Yesterday, we found out that most of the shacks and shanties where a lot of the kids club children come from, had been razed to the ground by bulldozers from the municipal of Quito. This had been a threat for some time and it finally became a reality.
Their shanties were located right on a main road near the Quito dump (where we have held the Kids Club for the past four years) and many of the families were involved in the "recycling" process of going through the garbage and digging out any usable item for recycling. The families were living there as "squatters" . . . . and in reality this is kind of typical of their lifestyle. I remember hearing them mention this possibility to me over a year ago and they didn't do anything about it - just kept living in their shanties and going on with life.
However, that doesn't make it any less sad to see them being booted out of a shack that they have called home for several years. Extreme Response is looking for ways to help them out (aside from the most obvious one of building them a home!). Jose Jimenez, our "dump" pastor was out there today checking in with those who just camped out for the night after their shacks were bull-dozed down and I know that my co-workers Paul and Dan were also out there, trying to encourage them and bring them some food stuff.
The sad part is that we're not sure what will happen to these families or if we'll ever have contact with these children again. No one knew this was going to happen, so the high schoolers didn't have a chance to say goodbye to these children that we have literally seen grow up during these past four years.
We're also concerned that the run-down room that we were using for the Kids Club will also be destroyed. We are looking into other alternatives for the Kids Club - thankfully not all of the children in our Kids Club have been affected by this directly so we hope to continue with the program on Weds afternoon. This will also have a big effect on our high schoolers - they have poured their heart and soul into these children this year.
Please pray for the situation that God would give us wisdom and guidance as to know how to help these people - without creating a dependency, but rather helping them to be responsible citizens - while also showing them the love of Jesus.
I've included a couple of photos of the homes that were destroyed. Also, I posted an article about these children with photos of the homes back in August - if you'd like to read it again, click on this link: http://thearteagafamily.blogspot.com/2007/08/where-children-live.html
Additionally, if you'd like to see some of these children at our weekly Kids Club - here is the link to the on-line photo album. http://ercso.shutterfly.com/action/
Thanks for praying!
4 comments:
Heartbreaking!!!!
Yea - I've been pretty sad this weekend thinking about them and wondering what the families are going to end up doing and if I'll ever see some of those children again.
I don't have the words to express how I feel after reading this. The little town we live in has much poverty. I never feel like I'm doing enough no matter what I do. I've been in "seeking mode" the last few weeks, looking for more ways to help.
I'll be praying for all that is happening in your area! Thanks for being there.
i am really sad about this, and about the flooding, BUT,i am really glad that you and others have been there these four years, too, i know those kids will never forget you and what you have taught them, the the Lord will use it all their lives!
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