When I first met her, I heard of her family’s history plagued by death due to this rare blood disease. Her parents had sold all their cows and plots of their land to pay for Maxima’s treatments. Treatments which her other sisters had received but hadn’t helped; they had all passed away. I sat on her bedside in the dark wooden house, trying to focus my eyes on the skeletal figure that lay motionless in front of me. Death loomed in the shadows, I could feel it coming, pressing down on us.

Maxima needs blood to continue living, blood to replace the cells in her body that were twisted and damaged, blood to flow through her thirsty veins and bring life back to her emaciated body. The doctors told Maxima she needs a pint of blood every four months or she will die. The family had used all their money, with nothing left Maxima looked death in the face and accepted this would be her fate. Another life in peril because they couldn’t afford basic healthcare.

Before leaving Ecuador, I paid off Maxima’s debts. I bought her new blood and tomorrow I will buy more. This is how money can shine. It’s not my money, when you live in community, you carry one another’s hardships. Maxima will live. Why do we hold onto our things so tightly when letting go of our things could mean life for somebody else? Life through medical intervention, life through getting to go to school, life through literacy, life through relationships. The colossal divide between those who have and those who have not is growing at an alarming rate. I choose to stand in the in between and offer my hands as part of the bridge.

In the middle of the computer room sat an opened bin of children’s books that I had brought upriver with me; I watched them inspecting the colourful title pages, intrigued by the pictures but hesitant to touch. “Go ahead” I said encouragingly “they are books, they are for you too”. There is something so precious to me about watching a child pick up a book, cradle it in their arms, find a quiet spot on the floor and peel back the front cover. Eyes that dart back and forth soaking in all the colours and words that the pages hold. It is like entering into a new world where you never know what the turn of a page could bring, a dragon, a princess, or a boat sailing off to a faraway land in search of treasure. A book has the ability to captivate us, inspires us, provoke dreams and creativity.

The kids in Onzole are loud, they love to yell, they can’t help but always wiggle because they are full of pent up energy. It is a rare thing to ever be among the kids and not have them all trying to talk to you at once, braid your hair, climb onto your back or get you to kick a ball with them, but that afternoon, however, was an exception. It was the exception that calmed my fear of failure, my need to control and organize and plan, it showed me that the books will speak for themselves and that I just need to create the environment and be present. Splayed out before me on the cool tile floor of the computer lab were a dozen kids with books in hand, not a word spoken between them, just the occasional whisper of a word being sounded out or muffled giggles over a funny illustration. Quiet. Peaceful. They were reading.

The Learning Center is looking different with each passing day. The walls are all blocked now and the tile is currently being laid on the floor to be followed by the parging of the walls. I will be travelling back up river for two weeks end of July to paint the inside and outside of the building, design the library furniture and shelves that the Carpentry Workshop will make in August. I will also begin some preliminary computer, reading and craft workshops as well. I anticipate the official, grand opening of the Learning Center will be sometime late September. Exciting!

The Community Center - Week 1 (Feb.11.11)

The community center build was kicked off with lots of enthusiasm by the Onzole community, as well as our Canadian work teams.  It is beautiful. It is unique, it is spacious and it was built by the willing hands of many. Our hearts are full of thankfulness to God for protecting us in all our travels and on the work site, not one accident despite the elements. The community of Onzole worked hard and they are excited to watch this building take shape in the heart of their town. We are awestruck by how talented, patient and hardworking the groups of Canadians were that came down. Thank you!!

From all accounts, it seems like it was a very successful trip and many of the Canadian visitors said they can’t wait to go back!