For One Another Happenings

 Working and living in the Cupa Community in Ecuador was so rewarding.  We were invited for coffee at night to the neighbors house and special dinner's were planned at different people's homes.

We danced at Tatyana's house with music so loud that I thought the house would explode.  We did craft projects with the kids.  It was a blast!!! The people there were so giving in their own ways and made our time there so special.

On the 3rd day in Cupa Stephanie Beckman and I were guided by Tatyana and Maria to each person's home that were given a water filter.  This was a very important day as we were teaching each family how to properly use and care for their filter.  Many of the families were already using the filter when we arrived at the homes which made us so happy to see.  Each home was different.  We met many people dealing with a variety of different things.  One lady had just suffered a miscarriage while another family had a newborn baby of just 4 days old.  We visited those who were disabled.  Many single mothers with children were in the homes that we stopped at. We were welcomed into the homes and we were able to see just a little bit of what they deal with on the day to day basis.

Buckets used to collect the river water

Teaching about the filter

Many of the families collect rain water or water from the river to use for their source of water for drinking, washing clothes, kitchen use etc.  No one in this village has running water and the well that they used to have is not working and filled with strong smelling minerals.  The people we were able to help on this trip were so grateful.

Woman proudly using her new filter

How can you even put a price on clean, safe drinking water for your family?  As we walked from house to house visiting and teaching the families about the water filters we were given many gifts a long the way.  People in the community gave us gifts of food as a way of saying thanks.  We accepted avocados, mangos, a whole tree branch of plantains, fruta de pan, oranges and fresh sugar cane.  The bag of food that we brought back to Quito was so heavy that I could barley carry it.  Thanks Stephanie for the help with that. lol  It was truly amazing all of the generosity that we received.  Thank you for allowing us to give these families such a priceless gift.  We received so much thanks and love back in return. - Carrie

We were given a bag of avocados from this lady.