Photos from Compassion Project

Photo at left, Dany's Compassion Project Director, me, Dany, and Dany's Father.

I was eagerly shown around the project, and Dany personally showed me some of his work. The staff also showed me the meticulous records they kept there for each sponsored child, including all the payments and gifts received from each sponsor for each child (dates, amounts received, etc.).

Photos shown at right... Dany's pastor at the Project, and windows inside the church. The pastor was very warm and welcoming, and kept thanking me for coming and for all my help through Compassion International. I was very touched by his insistence that my contributions make such a big difference for Dany, and that he and Dany will continue to pray for me and my family, too.

This is such a worthy project. When we drove through the village, I saw how so many of the children of the local families dressed, and how terribly poor they were. Dany definitely has some advantages over them because of Compassion, but not so much that he stands out from the other kids or appears to be more "wealthy." I mention this because it is a concern of many that these sorts of organizations may actually do more harm than good, with the effect of making the children appear "better off" than others, causing them to be ostricized or even attacked out of jealousy. But they are actually not really given much in the way of material benefits, so much as opportunities to better themselves. Through Compassion, the children in the project are given lots of encouragement with their studies, nutritious meals at the project, medical attention as needed, and their entire families are instructed in nutritional care and the importance of good hygiene for optimal health. And of course, the spiritual guidance is central to everything.

It all really does make a difference for the children. While the families maintain their pride and strong work ethics, they also can share in a joyful hope for their children's futures, knowing they will have wonderful opportunities that were never made available to them. Most people aren't aware than Compassion is committed to continue to help these kids as they grow up and outgrow the benefits of sponsorship. Compassion encourages and helps them continue on to college, to grow in ways that they can eventually find ways to give back even more to their own communities and the people and culture that nurtured them in their childhood.

I asked Dany what he wants to be when he grows up. Through the interpreter, he smiled shyly and said that he wants to be a musician and a doctor! He went on to explain that he wanted to be a musician because he loves music, but that he also sees so many people hurting and sick in the world that he wishes he could help. Such a sweet boy -- I was moved almost to tears again! He then added that, when he's grown up, he wants to go to college in the United States. I asked Byron to tell Dany that we have two universities near us (MTU about 30 miles away, and NMU about 100 miles away), and that if Dany should decide to attend either of these, he was welcomed to live with us while in school. When Byron translated, Dany and his father smiled and thanked me, and Dany's father enthusiastically took Dany's hand and raised it up in the air in sort of cheering motion, sharing some encouraging words with Dany. Byron looked at me and said, "They are very happy!"

Dany is such a good looking young boy, too. When he's a little unsure of what's going on, he looks a bit scared or worried. But when he smiles, his face lights up and he melts your heart! He was pretty shy with me at times. Then he would start to feel comfortable and laugh and even hold my hand. But then he would suddenly again feel shy and uncertain about how to relate to me. I'm sure it must be VERY awkward for him! In his previous letters to me, he'd tell me that I was like a second mother to him, that he couldn't wait to meet me, that he planned to give me a big hug when he finally saw me face-to-face, and so on. But when I finally came to his country, I think his enthusiasm was stifled by his natural childlike fears of the unknown, the language and cultural differences, and the overwhelming emotions being expressed by all involved. I'm sure, too, that he was experiencing all sorts of emotions of his own that he's still trying to understand!

Meeting Dany ...Otavalo, Cuicocha, Cotacachi

Byron, the escort and translator from the Compassion office in Quito, picked me up at the Alliance Academy, and after some polite conversation we were off for a wild ride on the Panamerican Highway through the Andes, to Otavalo. I was reassured about my decision to spend the night in Quito, instead of having made this journey at night! More in a later post about the driving habits of those traveling this highway...

I arrived in Otavalo today and met Dany and his parents, along with his project director and another family member (an uncle?). While Byron was videotaping with my camera, we all hugged and cried and generally made a spectacle of ourselves there on the street where we met them! Dany was crying and very overwhelmed, and they explained to me that he was so happy that he could not find words and didn't know how to express the joy in his heart, and that he had been dreaming of me and this moment that we would finally meet! I was crying and almost fell over at one point -- lightheaded from the high altitude, and the high emotions too!

From there, we went to the Compassion project site, where Dany's class is, and I got to see where my dollars are going with my monthly contributions. It's really a good thing, and the pastor greeted me too and thanked me for my support of the project, and said he would continue to pray for me and thank God for me! Everyone was thanking ME and making me feel like it was all about me, which made me a little uncomfortable. But I told them what a blessing it has been to me to be able to help in the small way that I do, and to finally meet Dany and all his family and the people at the project... all very emotional again!

Photo, left, is Dany with his father -- always smiling!

Next, we went to Dany's home, and all crowded into the livingroom (I suspect it serves also as sleeping quarters at night). I gave Dany and his family the gifts I'd brought, and he got out all the pictures I'd sent him over the past 2 years. Dany's parents showed me baby pictures of Dany, and other pictures as he was growing, all in a sort of collage on the wall. Byron was videotaping a lot of this, for which I'm SO grateful!!!

