VISITS IN PORTOVIEJO

Jenny really wanted to ride a donkey while visiting Ecuador, as we were driving Yolanda spoted this donkey and its owner, we stopped and she asked if Jenny could have a ride.


On Wednesday we visited Montecristi. We spend time at a mausoleum in honor of Eloy Alfaro.




Yolanda and Magdalena wanted to learn some yoga when they found out Jenny was an instructor, so we had a yoga class Tuesday evening before dinner.


We had lunch at a beautiful farm/resturant, after eating we visited the animals, I thought Taylyn would like the picture of the pig.


Traveling through a small town we saw these cocoa beans drying and stopped to take a look.


On the second day Yolanda gave us Oswaldo Loor T-shirts so we would fit in!


This is the reservoir in the hills outside of Portoviejo that supplies water for the city. They were working on the dam in preparation for the rainy season. This area is close to the coast but is really dry most of the year then when the rains come everything turns a beautiful green.


While we were in Portoviejo in addition to visiting many schools and blind or low vision community members we were able to see some other sites as well. We visited a shrimp farm, the beach, the reservoir that is the water supply for the city, rode donkeys, and visited Montecristi. It was a very full, busy week. We returned to Quito on Friday evening and on Saturday we spent some time at Mitad del Mundo and around Quito until Jenny became ill, then we returned to our apartment and just rested. I made some soup for dinner and the Jacobs prepared to fly out. They left on the late flight Saturday night. This was a very enjoyable week. What a difference this training will make to the people of Portoviejo. Thank you Dr. and Sister Jacobs, and thank you Foundation Dr. Oswaldo Loor.

VISION PROJECT - PORTOVIEJO, ECUADOR

Needed to inculde a couple of pictures of us so we can prove we were there.


Dr. Jacobs and his wife Jenny were delightful to work with. Jenny was so fun to travel around with. At the closing ceremony there was press coverage and some good publicity for the Church. We feel we have made some awesome friends with this project.



Dr. Jacobs would have classes with the Drs. then they would see and screen patients. In the afternoon they did the procedures. Three Drs. were trained so that this treatment can be provided in Portoviejo, otherwise people would have to travel to Quito or Guayaquil which they can not afford.



These are a few of the people we visited during the week. The Foundation is doing a wonderful work in helping these people integrate into the community. The children in the schools were so helpful and kind to classmates with vision challenges, it was wonderful to witness.








Yolanda Loor de Ávila the director of the Foundation Dr. Oswaldo Loor. The Foundations was started by the family to honor their father Dr. Loor. Yolanda is dynamite, entusiastic and very organized, it has been so fun to get to know her.


Our first evening there we had a very nice dinner to met everyone and get acquinted.

NOVEMBER 12-19, 2011

I don´t really know how to do a post on this project. I feel that this one project has been totally worth our 18 months in Ecuador. It started as a request by a woman we met on the USNS Comfort for some wheelchairs for a vision clinic in her home town of Portoviejo. As we found out more about this Foundation and Clinic we were very impressed. We contacted them and asked if there was something they needed that we might be able to help with. They requested a surgical microscope to help with cataract surgeries. Our short term specialiest asked if they had need or desire for any type of training. They were so excited when we offered this option and requested to have training in laser treatment for Diabetic Retenopothy. Dr. and Sister Jacobs accepted the call to come for a week and do the training. While Dr. Jacobs was teaching the three Drs. from the clinic we were taken out into the countryside to visit schools and persons in the community that the foundation helps. These are blind or low vision persons that are given training, low interest loans to start small businesses, equipment for use in school and volunteers to help them in their school work. We were so impressed with the work this Foundation is doing and were so blessed to have found them and worked with them. This training will enable the Drs to help thousands of people in this area with treatment to help slow or halt blindness.

ORPHANGE AT MITAD del MUNDO

We had received a large sack of handmade hats that we decided to give to the children here. They loved them! These will help against the Quito cold.



She just wanted to be held! I could bring her home with me.


As we left the office I grabbed one of the quilts. This Orphange is usually for older boys but as you can see from the pictures there are several girls and younger children. When we arrived they told us that they had just gotten a baby so the quilt was needed and appreciated. Heavenly Father watches over His children especially orphanes.


Just look at the size of that spoon. The Orphange is old but clean and in fair repair. Elder and Sister Geldmacher went with us, I think they were touched by the experience.


New cooking equipment, a cooks dream!


The boys were so excited to help unload the items.


Preparing the items for donation, we had a little extra so bought some rice, this will give them something to cook in the big pots!

