Hello! How
are you? We want to tell you about something we're very excited about: 10 participants will be going on a service / immersion
trip this summer to Ecuador! My church, St. Joseph Parish in Cockeysville, will be
taking a group of 7 students and 3 chaperones to Guayaquil, Ecuador for one
week.
While in Ecuador, we will
volunteer with the US-based nonprofit Damien House (www.thedamienhouse.org). Damien House is a residential hospital for
over 60 Hansen’s patients, and in addition treats a roster of around 700 outpatients.
Quality medical care is provided seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. Patients
receive dental care, physical therapy, sanitary services, medication, and three
well-balanced hot meals every day. Additionally, the staff makes regular visits
within Guayaquil and in remote villages, providing public education about the
cause and curability of Hansen’s Disease and spreading optimism for its
eventual elimination. Through this organization, Sister Annie Credido has
brought hope and dignity to the lives of many.
Our group will spend the
week in three different capacities. First, we will assist Sr. Annie in her
daily needs that residents may not be capable of helping with: painting murals,
dusting, mopping, etc. A large portion of our time will be spent being present
to the residents of Damien House, mainly through games like Dominoes and cards,
learning how the men make hammocks, and talking to the women. We will also have
some time to visit the after-school programs sponsored by Damien House’s
partner organization, Rostro de Cristo. The trip will surely be an experience
of a lifetime, and we could not be more excited.
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