. Thus, the second floor is needed.

FEDICE had a week's respite to plan for our next visitors. One group arrives tonight. They are a mission group consisting of architects and engineers that designs buildings free of charge for people that need their expertise. The group is called Engineering Ministries International (eMI) and is based in Canada but has members in various countries. They will be designing a new church in Pijal Centro. The existing church is old and not well-built. To tell the truth, I refused to worship there because the staircase to the second floor, where worship services are held, is very narrow, very steep, and has no railings. I'm somewhat of a daredevil, but even I have my limits. The group of seven is going to stay at our house for a week. We're fortunate enough to have a pretty large house, but we'll see how many toes get stepped on anyway.

On Sunday Pastor Doug Deuel, minister at First Christian Church in Plano, Texas, arrives for three days. He will also be spending time in Pijal Centro. Last year, he led a mission group from his church which helped build a preschool replacing one with tiny rooms and not the best sanitation. The group also helped fund other projects in the community. He'll be evaluating these projects and making plans for when the group returns in 2015.

The heat doesn't abate yet. The day after the architectural group from eMI leaves, a group from Bridging Cultures, a partner of FEDICE, arrives. They'll be working on various building projects in Pusir Grande, about two hours north of Otavalo. During their stay, there will also be a fiesta marking the first anniversary of the partnership between FEDICE and Bridging Cultures. By the way, it IS hot (temperature-wise) in Pusir Grande.

When Bridging Cultures leaves, FEDICE gets a well-deserved two-and-a-half week break to catch our collective breath and fine-tune plans before a mission group from various churches in Oregon arrives. They will work in Cachiviro, near Otavalo, for two weeks. But we'll talk about that later.




--Glenn Hebert

PIJAL DAY CARE CENTER

The first time I visited the Infant Center of Pijal, I saw many things that needed improvement.  They showed me three tiny colorfully painted rooms where they gave the classes to 25 children.

One of the rooms served also as the dining room for lunch, so they had to stack the tables and chairs on one side of the room during the rest of the time.

There was a little kitchen to prepare the food, and in front was another room which served as a sleeping room for the babies.  Upon entering the nursery, I was overwhelmed with the musty smell of the moldy walls, and it wasn´t even the rainy season, so I couldn´t imagine what it must be like during the rains.

The bathrooms were completely separated from the building, and were broken down, tiny, and as clean as the workers could make them under the circumstances.

Outside was a playground with tires placed in the ground for the children to jump on, and the most peculiar slide I had ever seen in my life….a board placed on a ladder (I wondered how many splinters had to be taken out of the little fannies).

Encarnación, one of the workers there, pleaded with us to help them.  The community had already gathered together rocks and sand to build the foundation, and they had 6.000 dollars given to them from the municipal funds, with which to start the work. FEDICE began having monthly meetings with them and with the municipality to make plans about how we could help.

The initial building was done by the families of the community, with some financial help from the church in Plano, Texas.

When the group from Plano came last year, the walls and roof were up for the new building….five large rooms with lots of windows to let in the light.  The people from Plano helped to paint the walls as well as to  clean up the area around the new center.

The skeleton was up, but there were many details to be finished.  That is where The Eden United Church of Christ from the Illinois South Conference has been able to help, with the funds to put down the floor, to put in the windows and doors, and finish the new center.

The last time I visited Pijal, the windows and doors were in, the walls had been colorfully decorated with bright new paintings, the tile floor in two rooms was done, and half of the big room was finished.



The new tables and chairs have been bought in Quito, and taken out to the center.  There are new cribs and other accessories ready to be put in the rooms as soon as the flooring is done.    What a difference for these children!  God is good, to move the hearts of so many people to make a difference in these children´s lives.

By Lisa Renz

Fedice Volunteer

EL CENTRO INFANTIL SUMAK WASY EN PIJAL

La primera vez que visité al Centro Infantil de Pijal, vi muchas cosas que necesitaban mejorar. Me mostraban tres cuartos chiquitos pero pintados de muchos colores donde daban clases a 25 niños.

