We Have Enough, But Some Do Not

We are not missionaries or visionaries; we are merely expatriots of Canada and the United States, foreigners in a foreign land, that now choose to call Ecuador home. By whatever means you choose to call it, being blessed, luck, good fortune, we have enough. When you have enough, you have enough money to pay the bills, enough food to sustain you. In having the opportunity to relocate to Cuenca, you’ve already proven that you have more than enough.Most of those who relocate or visit Cuenca see the beautiful architecture, the museums, the local color, the perfect place to be. For most of us it is a perfect place; however, there is another side to Cuenca, just as with any larger city. If you travel down Ordonez Lasso, a block or so past Hotel Oro Verde, past La Palerma (also known as Gringo Palace) you find an area called Sayausi, which is a Quichoa word meaning “foot of the mountain”. Sayausi is a different life from that of El Alfroy, which is the area on the other side of the intersection. Sayausi has poverty, dirt streets that turn to mud and potholes in the rain; there are some newer structures in an attempt at revitalization; however, most are empty. If you can afford them, you don’t want to live there. After a kilometer or so, you turn right onto one of those dirt roads to go up the mountain. Again, you see new houses that are unfinished. The drive is bumpy and rocky. As the drive progresses, there is a sign, CORFRA.
Upon entering the gate of CORFRA, you are in the presence of those who do not have enough. This is an orphanage, one that has been forgotten. Cuenca has 5 orphanages, four of which receive support from the Catholic church and Protestant churches, as well as the Ecuadorian government. The fifth receives funding solely from the government program INFFA; however, the last funding from INFFA was received in September.

Our first visit to the orphanage was on Friday, where we met with the director, Sra. Maria. Currently, there are 24 children, ages infant to 14. The school age children were at school, which is about a mile and a half walk down the mountain. The facility is located on property owned by an Australian couple. There is a building that resembles a motel that is divided into 8 cabins. Each cabin can house up to 9 children and has a house mother.The house mother is responsible for preparing breakfast and dinner, which consists of a colada, which is a drink and bread. They clean the cabins, take care of the children, and do the laundry for the children once a week. Lunch is prepared in the central kitchen.Since INNFA has not contributed in two months, food is becoming scarce. Lunch on Friday consisted of noodle soup, fried yucca, and rice.

Some small gardens have been planted; however, nothing is ready to harvest. There is a small pond that the government has stocked with trout that they will sell when large enough. In our tour, I noticed a place that looked as though it once housed pigs, when asked, the director said that there were places for pigs and chickens, but no money with which to buy them.

This is the chapel.

The dormitories.

Each cabin has a dining room, bathrooms, kitchen, and bedrooms. This is the dining room.

This is David, who just arrived at the facility on the previous day. David was abandoned by his parents; they moved away, leaving him alone at the house. Neighbors brought him here.

One of the bedrooms.

This is a sitting area.

The kitchen.

The preschoolers.

Sra. Maria , Henry, and Mick.

The laundry is hung to dry.

Chara doing the laundry for her cabin. One of the major needs of the orphanage is a new washing machine.

With the volume of laundry, some of the laundry is hung on branches that have been cut.

One of the immature gardens.

The little pond where they're attempting to raise trout.

Some property behind the orphanage has been logged; the owner is allowing a garden to be planted.

Broccoli and cabbage.

The kitchen and dining room.

On Sunday afternoon, a group paid a visit to the orphanage, laden with food. This is the group waiting for everyone to arrive.

Here are the multiple taxis arriving. The entrance was so bumpy that the drivers would not enter the grounds.

Tania and Angel

Some of the food taken by the Gringoes. The bounty included rice, potatoes, vegetables, milk, meat, chicken, fruit and more.

Brandon and Patricio.

Rosa and Andrea

This is Carmelita, 8 years old. Carmelita is a Downs child and has special needs. She has two brothers who live with her family, but she was unwanted because of her special needs.

Precious.

Some of the children.

Sra. Maria had to be away; however, Chara graciously received us and was very open with the information.

Susie and Anita.

Angie and her new friend.

Mick and Angel.

Jose, Miguel, Juan Pablo, and Henry

The magnificent view from CORFRA.

Jim and some of the children.

Carol and David, who was still withdrawn and broken.

The fence is a common play place due to lack of play equipment.

Henry served as translator for the group.

This is Eduardo, Chara's husband, a retired English teacher. The house parents receive no money. Their compensation is room and board.

The chldren were extremely happy for our visit; they were basking in the attention. Some of the children are truly starved for attention. The house parents were thrilled to receive the food. The gringoes were elated in knowing that the children would have adequate food for a few days.

The orphanage was very clean but has so many needs; upon being asked, we were told of specific needs. A major need is milk; the children consume 12 L of milk daily, which requires money that they don't have. Powdered milk is more economical; 1 Kg will supply milk for about 2 weeks. The mattresses are very worn and thin; therefore, new mattresses would be wonderful. There is an old washing machine that was donated and barely works; many of the clothes are now washed by hand. They also need towels. Paper, personal hygiene, and cleaning products are always in short supply. Anything that is received is appreciated.

It is impossible to save the world, but if you save one child, your work has not been in vain. Here are 24 children that have basically been thrown away. These children deserve to be loved; they deserve to have their basic needs met. Their basic needs can be met by all of us giving so little. We have more than enought; they have nothing.

The director has told the children that this year, there will be no Christmas for them because there is no money. We can change this; as a group, we can make a difference in 24 little lives. California Kitchen will be hosting an Angel Tree for the children. With this act, 24 little angels will receive a joy that they would not have been possible. Our hope is that those in Cuenca will help with this project and come by and pick up an angel. If an angel is not available, donations will be accepted for their are many, many needs.

Friday, those who are interested are returning to the orphanage and host a hot dog cookout. We're probably more excited than the children.

We have enough, however, some do not.

Until next time,
Mick and Kathy