October 11, 2011

We had made contact with this orphanage through OSO. OSO is a foundation that was founded by Dr. Head in Rexburg, and helps several orphanages in Ecuador. They also send volunteers here, usually young women, to help care for the children. The couple that is in Ecuador directing the volunteers is in our ward and told us about this orphanage that needed some help. The orphanage requested sheets and cooking utensils. They had no sheets for the beds that the children sleep in. Some of the younger children sleep 2, 3 or even 4 to a bed. The children are so happy and fun to be with. They love to hold hands, be held or perform for us. If any of you follow Travis Gugelman, a photographer also from Rexburg, this is one of the orphanages that he helps with. We received word that Travis has gotten them a new van. The old van was very scary, bad brakes, doors didn´t close etc. We are so excited for them. Thanks to any of you who give to humanitarian causes, you are making a difference.

WELFARE OPEN HOUSE - QUITO

At the end of the night the chickens appear to have been the most productive!


Some of the Sisters looking at the fleese quilts. We invited any who wanted to come and learn how to do them.


Display by the Bishop´s Storehouse. It is located in the back of our office building. The sealer in the front is one we use often for the kits we put together. The people in the storehouse are very kind and helpful. One of the volunteers loves to help us on the quilts.


As you can see the Open House was a success, many people learned more about Welfare Services offered by the Church.


This is Anna Lucia, Fernando´s wife, she did Emergency Preparedness. She is a good friend and we will miss her. She is also a really good cook.


The children loved the medical equipment we had.


This display was a hugh hit at the Open House, they really went all out. There was a display of the square foot garden, with dirt, and live chickens.



Lorenzo and Sandra, they work on the 6th floor and do gardening, nutrition and food storage.


Elder and Sister Pettingill, they are the PEF missionaries and share an office on the 5th floor with us. They are so patient when we have the whole office filled with Humanitarian "stuff" including our quilts.


Close ups of the posters we put together. In between all the other things that we had this month we had do get this project done, but it turned out pretty good.



Our display for Humanitarian Services.

OCTOBER 29, 2011

We flew home from Guayaquil Friday night and on Saturday afternoon we took part in a Welfare Open House held at the Iñaquito Stake Center. We were asked to do a display of the Humanitarian projects we have completed as well as general Humanitarian concepts. Everyone was invited but special invitations were extended to Stake Presidents, Bishops and Relief Society leaders. About 300 attended and very much enjoyed the displays and explinations of Welfare Services provided for members and non-members alike. The sisters really enjoyed seeing and asking about the quilts especially the polor fleese ones we have made. Fernando was in charge of this and was so pleased that it was successful. On Monday he asked me to put together some scrapebook pages of the Fair that he could send to Lima for the Area Presidency.
Side Note: Johnny Morande has now been asked to put one together for Guayaquil, we sent him pictures of the one here and offered our posters.

HOGAR DE LA PAZ - HOME OF PEACE

Mother Gredel, she is from India and worked with Mother Teresa. She was delightful to visit with and is doing so much good. We have met so many that are doing such wonderful service so unselfishly.


Signing the paperwork. The other gentleman in the picture is the Stake President from the area. He and His wife came to help deliver the supplies. Now that they are aware of the Shelter they have promised to continue to help them.


By the truck with the cleaning supplies and the hygiene kits.


One of the Sisters at the Shelter. While we were waiting for our supplies to arrive we noticed several people would come to the gate and visit with one of the Sisters. Then the Sister would leave and return in a few minutes with a sack or two of food for the visitor. This was very humbling as we were aware that the Sisters did not have flour, so it may be safe to assume that food supplies in general were low.


We found this very interesting, several of the men at the shelter had wheelchairs donated by the Church. These people are sleeping on mattresses from the Temple and using wheelchairs donated by the Church.


A view of the Shelter. It was very clean and orderly. There is a possibility that the Stake in the area will start doing some craft projects with the people at the Shelter.


The Bread Oven, they bake for the Shelter and for a Day Care Center operated to care for children in the area. They had not used the oven yet because they didn´t have any flour but were hoping to get some soon. Wish we had known this.


The sign outside the shelter.

OCTOBER 28, 2011

Following the wheelchair presentation we went to a shelter for homeless people that is operated by the Sisters of the Order of Mother Teresa of Calcuta. The Church donated several mattresses when the apartments at the Temple were renovated and the sisters asked if we could help them with other needs. We donated a bread oven, cleaning supplies and hygiene kits. This shelter was so very interesting to visit. Mother Gredel, the director of the home, is from India and worked with Mother Teresa. The Sisters are very kind and do a wonderful work with these people who would otherwise be homeless and living on the streets.