Uno de los cuartos también servía como el comedor para el almuerzo, así que tenían que apilar las mesas y sillas a un lado del cuarto el resto del tiempo.

Había una cocinita para preparar la comida, y en frente había otro cuarto para que durmieran los bebés.  Al entrar a este cuarto, me abrumó el olor fuerte de las paredes con moho, y ni siquiera era tiempo de lluvias, así que no podía imaginar que sería durante las lluvias.

Los baños se encontraban totalmente separados del edificio, estaban rotos, chiquitos, y tan limpios como se podían tenerlos las trabajadoras bajo estas circunstancias.

Afuera había un patio de juego con llantas en el piso para que brincara los niños, y la resbaladilla mas peculiar que jamás había visto….una tabla sostenida por una escalera (me preguntaba cuantas espinas había que quitar de los traseritos).

Encarnación, una de las trabajadoras allí, nos suplicó que les ayudara. La comunidad ya había juntado piedra y arena para construir la mampostería, y tenían 6.000 dólares donados por la junta parroquial, con que querían empezar a trabajar.

FEDICE empezó a juntar con ellos y con la junta parroquial cada mes para planear nuestra ayuda. Los inicios de la construcción fueron por cuenta de la comunidad, con la ayuda de una iglesia de Plano, Texas.

Al llegar el grupo de Plano el año pasado, las paredes y techo estaban construidos del edificio nuevo…cinco cuartos grandes con bastantes ventanas para luz. La gente de Plano ayudo con la pintura de paredes y con la limpieza alrededor del centro nuevo.

Ya estaba el esqueleto, pero faltaban muchos detalles. Allí es donde entró la iglesia Eden United Church of Christ de la conferencia del Sur de Illinois para ayudar, con los fondos para terminar el piso, poner las ventanas y puertas y terminar el centro Nuevo.

En mi última visita a Pijal, las ventanas y puertas ya estaban colocados, las paredes estaban decorados con nuevos cuadros de muchos colores, el piso de baldosa ya estaba en dos cuartos y la mitad del cuarto grande.

Las nuevas mesas y sillas se habían comprado en Quito, y ya transportados al Centro Infantil. Había nuevas cunas y otros accesorios listos para colocar tan pronto como se terminaba el piso. ¡Qué diferencia para estos niños! Dios es bueno, para conmover tantos corazones a hacer una diferencia en las vidas de estos niños.

Escrito por Lisa Renz
Voluntaria con Fedice

Celebración de Navidad en el Pre- Escolar, Caluquí Alto

Caluquí es una comunidad indígena del norte de Quito. Está en una ladera de la montaña sobre el Lago San Pablo y uno puede ver el lago desde el centro infantil. Al estar rodeado de campos verdes, el volcán, Imbabura y laderas empinadas es probablemente para muchas personas un hogar ideal. Por desgracia, muchos en esta área pueden vivir en un lugar hermoso, pero no pueden tener mucho  para hacer una vida cómoda.

Por esta razón, es tradicional para FEDICE organizar la fiesta de Navidad para los niños pequeños del centro infantil en Caluquí Alto que lleva el nombre de Violet Groth Vaca (una de las fundadoras de FEDICE.

Glenn y yo, junto con Blanca, Luís y Sebastián de FEDICE, fuimos a la fiesta. Parte de la familia de Víctor Vaca también vino desde Quito para asistir a la fiesta y para proporcionar un payaso, un conejo y un duende para el entretenimiento.

Alrededor de las 11:30, comenzó la diversión. La gente de FEDICE se presentó como el presidente de Caluquí hablaron, y el presidente del grupo de los padres habló también.  Algunos juegos fueron jugados, como las sillas musicales y golpear la piñata. Las cinco maestras bailaron una hermosa danza tradicional.

Y entonces, la verdadera diversión comenzó. Una payasita salió e invitó a los niños a participar. Su atención fue capturada de inmediato como el payaso y sus asistentes preguntaron a los niños a decir la señora de Santa para venir a visitarnos. Ella llegó en poco tiempo. Luego hubo una llamada para el Sr. Claus. Cuando llegó, entregó juguetes y bolsas de dulces. Gran parte de estos regalos venían de FEDICE, de la familia Vaca y del grupo de los padres. Incluso si los niños más pequeños no entendí bien lo que estaba pasando, sus hermanos mayores lo hicieron. Fue muy interesante ver a los niños más jóvenes y mayores que comparten con los demás.