Dany´s mother prepared a meal for me -- my first authentic Ecuadorian meal. Byron quietly advised which items on the tray I should not try, and made excuses for me in Spanish to Dany's family. They speak Quechua, the language of the indigenous people of the area, but also know enough Spanish to converse well with Byron, who is fluent in both Spanish and English. He told them that I have to be careful, until my stomach gets used to the local foods, and so on. But I appreciated his watchful eye and consideration on my part. He knows I'm vegetarian, and it ends up he had steered me away from the fried blood, and the soup with bits of cow intestine in it! Thank you, Byron! The rest of the food was tasty, though, and I enjoyed sampling the different flavors and seasonings used. An interesting side dish she had for me (which I've since learned is not uncommon elsewhere in Ecuador) is shredded onions. But they were very mild onions, and with the fresh lime served to squeeze over them were really rather good!

Photo, right, is Dany's mother -- a very friendly and gracious hostess!

Before leaving Dany's home, his father asked to show me his work room, where he has his looms and all the many colors of yarn. He explained, through Byron, that it is the job of the father to teach his sons the trade, and that Dany is now learning to weave. So Dany jumped right into place, and began showing me how he could work the loom, too -- proud as could be! I was videotaping then, when Dany's father directed me to a beautiful sweater he'd made, and indicated that it was a gift for me! ME?! There started the tears again! I was overwhelmed at the kindness and goodness of these people, and my hands were shaking as I again handed the camcorder to Byron. Dany held the sweater up for me to slip into, and then his father directed me to a pile of other items -- a sweater each for Dennis and Katya, and scarves for Mark, Dennis, Katya and me -- all woven on his loom! I was pretty much speechless, and feeling lightheaded and overwhelmed (again).

From there, Byron took Dany, the project director (Segundo) and me to visit Cuicocha Lake. They knew it was one place I really wanted to see during my trip. It was beautiful, but I didn't get to hike around it or anything... just took some pictures and was content with that, being with Dany and all. See photo at left, me (wearing new sweater!) with Dany, at Laguna de Cuicocha.

From there, we went back down the mountain to the town of Cotacachi and walked the streets there, checking out the world-famous leather shops. I really wasn't in a shopping mood -- too much was happening, way too fast -- but I did manage to buy a nice leather duffle! I had buyer's remorse later, but there was nothing to do but use it and enjoy it. I've since come to appreciate that I bought it, as it's a very nice quality duffle.

We enjoyed lunch in Cotacachi at the restaurant I'd had on my list to visit, the Meson de las Flores. It was really nice! The interior courtyard of this ex-hacienda was the dining area where we ate a wonderful meal. See the photo here to the right.

The photo to the left is Segundo, the Compassion Project Director who was required to accompany us during my visit with Dany. He was very nice, rather quiet and reserved, yet also very friendly and with many questions for me. Byron finally laughed and told me that he felt I had a new "fan!" One question Segundo asked was if all the women in America were tall like me, and I laughed and told him that no, I was taller than most! I was wishing all along, though, that I could take some posed photos of him, because he had the greatest profile! As a photographer, I don't necessarily see striking beauty, but instead look for strong characteristics and great bone structure that make for interesting photos. And Segundo has a nose and profile that remind me of drawings I've seen of the ancient Aztec people! There he was, directing his questions for me to Byron, and all I could think was, "I'd love to photograph him!" But I didn't dare ask, not quite sure how he would take it, and not wanting to offend or make him uncomfortable.

The photo to the right is one I took of Byron, while we were at the restaurant.

It was time, then, to head back to Carabuela, Dany's village, and drop off Dany and Segundo. Believing this would be the last time I'd see Dany, we parted amidst more tears and hugs. This day had just been TOO emotional for me! Byron showed me the bus stations and such, and asked if there was anything else I needed to know or wanted to ask, and he brought me to the Dona Esther Hotel to get me checked in there. Sitting at one of the tables in the interior courtyard, we settled his fees, signed a few papers, went over the rules again about not trying to make contact with Dany without a Compassion rep being present. I reminded them that I'd already signed papers promising just that, and we shook hands and he left. I settled my things into my room, and came back down a few minutes later to ask about phone use, to find Dany's parents outside the courtyard gate waving to come in. Though Byron had instructed the receptionist to discourage any visitors and see that I'm not bothered by anyone (except anyone speaking English who tries to call me!), I knew they'd seen me, and I really couldn't tell the questioning receptionist to make them go away! So she let them in, and with her very limited English told me they wanted to bring Dany and see me again the next day, about 1:00. It was all so unexpected, and I was very emotionally exhausted, and though I wasn't at all comfortable with the whole situation, I couldn't tell them no -- they were just so glad to have found me!

So we parted again, and I then left the hostal and wandered the streets (now dark) trying to find an internet cafe. I walked into one, asked "habla English?" and got nothing but blank stares and head shaking. Weary and knowing I shouldn't risk getting myself lost on the streets of Otavalo my first night, I just went back to my room and crashed. I had a good night's sleep, but surely could have slept longer if not for the pair of large-sounding dogs who woke me at 6:00 a.m. They have regular outbursts now and then, and no one seems to bother shutting them up. But I guess the locals are pretty tolerant of dogs, as they seem to be wandering the streets everywhere!