May 7, 2007
Dear friends:
The big thing which has happened since I’ve been back is the recent visit by the Joliet medical/construction team. It was fantastic. All told, the medical team treated almost 400 people. Very significant is that one day was spent in Rancho Alto, in the mini-clinic, now not used, which the construction team helped build two years ago. They also spent a day in the barrio up higher, José Peralta, in the house of the barrio president. This was the Church’s first concrete outreach to this barrio since I’ve been here, and it proves that we care about these people. My task, besides chauffeuring, was to get translators, because the people can’t speak English and most of the team can’t speak Spanish. The people I asked were enthusiastic to help. Everybody was grateful for the mission.
The construction tam worked on the education center, plus two houses which were inadequate for the families living there. This enabled the team to meet and rub elbows with the ordinary people.
Very important was that both teams met with the local people to plan for the future. The medical team met two days with Sister Lourdes, director of Sam Jose Obrero Hospital, to which the clinic is affiliated, and some of her staff. We agreed that’s it’s time to expand the clinic’s services. Now, instead of just one doctor working from 9:00 to 1: 00, we will have another working, say, from 4:00 to 8:00. We will hire an assistant, who will help with paperwork, and with the new pharmacy. We will join the hospital in their contract with a medical lab company, and pass on the lab results. So things are expanding: Another doctor, more hours, an assistant, a pharmacy, and lab services. The medical team will meet with the hospital staff next year to see how things are working out. Maybe next year members of the medical team will help out at the hospital itself.
The construction team met with some of the people on the home-building project. We clarified some things, such as people seeming to “bite off more than they can chew”. One noon we all ate at the school cafeteria which the construction team helped build last year. Most evening meals were at the house of the Sisters and missionaries in Rancho Alto. Everybody is always glad to see old friends. This is one of the mission’s goals.
On the team’s “day off”, instead of going to museums, we went by bus to Otavalo, the town for clothing, and Ibarra, renown for woodwork. On the way we enjoyed the green of Ecuador, which we don’t see in this barrio. One night our people here put on an evening of traditional music and dance: seven groups in all. We loved it.
Last Saturday was a big day for Rancho Alto. We are finally getting potable water. (Not to be taken literally: you still have to boil it before drinking it.) The mayor of Quito and the barrio directiva (town board) met for three short ceremonies, one at the town meeting place, another higher up near where they are digging a hole for a water tank, and another higher up in Rancho José Peralta, where they are digging deeper holes for other tanks. Sister Rosa brought the kids from the Daycare Center to meet the mayor of Quito, as did Señora Lourdes Perez, head of the Aleman public school. This was a plea to him to be more conscious of the lack of other services: garbage disposal, paved roads, electricity, street lights. The roads here have never been worse. But, all in all, this was the first sign of progress for the barrio since I’ve been here. Soon these other services will follow, we hope. Everybody’s spirit was high.
