Cupa Community Update and the Jonathan and Stefania Story

Saturday, October 6th, 2012

We arrived in Ecuador on November 1st where I met our other two team members and also very good friends of mine Elham and Matt Watson.  My Spanish speaking had to jump into full gear once we could not locate Matt and Elham´s luggage.  We got through the little mix up within about an hour ha and then we were on our way to our hostel.  It was a little more sketchy than I would´ve liked to greet our new FOA members but they handled it well.  We got a few hours a sleep and early the next morning we were on our way to the coast to stay with the Cupa Community.  We had such a lovely welcome there.  The people are so kind and generous even while living in extreme poverty.  We managed without a shower for 2 days as many houses are without bathrooms altogether.  We were able to check up on the families that received filters and it was so encouraging to see them continue to use them and filter clean water after 9 months.

On our travels back to Quito I asked our taxi driver to stop for a few minutes at the kids orphanage that I used to work in.  I just couldn´t wait another second to see them.  It was growing dark and we had been traveling for 5 hours but he kindly agreed.  On futher note I found out that Johnathan (the little love of my life) along with Stephania had been moved to another home.  Ohhhhh! I knew it would happen some day because he is getting older but I wasn´t wanting to hear that.  I´ve known Jonathan since he was 2 and Stefania since she was 3. The director was busy and couldn´t speak to me so I had to spend the night wondering if I would get a chance to see him again.  Where was he? Would they give me his new information? Was he ok?  I know how scared he can get with change and Stefania too. Were they being taken care of? OH my heart was aching. So did I sleep last night? The answer is no.

So first thing this morning I got on the phone.  The nice man at our hotel let me use the front desk phone.  My Spanish speaking over the phone is quite difficult for me but I managed.  I called the orphanage.  They gave me his new info.  I wanted to jump over the moon with excitement.  I called the new home.  They gave me the address and after a few calls, transfers etc they found out that indeed him and Stefania were there.  I had an address in my hand and confirmation that he was there.  Now only to see it with my own eyes.  The home was nearly 45 minutes to the south of Quito.  It is not the safest place here that´s for sure.  I let our team know that but they insisted that they come along.  We packed new shoes, socks and yummy bananas from the coast and we were off.

We arrived right when it started to rain.  I was nervous and my Spanish only gets worse when I can´t think straight.  But I spoke to the ladies in the office and they said that the kids were just finishing up lunch and then they would come see me.  None of these social workers know me.  I was nervous and a little shaky and we had to wait nearly 30 minutes.  Then through the door they came.  Just as handsome and pretty as ever.  Jonathon y Stefania.  Oh how I love them.  They ran to me and I hugged and kissed them a thousand times.  They also greeted Elham, Matt and Mick with warm hugs and lots of love.  Then a thousand questions. Ha! How are you doing? How have you been? Do you like your new house? Do you like your new school?  Do you have friends at school? Are you studying well? You are so big and handsome and beautiful!

I gave them both bananas from our goodie bag.  I swear they gulped them down in 3 seconds. Elham and I helped try on their new shoes.  Jonathan was making me laugh so hard because he wanted the ugly dinosour light up shoes so every other shoe he would say “It doesn´t fit” until of course I got to the dinosaur light ups. Those were his favs.

Sadly no shoes fit Stefania as she is growing so fast.  Matt, Elham, Mick and I will be shopping for the kids and buying them clothes, shoes for Stefania (pink) and school stuff. They worked their way right into our whole teams heart´s. We walked to view their new home and I was so relieved to see that it was a home with 8 kids, 1 dog and 2 ladies.  It seemed like a great place for them.  They do not have clean water for their kitchen and bathroom so we will be providing them with a filter. Yay!!!

Also and the very best part of all.  I have asked the social workers for permission to take Jonathan and Stefania for a little day away. Jonathan kept asking me to go in and ask them to let him go with me today. Ahhh! I bravly have to explain that hopefully they will let me take him for one day but probably not till Saturday.  We left with big hugs and kisses.  Pure happiness.  Our team was chattering about the visit the whole way back to our hostel. Truly one of the best days of my life.