Inspiring Generosity

Every team that comes down here is generous, so don't get the wrong idea that I am singling one team out or anything. The new team just arrived! They are a combination of teams from Pensacola, Fort Walton, & Birmingham, a total of 40. As we came back from the sunday service, two of the guys from the group asked the bus to pull over at the KFC close to the hotel. My first thought of course was "Geez, can we not wait like 10 minutes for some KFC" (in my usual cynical voice). We pull up to the hotel and there are like 5 of the boys who shine shoes waiting outside our hotel-this never happens btw. Nanny (my boss) rolls her eyes and tells them to go to the KFC. Confused I asked her what was going on. She told me that every year this couple of guys from this specific team take all the local boys who shine shoes on the street to KFC when they are here. They do it literally everyday, without being told, without being asked, without the boys asking. The only reason the boys were waiting for them was because the guys had gone out earlier and already fed them once and told them to meet them there for dinner. What a cool thing. I have been so amazed at the generosity that comes from all these teams, whether just between themselves or with citizens of Quito or even with me.

Another story I heard last week from the medical team:

One of the women from the site when to the bank to get money for food for the kids for the month-total of $300. When she was on the bus, she was drugged and someone stole her money & purse (apparently they have a powder here that can be rubbed into the skin and can knock the victim out). The money is from Compassion & the government and not exactly retrievable. When the group leader from the medical team heard the story without even a blink of an eye, she reached into her purse and gave them money that they team had brought for an occasion they had not yet decided.

Every team, every person this entire trip has taught me something, about life, about me, about others, it is so inspiring.

Sorry no funny stories today, but as we speak I am watching the Illusionist in spanish, kinda funny, right?