FEDICE se asegura de que estos niños reciben por lo menos algunos juguetes en Navidad. También ayudan a proporcionar una fiesta donde los niños y sus padres puedan reír y pasarlo bien.

La vida en las comunidades a menudo implica un trabajo muy duro, días largos, y el trabajo de 6 o 7 días a la semana, sin mucha remuneración. La esperanza de la gente está en sus niños que son muy queridos

Damos gracias a Dios por la gente que ayuda a Fedice a dar "esperanza" de una mejor vida en esta comunidad ecuatoriana.

Marilyn Cooper

Voluntaria con Fedice 

Christmas Celebration at the Pre-School

in Caluquí Alto

Caluquí is an Indigenous community north of Quito. It’s on a mountainside above Lago San Pablo and one can see the lake from the children’s playground. Being surrounded by green fields; the volcano, Imbabura; and steep hillsides is probably many a home owners dream. Unfortunately, many in this area may live in a beautiful place, but they may not have much to make a comfortable life.
For this reason, it is traditional for FEDICE to give gifts to the small children where they are involved. The pre-school in Caluquí Alto is named after Violet Groth Vaca (one of FEDICE’s co-founders.

Glenn and I, along with Blanca, Luis, and Sebastian of FEDICE, all went to the Sunday Christmas party for the children who attend the pre-school. Part of Victor Vaca’s family also drove up from Quito to attend the party and to provide a clown, a bunny, and an elf for entertainment.

Around 11:30, the fun began. People from FEDICE were introduced; the president of Caluquí spoke; and the president of the parent’s group spoke. A few games were played, like musical chairs and hit the piñata.

The five teachers and one recruit danced a lovely, traditional dance.

And then, the real fun began. The clown came out of the school onto the patio and invited the children to participate.  Their attention was immediately captured as the clown and her assistants asked the children to call out for Mrs. Santa to come visit. She arrived in short order. Then there was a call for Mr. Claus. When he arrived, he passed out toys and bags of sweets. Much of these gifts came from FEDICE and from the parent’s group. Even if the smallest children did not quite get what was going on, their older siblings did. It was very interesting to see the younger and older children sharing with each other.

FEDICE makes sure that these small children get at least some toys at Christmas time. They also help provide a party where the children and their parents can laugh and enjoy themselves. Life in the communities often involves very hard work, long days, and work 6 or 7 days a week, without much remuneration. The people’s hope is in their children who are very much loved.
We thank God that your interest, prayers, and support of FEDICE helps make “hope” a part of living in this Ecuadorian community.

By Marilyn Cooper
Volunteer with Fedice

Two New Project Summaries

FEDICE Ecuador applied for funds from FEDICE USA for two projects recently.  The grants have been approved by the FEDICE USA Board of Directors and funds will be available to FEDICE Ecuador as soon as possible.  FEDICE Ecuador is grateful to receive this money because it enables the organization to continue its work with the indigenous people of the Andes in Ecuador.  Below are the two project summaries submitted to FEDICE USA.

--Glenn Hebert

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MACA ATAPULO PROJECT 2014

PROJECT NAME: “ENHANCED SHEEP PRODUCTION”

PROJECT NUMBER: 5

BENEFICIARIES:   24 women and 1 man (heads of households)

LOCATION

Province: Cotopaxi

Canton (County): Latacunga

Parish: Poalo

Community: Maca Atapulo

JUSTIFICATION

a) This organization of families shows solidarity among its members.

b) The beneficiaries are responsible and they attend trainings.

c) The members are responsible for the management of their individual productive projects.

d) The organization promptly returned the previous loan.

OBJECTIVES

General Purpose:

Improve the level of organizational, economic and technical abilities of the families of Maca Atápulo with the project; use the natural resources and labor available; and generate employment and income.

 Specific objectives:

- Improve the breed of sheep in the community with the introduction of improved animals.

