From Yancy:
Well, we are in the home stretch, and I must say I feel renewed and invigorated. The visit to Babahoyo just filled me up to overflowing and I’m ready for our last dash to the finish to complete this mission trip. However, I wasn’t feeling this good on Tuesday morning after our “rest” day on Monday.
Monday nearly killed me. We had an awesome time together as a team reflecting on the Children’s Workers Conference, and then praying for each other. It was a great time in the presence of the Lord. However, the rest of the day didn’t exactly go to plan, and what was supposed to be an early morning all day trip to the beach instead ended up as a trip to the mall with a brief beach stop. Oh, and did I mention how cold the beach was? Freezing water complete with cold gusting wind…lovely. The day wore on and just continued to sap my energy.
Tuesday morning we load up and headed out. I was exhausted, and I was not looking forward to the nearly two hour drive back to Guayaquil and nearly two hours to Babahoyo. And why do I mention all of this self pity stuff??? To contrast it with the rejuvenating experience I had at Pastor Oscar’s church in Babahoyo.
I slumped out of the van, grabbed my camera, and headed off to the stage where the local children had gathered and were waiting for us. We were met with a wall of excited kids, eager to shake our hand and give us a warm greeting. The feeling was overwhelming, even more so than at Escuela de Santa Rosa.
Children rushed up to my camera, everyone wanting their pictures taken. One girl in particular, Genesis, took a shine to me and was my little shadow for the rest of the evening. She was always just at the edge of my peripheral vision, smiling at me.
Unlike a number of the kids who would push away other children so they could be in the spotlight, little Genesis was eager to take her picture with other kids. Or, she would find some of the younger children and make her way up to me so the little child could be video taped. BTW, if you watched today’s video and you’re wondering which child is Genesis, well she appears twice in the video. She’s the little girl in the black shirt on the left in the last shot of the two girls at the end of the video.
Anyway, time was marching on, and as we arrived late it was apparent I was losing light fast (a critical necessity for film work) and the stage area did not have the lighting I would need to record all I needed. I had planned, like the other videos, to simply chronicle what we did in Babahoyo and give viewers a little glimpse into what happens on missions.
I stood quietly outside of the church looking at the sun slowly beginning to set over the neighborhood…wondering what to do. Then I could hear a faint whisper tell me to look around, and ask me what did I see? I could see ramshackle homes obviously built with whatever materials were available. I could see barefoot children playing in the streets with ratty looking clothes. I saw poverty…I saw tremendous need. “That is why you are here.” The voice whispered in my ear.
At that moment I knew exactly what I had to do. I quickly grabbed Pastor Leo and Meri Fenske (our missions liaison), and explained to Pastor Leo that I wanted to show the people back home what is happening here, and what they can do to help. Leo was very excited about the idea, and we quickly shot his portion of the video.
After that I rushed out into the streets of this little area of town with camera in hand recording what I saw. I’m sure the locals found it amusing to see this large gringo running around their neighborhood documenting their lives. It was an awesome experience.
Now bear in mind, as I mentioned earlier, I lived in Panama for eight years, so this level of poverty is nothing new to me. But this experience was completely different. For all those years in Panama I never wandered the streets of the poorer barrios, it wasn’t safe. And if I did go through those areas it was in the comfort of a car, insulated from the outside world.
But here it was, unbelievable poverty…lack of essentials we take for granted back home such as, potable water (tap water is not drinkable), hot showers, air conditioning, and in some cases in the poorer homes, electricity. Mosquitoes run rampant spreading sickness throughout the country.
It was devastating watching these children growing up in a country with they have almost little to no chance at bettering their station in life. In fact, at one point a woman with a one month old baby told Pastor Rae that all she wanted for her child was for her to grow up in the United States so she could have a good life. This woman was willing to give up her child to make that possible.
That’s why this video was made, to put the word out that Ecuador needs help. And it’s not just limited to Ecuador, this neighborhood I walked through is fairly typical of most towns in all of Latin America. The need is astounding and there are ways to help.
Like Pastor Leo said, if you work in the medical field, have construction skills, can teach, or are willing to donate your time on a missions trip you can help the people of Ecuador. You can partner with Compassion International and sponsor a child in the Latin American region. You can donate money to various charitable organizations which assist the needy in Latin America. Everyone can do something…everyone should do something.
Finally, our day in Babahoyo ended and everyone started saying their goodbyes. I was emotionally spent, but in a good way. I sat down in a chair; my little shadow took a seat next to me and just held me for a good five minutes. I could feel the tears welling up in me. This girl, who only just met me, loved me unconditionally, without reservation. I just gently rocked her until she had to go. As she got up I noticed tears in her eyes as well. She gave me a big hug and kissed me on me cheek and said “Ciao,” and then she was off into night.
I wondered why she had become so attached to me. Maybe I reminded her of her father, or maybe she was from one of those broken homes Pastor Leo had spoken so passionately about, and she had no father.
Maybe for that one ever so brief moment in the course of little Genesis’ life I gave her the comfort of a father she so desperately wanted. Or maybe, just maybe, God decided to use me as His instrument to show her the unconditional love of her Heavenly Father. Either way it was a moment that has changed my life forever.
I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. Matthew 25:40 (NIV)
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