Health & Fitness
Causes For Change: Ecuador, Here We Come!
We take off for our healthcare mission to Ecuador tomorrow! A small group of volunteers through Causes For Change International are gearing up to help 2000 poor children in one week.
Dear Friends,
I can't believe it. It's almost here... our 3rd trip to Ecuador with Causes For Change.
It seems that whenever we plan a trip, SO many other things happen. Who could have guessed that our son Andrew would have a bicycle accident last week, and have to get checked out at Highland Park Hospital? Fortunately, he just has a sprained left knee and bone contusions.
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Who could have guessed that my own fall on April 4th (just walking near the grass), would have resulted in a fractured bone below the pinky of my right hand... and that my right knee would continue hurting today? (I went to our wonderful physical therapist on Tuesday, and learned that I have a cyst behind the right knee...and so I have a brace on my right knee.) You might say that Andrew and I have matching knee braces...
I contemplated getting an MRI tonight -- at the last minute before our trip -- and then figured, what good would it do now? Either I'm going or I'm not. Since I plan to go, I just am bringing along bandages, arnica (homeopathic pills and cream), and some pain pills. I guess I won't be jumping, hopping and skipping with the children on this trip. I'll have to modify my activity.
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Still, every new experience offers something exciting. We'll be meeting Ecuadorian volunteers, some of whom we met before and other new ones. We'll be joining several other Americans from different states, and convene together in Guayaquil, Ecuador. And we'll be taking a 2-hour bus ride from Guayaquil to a new place... I don't even remember the name of the town. Each day, a bus will take us to a different remote village. I'm told we'll also be visiting an island somewhere.... another place that has never seen visitors before.
Imagine how it feels when people stare at you, as if you're a Martian from outer space. The natives can't believe we're actually working there without charge... just to help them. It's a great feeling to be giving. It truly makes me appreciate how much we have in the United States.
So -- even though we'll probably be without hot water, and I'm considering venturing into an outhouse (!), it's a trip I'm sure we'll remember.
Thanks for tuning in. I'll do my best to take photos and video footage... and will share it with you upon our return.
Take care.
