School Project in Guayaquil

A lot of people still live in tents because they lost their homes during the earthquake.  The Church has donated hundreds to various communities and Church members.

We bought about 20 small bananas for a $1. That's our driver buying them. After our meeting we were greatful to have them and we ate all of them. There were 5 of us traveling together.  We were late for our next meeting and didn't have time to stop for lunch. Thankfully Mom had a few small packages of crackers to go with the bananas.  I think it was one of our best meals.  I don't like restaurants.

See if you can figure out this piece of artwork that was in front of a maternity hospital that we visited.

We do a lot of projects with schools.  This is a pic. of a teachers desk.  They are all about the same.

Student desks are pretty pathetic.

Notice the leg of the desk.

Beautiful children but it sure must be hard to sit at these desks all day.  We don't typically see a lot of supplies.

They were covering cans for presents for Father's Day.

We never see any textbooks but this class had workbooks.

The walls around the school are about 8' high but the first thing the principal requested was wire to make it about 4' higher.  Crime is rampant in the community.

Kids were having fun making a gift for their fathers.  Notice the teacher's chair.  Pretty pathetic!

Teacher's desk

Taxi's are afraid to come into the community.  These motorcycle type rickshaws are all over.  We spoke with one taxi driver and he said he wouldn't go into the area where we were looking at schools for $50!

Notice the bars and wire covering the entrance to the stores.  All transactions take place through a small window.

I google translated an article from a local newspaper.  Maybe you can understand what the community is like.

Here the only law is that of the bands, "says a man before withdrawing into his house. Night falls and Trinitaria Island is immersed in shadows. From one of the banks of the estuary Salado, a strong flash dazzles. Lights are busy perimeter in the south of Guayaquil. In her womb only a few oil lamps illuminate the dusty alleys of the cooperative Enrique Gordillo. They are winding roads end, where the silhouettes of those who go to step presuroso.Son 19:00 and bustle of the market which access is diluted drink drain. Almost no trace of the 90,028 inhabitants of the Trinity, one of the most populous areas, according to the municipality, and source of insecurity, police said. The roar of the engine of an unknown vehicle shudders. The passage of a ghost bike disturbed. Through the windows armored with thin bars just seen a fearful look. "Not to be toad, but be batteries," you hear of a wooden door that closes. "There's everything here. They are branches. Some are engaged in smuggling weapons, drugs and other trafficking others just steal. They are neighbors who do not speak criminals, but here on the sidewalks are seen dividing the silver rounds ". The gunmen also roam the streets. "They kill for $ 50 or 100. Then go to the store, ask for a beer and have come killing one, in cold blood". Looking at the map of Guayaquil, the Trinitarian highlighted. In its latest report, the Observatory of Public Safety marked him as the most dangerous area. Popeye, Ernesto Gordillo, Che Guevara, Andrés Quiñones, April 22 are among the 53 cooperatives in the red list. Those who live there know it. Luis Velez (name withheld) drives a motorcycle taxi. His day begins at 06:00 and ends at 23:00. Before each race not forget the sign of the cross. "I am daily bread thieves. But it is better not to have enemies because after reprisals catch and kill, "he says, and looks in the rearview mirror. Accelerates and goes into the Cooperative Unidos Venceremos. There, with his motorcycle, police Corporal Ramon Salazar monitors the area of ​​Nigeria, Cenepa, Jacobo Bucaram and Brisas del Salado II. A dark cap partly cover his face. "They are the red dots. We must be cautious, because the uniform is not a guarantee. " The policeman turns his bike and bent in a corner, just opposite Maria Paredes (name withheld). She lives near the estuary and daily witness express kidnappings. "Some spend arranchando cell and wallets. But at dawn cries are heard. Taxi drivers and drivers are asking for help. Let them thrown with a broken head, they take the car. " The killings are also common. In Guayaquil, so far 2010, the Security Observatory recorded 457 murders. Only in the Trinitaria, police charged the sector is three to four bodies a week, thrown by the perimeter or along the estuary. 56 policemen, five in 14 patrol motorcycles, are responsible for monitoring the 70 cooperatives Trinitaria. At 12:00 on Wednesday, the G-026 patrol car stops next to the perimeter for an operational surprise. Passengers on bus 119 are the first to be reviewed. "It's for gun control. For here we always find the 38 national caliber, cartridge belts and knives, "relates a policeman. A similar control is performed in the second riskiest point of Guayaquil: Flor de Bastion. Trinitaria linked to the perimeter, Northwest sector welcomes 53,684 inhabitants. In each section of the line of asphalt that binds its 24 blocks fear leaves its traces. In hair salons, shops and even churches stand one faded leaves: 'Security, Local guarded' Flor de Bastion Wrestlers' highlighted in black letters, great. Next to the label 'God bless this home' on the doorway of a house, highlights a yellowed sheet 'safe house'. "It is the announcement of surveillance brigades armed themselves some time among the people of the neighborhood ago, but the rascals make them little heed," says Estefania Ruiz (name withheld). In the afternoon, four policemen on motorcycles cross the main road Flor de Bastion. Hooded, looking from side to side, without separating, rummaging through the narrow alleys that form over the pale hills. In block 17 approach a youth group. "Documents", asks one of the gendarmes, while his fellow frisk against the wall. In the street, Rocio Santos (name withheld) observes. "They're good guys, the police know the criminals gangs and do nothing," he says. Burglaries, drug dealing, weapons and killings are common crimes in high-risk areas of Guayaquil. Captain Luis Paredes, head of the Safety Zone Trinitaria, hold it. When an X-ray of the island identifies three bands in the territory of 433 hectares.

