A rocky, unpaved street covered with broken glass and garbage where children play without shoes. A one-room cane house with a dirt floor and no running water or bathrooms where a family of seven lives each day. A developing community building their homes on garbage dumps.
A hospital filled with patients affected by leprosy who have lost their limbs as well as their dignity. A situation where the only way to provide a better life for one’s children is to leave them in search of better opportunities.
In the U.S., and even in Fairfield, Conn., it is hard to imagine these things, but for the people of Duran, Ecuador, these are everyday realities.
From the moment our group set foot in the neighborhood of Antonio Jose DeSucre, our lives were turned upside down.
We lived on $1 a day and were immersed in the poverty-stricken lifestyle that Ecuadorians in the community experienced.
We were stripped of the luxuries of home, including purified water, unlimited electricity and even the privilege of showering everyday. It was through this that we lived out the mission of Rostro de Cristo, the Christian service organization that guided us during our 10-day experience.
They emphasized simple living, spirituality, equality and solidarity toward all people. In the end, this allowed us to see the face of Christ in ourselves as well as others.
During our time in Ecuador, we did not build a house or construct a sidewalk; in fact, our impact was not physical at all. What we built over the course of our stay held far more meaning and provoked more happiness than any physical structure could ever bring: it was the gift of a relationship.
Through our neighborhood visits, community soccer games, our work with two after-school programs, Valdevia and Manos Sabiertos, and our visits to Damien House, a hospital for individuals affected by leprosy, we have formed what we hope to be long- lasting friendships.
It is through the smiles of every child, every hug in which they embraced us, and every “Hola” shouted to us from members of the community that we have grown to love.
We have been given life lessons and inspirational stories, and from that, we have realized that we are all one human family that is meant to help and support each other.
Our ministry of presence during our immersion enabled us to build a community with the Ecuadorians, as well as within our own group.
We have seen a source of light and hope in the eyes of the children. We have shared in each other’s discovery of faith, and we were inspired to make a difference.
We have seen the poverty of Ecuador. We know that it is there, and we are now responsible to act. As our group leader Emily so perfectly stated: “We now have no right to fail in changing the world.”
This life-changing experience has helped a group of acquaintances become friends, and we will forever hold a special place for each other in our hearts. We have all agreed to keep this close community together by staying involved in one another’s lives as well as making what little efforts we can to continue to help those who have spiritually and emotionally helped us.
Perhaps the best way to summarize our experience is through Franklin, a tour guide from the mission of Rostro de Cristo. He helped us realize how important we were to the people of Duran and that even in Ecuador, life is beautiful.
“In life, the only things that matter are the small things because most of the time it is the small things that make the biggest difference,” he said.
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