The Story of Maria´s House

The building of a house for a family is always a great blessing.  Let me try to describe for you the difference it makes…

Maria and her three teenagers lived in a one-room shack with a mud floor three months ago.  Bits of wood were cobbled together with pieces of plastic sheeting and some rusty metal roofing to give them shelter.  They had lived in this ramshackle abode for years, sleeping together on two mattresses on the floor, cooking and living in that one same room.  Water ran across the floor in the rainy season.    

The shack had no toilet, shower or wash basin.  The family used plastic bags to collect their faeces and put it out in the rubbish.  Sickness was common.  Maria herself suffered a road traffic accident some years before, which meant an extensive operation on her spine.  For this reason she is unable to do physical work, and without an education, is unable to do more sedentary work.  Her husband abandoned them several years ago and has not been heard from since. 

The price of food in Ecuador is currently equivalent to that in the UK.  Clothes, detergents, and toiletries are more expensive in Ecuador.  For families like Maria´s, who receive £35 from the government in benefits per month, and can maybe earn £5 a day washing clothes for other families if they are lucky, it is a struggle to simply put food on the table each day.  Saving up to build a toilet, let alone a house is an impossible dream. 

When we told Maria we were going to build her a new house, she had the old one dismantled within an hour!  She was so excited.  Tears filled her eyes as she witnessed work begin.  Every day her sons helped to mix the cement and lay the blocks, while she cooked lunch for the builders.  She had one cockerel she was fattening up for a thank-you meal once the house was ready.  The rest of the time the meals were rice, lentils and cooking bananas. 

The new house, with its´ block walls, cement floor, kitchen bench and sink, toilet and shower with running water, and two bedrooms, might look somewhat plain to you or I, but to Maria it is a palace.  Someone stole the cockerel the morning it was due to go in the pot – so Maria found chickens from someone else to cook us a thank you meal.  The builder gave her his sofa bed, so she can sleep apart from her sons, and also some old curtains for the windows.  Maria may not have any furniture, but at least she now has a safe, waterproof, clean, hygienic home.  

I would like to thank those special people who run marathons, do concerts and simply donate their savings so that families in Ecuador can have a house of their own.  What a life-changing gift to give to others! 

We are currently working on the 9^th and 10^th houses to be built by Project Ecuador… perhaps you will give thanks with me for this fantastic blessing.     

Unexpected Blessings

When I sat writing my first book, in hours snatched here and there from caring for my toddler and baby, I never imagined some of the surprising events that would result.  One that continues to unfold is the generosity of a Scottish old age pensioner. 

Laura

Jean (as we shall call her) read about Guinea Pig For Breakfast in the Church of Scotland magazine, and promptly obtained a copy.  Inspired by the stories she read, she got in touch asking to be the sponsor of a child in Ecuador.  We happily sent her details of a five year old girl, Laura, who has seven siblings and lives with her mother and grandmother in a house lent to them by a family member.  The only income for the family is the few dollars a day the mother earns washing clothes by hand for other families. 

 Laura and her mother were delighted to learn that Laura had a sponsor and to receive financial help so that Laura could attend school.  Jean did not stop there.  Soon we had a message informing us that she had made provision in her will to continue supporting Laura until she finishes school and that she was planning a visit to meet Laura and her family. 

Already over 70 years old, Jean was not deterred by the long journey.  A single, retired primary school teacher, she was free to travel and was determined to do so.  Despite dire warnings from the Ecuadorean Embassy staff in London of the treacherous road to Santo Domingo, Jean booked her flight, bus rides and hotels and refused to be collected from the airport in Quito.  She was truly a brave adventurer, who was determined to be independent and not to give us extra work, despite her lack of Spanish. 

We were delighted to take Jean to meet Laura and her family.  The warm welcome from the family and the shy smiles of Laura and her younger sister touched Jean´s heart.  She even coped well with being presented with a live chicken as a thank you gift.  She was moved to want to provide the family with a house of their own. 

The only problem was that the family did not have any land to build on.  Jean´s savings went on a plot of land, and now we are building a house for the family.  The rural piece of land will allow them to keep some chickens and pigs and to grow a few bananas to supplement their meager income. 

What a blessing Jean is being to Laura and her family!  We look forward to her next visit, when she comes to see the new house, and to making friends with other readers of my books.