- Ensure the supply of sheep and the establishment of pastures in each one of the family units.

- Train the group in theoretical and practical management of sheep raising, as well as related issues.

GOALS

During the first year:

• The rate of animal mortality in the project will be less than 5%.

• 25 families will raise seven sheep per family, for a total of 175 sheep.

• 25 beneficiaries/families will be trained in theoretical and practical issues to ensure success.

• The organization of 25 families will remain united around the project.

IMPACTS

• Decreased migration, due to the strengthened employment in the community.

• Increased household income from the sale of animals.

• Better bargaining power of women within the family, as a result of higher income.

• Preservation of soil properties because animal waste and organic waste will be recycled.

• Maintain and improve family health through the use of organic fertilizer and animal crops.

  

FINANCES

Project Cost: $32,990.00

The project will be financed by: Maca Atapulo Community  ($16,790.00, or 51%), and FEDICE ($16,200.00, or 49%)

PROJECT FUNDING 2014

FEDICE will allocate $1,200.00 for the training and monitoring of the project and $15,000.00 ($600 per family/beneficiary) for the purchase of 125 sheep (4 females and one male per family).

The community input is shown in the following table:

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Monitoring activities will be carried out through home visits to individual/beneficiaries, meetings to analyze and solve existing problems, and recommendations for future actions. The families who participate in this project will participate in all of these activities.

The activities that are carried out will be documented by means of reports and photographs, which will serve as additional data for analysis when evaluating the project.

The continuation of the project next year will be evaluated on the basis of the stated objectives, the stated business plan, the stated budgets, the stated goals, and the stated impacts.

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SANTA ROSA PROJECT 2014 

PROJECT NAME:  “PRODUCTION OF PIGS AND DAIRY CATTLE”

PROJECT NUMBER: 8

Beneficiaries: 23 families

LOCATION

Province:  Cotopaxi

Canton (County): Latacunga.

Parish: Belisario Quevedo

Community: Santa Rosa.

Santa Rosa is located in the south east of the parish Belisario Quevedo, a distance of 13 kilometers (8 miles) from the city of Latacunga. It has clay loam soils and water for irrigation which facilitates the establishment of pastures.

JUSTIFICATION

a) This organization of families shows solidarity among its members.

b) The beneficiaries are responsible and they attend trainings.

c) The 23 families are responsible for the management of their individual productive projects.

d) The organization promptly returned the previous loan.

OBJECTIVES

General Purpose:

Improve the organizational, economic, nutritional, and technical abilities of the families in Santa Rosa with the production of dairy cattle and pigs.

Specific objectives:

• Introduction of improved livestock in the family projects.

• Implement a program of training and technology transfer with them.

• Increase levels of income and employment in the community.

• Increase production and productivity of pigs and cattle.

GOALS

• 23 families will raise 28 pigs and 16 dairy cattle.

• 10% of the daily milk production is destined for family consumption.

• 23 beneficiaries/families will be trained in theoretical and practical issues to ensure success.

• The organization of 23 families will remain attached to the project environment.

IMPACTS

• Decreased migration, due to the strengthened employment in the community.

• Increased household income from the sale of animals.

• Better bargaining power of women within the family, as a result of higher income.

• Preservation of soil properties because animal waste and organic waste will be recycled.

• Maintain and improve family health through the use of organic fertilizer and animal crops.

FINANCING

Cost of the project: $25,727.00

PROJECT FUNDING 2014

FEDICE will allocate $1,344.00 for the training and monitoring of the project and $13,800.00 ($600.00 for each family). They will buy 28 pigs, 16 cows, and have a balance of $1,400.00 to buy other necessities.

The community input is shown in the following table:

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Monitoring activities will be carried out through home visits to individual/beneficiaries, meetings to analyze and solve existing problems, and recommendations for future actions. The families who participate in this project will participate in all of these activities.

The activities that are carried out will be documented by means of reports and photographs, which will serve as additional data for analysis when evaluating the project.

The continuation of the project next year will be evaluated on the basis of the stated objectives, the stated business plan, the stated budgets, the stated goals, and the stated impacts.