Youth Correction Center

The church frequently has computers, tables, chairs, benches etc. that are being replaced.  We have the responsibility to find good homes for the stuff.  The bus in the background is from the department of Justice.  It's huge but still didn't fit everything.  There were a few pickups and another large truck requiered to fit everything that was donated.  There are 11 correctional centers throughout the country where the benches and chairs will be sent.

There were a lot of people who helped with the loading of the truck.  I didn't help much because I stepped in some po-- and Mom cleaned my shoe while the Church custodian cleaned the beautiful tile floor.

These are two wonderful young men.  The taller of the two is being released today after 2 years of incarceration.  Mom asked the director of the program what the kids were in for and learned that they are locked up for rape, murder or robbery.  Kids range in age from 12 to 22.  Since they are youth we weren't allowed to take pictures of their faces.

This is Father Alberto.  He is a wonderful man who lives at the center and teaches the youth better decision making skills.

At the correctional facility all youth are taught baking skills.  We sampled the bread and it was pretty tasty!

All of the kids learn to work with pottery.

Kids design their own crafts.  These are done with wood and foam sheets.

This picture was first done with plaster to give depth and then painted.

Another creation!!  This was done with metal so it was harder to make.

Here a couple of the metalworkers.  They all seem like such good young men.  Thank goodness for the atonement and good people that try to help.

These are the benches that the church donated to the center.  Now the kids can comfortably listen to Father Alberto's sermons.  He likes to tell jokes so maybe everyone stays awake.

We were proud to be with this wonderful man!!  The chairs in the background were also donated by the Church.  Before they just had white plastic chairs even for the congregation of youth.

The Church also donated this bench!

The kids made the metal frames for these beds in their metal shop and the wardrobes in their wood shop.

The murals were made in their ceramics class.

Father Alberto asked for the pulpit so he would have something to use when he spoke with groups of parents and students.  We had to get special permission.

Center directors, people from the ministry of Justice and a couple of the kids who wanted their pictures taken with us.  The young man in red was released yesterday.  He plans on attending university.

Guayaquil

A huge Catholic church in Guayquil

See if you can find the iguana!

Look carefully for the Iguanas!

Want a ride?

Arm of ocean in poor area where crowds come to play on the weekends!

Missionary Mom and Dad!

In the distance is a huge school in a very poor area of town.  The Department of Ed. is shutting down the smaller schools and building these Millenial schools.

A very poor area of Guayquil, the largest city in Ecuador.

How about some chicken that's been hanging outside in the heat??

Hospital we are looking at to do vision project.

Missionary Mom and Dad going into surgery!!

The patient waiting for caterat surgery.

We watched the 20 min. cataract surgery.  The doctor was here from South Carolina doing some service.  He did over 50 surgeries while he was here.

Lots of beautiful old cathedrals!

Looks like the water patrol.

My friend at the park.

A HUGE tree!!

The Malecon walkway in Guayaquil.