After an entire day of packing, going through security, flying, layovering, and a little more flying and a little (LOT) more flying we are finally here. We arrived at the Quito Airport at 11:30 at night and just to see how many cars were flying around I could guess how crazy this night was going to be. As we were driving through the city with Ceaser (Childreach's driver in Ecuador)
and Michelle( our translator) my mind was blown. We drove through a small road filled with Spanish graffitti, I was amazed. About 1 in every 25 buildings was lit, houses were trashed and decaying and our van barely made it up the (hill) MOUNTAIN. Its pretty funny how the Ecuadorians call them hills, we call them mountains. This morning we just met the Extreme Response staff and they are the nicest people. From all over the world every race every color they are all coming together to serve God. Those people are basically going to be our mommy's and daddy's for the next couple days.
We went on a walk with Michelle and saw the city, the mountains, the cars and the buildings are so heavily packed into one small skinny town that we could never even blink. But we could blink at the poverty on the streets and wish it would go away when our eyes reopened but that's exactly what we are here to help with. We went to a restaraunt and sitting outside were a pair of charcole black hands belonging to a boy that was polishing shoes all day for his family to just stick around the city. When we were sitting in the restaruant I watched the boy gather his belongings and walk away. 5 minutes later a young girl with a box of strawberries sat in the exact same spot. I watched a man walk up to her and the girl started speaking. I couldn't tell what she was selling him some strawberries. The man looked at her and quickly turned his head as soon as they made eye contact and acted like he didn't even see her. Just from the poverty of the first day I know that it is going to get worse.
By: Matt Schario
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Matt,
ReplyDeleteI love your blog. the decriptions of the town are so descriptive. it really captures the city and doesn't sugar coat the poverty. so many times people do just blink and turn the other cheek towards poverty. those kids and people need people like you and your family to give them a voice. keep on updating and i can't wait to see you when i come down.
Hannah
ps ask Mallory about what i said the sleeping arrangement will be when we come down :)
Wow Matt thats awesome! That kind of poverty is really shocking at first. I love reading your blogs. I know you are going to make a difference is those peoples lives! Keep us posted!
ReplyDeleteJulianne
Hey Matt! wow, you are a writer! I love the part about closing your eyes and wishing the poverty would go away but it's still there when you open them. I'm so impressed with your maturity and insight! I can't wait to see all of you in a few weeks, it's going to be great!
ReplyDelete- Elizabeth
Matt,
ReplyDeleteDude! We should team up and write a book together! Your blog rocked! I can't wait to come down and see you guys. It seems even more real now that you guys are there. Keep writing man!
Kathleen