Martin Chambers Ecuador Trust

Today (Sunday) is a big day in Ecuador as the country votes on the new Constitution! Basically Rafael Correa, the President, is hoping to push through some reforms that will radically change the way the country is run. There has been a very busy and bitter campaign not least with the Churches, some of whose leaders have openly opposed the reforms. However, it does seem that the President will get his way though maybe not throughout the country. In any case the country has been so oppressive of the poor for so long – so many people living in sub-standard housing, with poor education and poor health care – that what comes now could not be much worse. We shall see! As a result the sector is quite quiet as people travel the country to vote – often in the native town or village. Everyone is compelled to vote; if they do actually vote, they receive a certificate which entitles them to various benefits in the years ahead. On Friday we had another very typical Ecuadorian festival, the swearing-in of the National Flag. Every public institution has to perform some ceremony towards the end of September to honour their flag. In our school we had an early-morning ceremony with the Primary 7s taking the lead. We sing the National Anthem, hear about various Ecuadorian heroes, and then watch as each pupil bows before the flag and swear allegiance. It is now the fifth time I have taken part in that school service and it always strikes me that we in Scotland do not have the same emotion for such civic ceremonies – I’m not sure that’s it’s a good or bad thing. After it was all over, the teachers had a party out in the school yard with Disco Dave being the centre of attention as English and Spanish words were exchanged and as he received the by-now traditional “Teachers Pile-on”. On Thursday I went with Dave to an Anniversary Funeral Mass for the mother of one of our workers. Mauricio is a lovely hard-working guy but it is his son that is better-known to some Scots that have been out here. Bismarck, who is three years old now, had a hernia as a young baby when the St. John’s, Stevenston group was out and Susan Keyes, the nurse was able to take the stitches out – for free – as the family did not have money to pay doctor’s fees. The family is a good example of a shanty family: they scrape by to get the five eldest kids into school; they live in a bamboo house that is leaning to one side; and the three girls until recently slept under the floorboards! That is why I am so willing to help them in any kind of need. Disco continues to enjoy his work here. He is down the School most days and, although he is finding the Ecuadorian teaching systems a little lax, he is enjoying the company. From my point of view, it is terrific to have someone so witty and intelligent around the place. I think he raises the tone! Although I have no building projects on the go at the moment, I met with the architect through the week to pay off outstanding debts and also to look forward to a possible Medical Centre. After having looked at different locations around the sector, I feel the best place is actually where it is just now, right beside the school – being at a main street corner, it is accesses by so many people. So Pedro is looking into building a two-storey Medical Centre that will be able to attend to more people and in more ways than the present two-roomed centre. Talking of building we are gearing up for two Chapel Inaugurations: Maestro will have their big day next Sunday; and then La Paz chapel will be inaugurated on the 19th October. No doubt there will be singing and dancing all over the place.