Shroro:

Midhun Joseph's Mission Trip to Ecuador

by Midhun Joseph

The trip to Ecuador was an amazing experience for me and the people who went on the trip, and I would love to have others experience the program, so i'm writing to you the leaders of our youth group, to kinda explain my experience there.

I went to Ecuador through a service trip program at my school, The program in Ecuador is through an organization called Rostro De Cristo (Face of Christ). The whole purpose of the trip is to see the face of Christ through the people of Duran, Ecuador.

Some quick background information. Duran is the 3rd largest city in Ecuador and is located across a river from Guayaquil which is the 2nd largest city. Guayaquil is the Third world equivalent of a Chicago,large businesses, large buildings and tons of traffic. The best way I can describe Duran is to say that it contains the most prolific amount of poverty I have ever experienced in my life. It was surreal in so many ways, imagine the Hollywood version of what a South American third world country looks like, now imagine what it would look like if it was abandoned for 10 years, now imagine that everyone moved back, finally imagine that each home is taken care of as best as is possible by the residents. There is a gratitude and pride that is prevalent which makes each place we visited very warm and inviting.

In addition to the neighborhood we stayed in, we also worked with the Fr. Damian Hospital in Duran. This hospital is run by a fantastic woman named Sister Annie. The hospital assists people with Hansen's Disease (formerly known as leprosy). I was unaware that this disease is completely treatable and is not contagious unless you are in prolonged intimate contact. The stigma of the disease endures and this place is a refuge for those who have it. The people there along with dealing with treatment deal with the prospect of being shunned by a society with limited employment opportunities in an already depressed economy. In spite of these obstacles it is the place where I encountered the human spirit in a way that I have never experienced.

I met a man named Segundo on our first visit to the hospital. Segundo is a man in his 60's who had the disease prior to the aggressive treatments of today. In light of this he has the dramatic physical symptoms of the disease. Segundo is a multiple amputee, has lost all his teeth, has lost his vision, has severely deformed hands, pretty much the worst possible scenario for any human to deal with on the physical side. Our group came into his room and you are instantly overwhelmed by how he looked. Ecuadorian society is like ours in that people who are severely handicapped tend to be put on the margins to make everyone else comfortable. However as you look at this tiny man (in a South Side Irish hat from Chicago) you start to feel an energy coming from him that is unbelievably warm, positive and happy. As this is happening I start to feel something that I can only describe as it is the first time in my life where I am fully aware that my humanity was growing by simply sharing human contact with another. I now realize that true service is recognizing the humanity that exists in each of us. For one hour in a country in a different hemisphere, a group of 10 people interacted with a man and humanity was shared. It was a feeling of unfiltered love, joy, gratitude and happiness all wrapped into one. I am still struggling with this particular experience. I have so much. a great family, a huge group of friends, interesting work, an education that 99% of the world only dreams of, my health and access to all the security and luxuries of living in the United States. At the end of the day though an 80lb man brings me to my knees with the knowledge that I have not fully shared my gifts with those who could easily benefit from what I have.

My trip has brought me to the point where I am beginning to understand what I need to do to make a difference in the world. My faith has always frustrated me in that instances like my experience in Ecuador, the Church talks of being obligated to help the poor. My struggle is that obligation for me entails lack of choice. I believe that I, and all of us, are presented opportunities in life. These opportunities, if taken lead to a personally fulfilling existence. The knowledge that at the end of the line humanity benefited by us being here. That I helped those who needed it not because I had to, but because I realized that I am more human by doing so. A quote that has stuck with me from our trip is "EVERYONE can help someone else if they really WANT to."

Wrapping up, I was having coffee in Duran Ecuador on Thursday at 6:00 am. My thoughts became incredibly sharp, I started to imagine what happens when we die. I imagined meeting God and we reflected on what I had done with my life. God started by letting me know that I had been given access to Heaven on earth during my time. I have had access to family, unconditional love, friendship, education, opportunity, security, wealth, and power to change the world for my entire life. God then asks me the question that if answered correctly guarantees a happy existence. You have been given every opportunity that this world provides and I have but one question for you, what did you do for those who do not have these things?

I have the rest of my life to fill in that blank and I wants others to have the same oppurtunity.

The website for the program is: http://www.rostrodecristo.org.

When you have time please check out the website for more information about the program. Also please feel free to contact me at 224-558-9135 if you have any questions. I've been working with the organization since April of this year in organizing the trip, so I have many materials as well as information about the program.

My hope is to organize another trip down there with our youth, so I'm asking your help in doing so.