ECUADOR!
I have travelled to many places but I do not remember being this excited about a trip! I initially thought it's because I finally get to visit the one continent I have never been. For two weeks I would live amongst a culture and a people I have never encountered before. My own, personal "last frontier" I suppose.
But that was not it. Because you see, the more invested I became in raising funds for the trip and the more I got to know the team of wonderful, down to earth, dedicated, 90+ individuals I would be travelling with, the more I realised how serious and life changing this trip was going to be for me. We were going down to there to change lives! I know that sounds so...corny but it's true! Imagine someone who has been afflicted with years of pain because of a damaged hip or knee who is unable to work to support his/her family, or a child born with club feet (an easily corrected procedure out here in the west) whose parents cannot afford to pay for an operation that would change the course of their lives.
This year, CAMTA (Canadian Association of Medical Teams Abroad) is sending 94 medical (doctors, nurses, anesthetists, physiotherapists) and non-medical (translators, lay people, IT, logisticians etc) to literally set up a "hospital" to perform orthopedic surgeries on about 30+ people, many of them wee little children. Its a logistics nightmare I tells ya but it's worth every minute.
I have worked in the non-profit world for well...forever but never have I been involved in work that has such direct and immediate impact on individuals. They walk in broken and walk out with renewed hope!! That is the stuff that gets me excited. It's not about being in a city/country/continent I have never been before. It's about seeing the hope and joy in the faces of these people when they realise they can finally walk, pain free and shame free, just like the rest of us.
Share my journey...to Ecuador and back again! (Yes...I am a Lord of the Rings/Hobbit fanatic!!)
A posting at 2.06 AM, is excitement alright and thankfully for the right reason!
ReplyDeleteI can only complain that you are stealing the thunder from the NFP organizations that look after the misfortunes of Africa! Until now, I thought it is only people of my race who are in dire need. We have never thought fund raising to support causes in other parts of the world! Good for you and way to go. Ma
I seen them all blogs and very touching, beautiful people and country side. Glad it has been worthwhile and fulfilling. We look at these less fortunate and are touched never to be the same again! I hope you are off for a well deserved vac time.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ma! Yes, I am with your other daughter in Peru :) it's so good to relax a little. Please check in on my babies :)
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