Martin Chambers Ecuador Trust

Well Duncan has now left – in fact by now he should be back in Scotland resting. He had a terrific time while here – he gave his all in the building site at the school sweating through the heat and gave his all at the various services. His farewell speech on Sunday night was heartfelt to a community that he will carry inside him for many years to come. Naturally enough last week had a lot of Duncan in it. The school build is almost finished – only a few tidying up jobs left. Duncan spent his days I think sifting sand and, as the days went by, communication got better. So that, when we came to a meal on Friday to say thanks to all the workers that had taken part in the 3 classroom build, he was very much part of their friendship. The classrooms are being used but we will have a formal opening ceremony I think when the next visitors are out. On Thursday night I took Duncan along to the Hilton hotel where the Rotary Club was meeting. I am not a member but went along last week to say thanks for the Club laying the water pipes up from the school. Getting free water from our well at the school means that in the Nursery and Church we are saving $250 a month!!! This money can now be used for other things. The Rotary members are a bit posh and certainly very very wealthy but they have been generous to us. So I took along a bottle of whisky to say thanks! We had a big day on Saturday for Catechists. The housing charity, Hogar de Cristo, ran it as they do a whole course for catechists and had invited around 150 catechists from five of the neighbouring Parishes. I was involved in the initial animation of the day and it was amazing to see how “up for it” they were from the beginning, literally it was jumping! After a few sessions of catechist work, we retired to the swimming where I was able to practice my dives. Good fun spending time with catechists who work so hard. This week I have also been quite heavily involved in the Parish youth work – it seems that myself and Tito, our Parish youth leader, were at all of the groups talking and encouraging. The young people are so enthusiastic for the work and keen to get all sorts of activities going. I am up for it too. So, once Duncan was safely dispatched to the airport, it was off to Ayangue with the priests from the St. James’ Society for our monthly meeting, catching up on all the chat and resting for a day after the rigours of Easter.