Martin Chambers Ecuador Trust

Fr. Martin Chambers writes: I have known Jamie Maxwell for several years through regular pilgrimages to Lourdes with HCPT. Recently he finished his university course and wanted to do something ‘significant’ with his year away from studying. He asked to come out to my shanty Parish in Ecuador for three months and I was only to happy to receive him. The following is his reflections on his so far on the Missions … I’ve now been living in the shanty town of Nueva Prosperina for 43 days. When asked to convey my experiences so far in 800 words I was faced with a major problem; where to start? I have opted for the following experience as I feel it best represents the amazing young people whom I have been privileged to have come into close personal contact with. A couple of weeks into my trip some members of the local youth group invited me to go with them into Guayaquil city centre. There they treated me to a guided tour of the more affluent parts of the city which I had yet to encounter. For these youngsters a trip to the city centre is a real treat, and I could sense their excitement from the moment we met early in the morning. We took a bus from the local main street into the town centre, disembarking at the Malecon 2000. This is a promenade that runs alongside part of the river, built to commemorate the millennium. We walked along here, enjoying ice cream along the way, and then climbed to the top of the lighthouse to look out over the sprawling city. Another bus trip followed, this time seeing us travel to the shopping centre. Here we enjoyed a spot of window shopping, and, would you believe, several shots on the elevator (trivial to me, but exciting to them!), before sitting down to a well-earned pizza. After the pizza it was time for the bus home, though not before a visit to a pharmacy, much to my puzzlement. It emerged they stopped to buy plasters for my heels which they had noticed were bleeding from all the walking! All in all a fantastic day that everyone enjoyed. This might not exactly be everyone’s idea of a sightseeing tour, but one revealing aspect of the trip was that the young people were taking me to places that they regard as special. Shopping centres and pizza parlours; places that we take for granted. But why is this story so important I hear you ask? Firstly, the eight young people who accompanied me to the city had scrimped and saved the few dollars they possess to pay for my bus fares, my food and drink, and also bought me a small gift of a chain as a keepsake. I offered to pay for the pizza, and to buy drinks, but was met with a firm refusal. They might not have many possessions, but they do have a great sense of pride. They had invited me out, and therefore, as their guest, I was just to sit back and enjoy the day. Secondly, I speak little Spanish, and, likewise, the young people have only a small grasp of English. Therefore, communication was obviously going to be a problem. However, we all enjoyed the challenges that this created, and worked at making ourselves understood to each other. This sometimes took the shape of writing things down to see if this helped, drawing pictures, pointing at objects, or even acting out certain words. This had been one of my main worries before coming to Ecuador, but the patience the young people show with me is startling, and I was never made to feel like I was hindering them. Despite the lack of a faculty such as a common language, I was able to communicate with a group of young people, with whom I have little in common, and share a great day with them. Finally, and the thing that struck me most, was the fact that helping me enjoy my day was central to their own happiness. This was a day they had been planning together for some while, and they had been saving their money to be able to treat themselves in town. Yet, after deciding to invite me, their primary goal changed to ensure I enjoyed my day. They all went out of their way to make my day enjoyable, and little points, like using some of their money to buy plasters for me, reiterate how much attention they were paying to my well-being and comfort. I was humbled by the care and attention they lavished upon me, and I will wear their gift of a chain with pride. Yet their kindness, their friendship, and their sense of caring, far outweighed any gift they could have bought me. My lack of Spanish made it difficult for me to convey how sincerely grateful I was for my day out, and I can only hope that they realise how special my day was made by their generosity. Though these young people may be poor in a financial sense, they are blessed with gifts that money just can’t buy.