Pan de Vida (Bread of Life) started a micro-business pilot program a June. The program aims to train people in the program to start and maintain their own business that would eventually generate an income for their families. They are making beautiful aprons and mittens to sell.

A team of 14 people from the Second Avenue Baptist Church of Rome, Georgia arrived in Manta, Ecuador late Saturday night. They are putting on a kids’ club in the small town of Pacoche. Just over 100 kids came the very first day (along with some moms too!). The team is also installing bamboo railings at the Montanita Verde Children’s Home and will help to paint some of the kids’ rooms. Wednesday they will visit the Manta trash dump where they will distribute food bags to those working in the dump.

Great news for the Nuevos Amigos (New Friends) school in Quito, Ecuador.  After two years of working and waiting and complying and waiting… the school has finally been approved by the Ecuadorian minister of education.  Next year they will expand and add a second grade class.

The senior high youth group from Richvale Bible Chapel in Richmond Hill, Canada served with Extreme Response in Quito, Ecuador June 25- July 4th. The group of twenty teenagers and adult sponsors served with ER partner Nuevos Amigos in a very depressed part of the city. Their mornings consisted of painting the school building and several class rooms, also running a kids’ club for a total of three hundred kids in the afternoon. A highlight of the week was a morning of just playing with the children at the Zambiza dump day care center. This year’s team was the first ever from Richvale. Thanks for serving those in need here in Ecuador!

Submitted by Dan Maloy

The senior high youth group from Woodside Bible Church in Troy Michigan served with Extreme Response in Quito, Ecuador June 27- July 6th. The 17 teenagers and 6 adult sponsors served with ER partner Remanso de Amor  (Haven of Love) in the south part of the city. Their days consisted of making repairs to the school building there and running a kids’ club in several different neighborhoods. A highlight of the week was in serving a hot meal to the night shift workers at the Zambiza dump project. This year’s team was the third consecutive group from Woodside. Thanks again for serving in Ecuador!

Submitted by Bill Hedrick- ER Teams Coordinator

Lung Wah is a Chinese restaurant in Quito, Ecuador. A large group had gathered for dinner on a Saturday evening in December 2007. We had just participated in a Christmas party at the Zambiza Dump. I was seated next to Mike Bishop, Director of Human Resources for Extreme Response International. During the meal I mentioned that I was a nurse at a Home for the Aged in Ontario, Canada. Mike explained that he and his wife Carol had taken a little Nursing Home in Quito under their wing, and frequently visited and held programs for the residents. Mike mentioned they were looking for North American Nursing Homes to sponsor this little place. I came away with the thought in the back of my mind, but at that point was unsure how to help.

December 2008, found us back at the Christmas parties in Quito. This time our group from Ontario had the privilege of visiting the little Nursing Home called “Hogar Betañia”. Two other nurses from the facility where I work, were along on the trip.We all came away with our hearts touched by this little group, their surroundings and their needs. Without mentioning my thoughts, the two girls approached me asking if there wasn’t some way our facility could help. We proceeded to inquire about the needs of Hogar Betañia. At the top of their wish list, was physical therapy equipment. While at the Nursing Home we had been especially taken by a wheel chair we had seen. It seemed to have wheel chair wheels, but the seat consisted of a white plastic lawn chair. Not sure it would pass inspection in Ontario. Early in the Spring we discovered that June was actually Seniors month, with the theme this year being “Seniors reaching out to Seniors”. It was a perfect plan for a fund-raiser. With a visual display, and a replica of the wheel chair we had seen as our prop, we conducted our fund-raiser. The event was held on June 14, 2009 at Norview Lodge in Simcoe, Ontario the same day as our annual picnic for residents and their families. Each person making a donation received an Ecuadorian rose, donated by a local florist. Generous donations were received from residents, their families, staff, and volunteers. All donations will be sent via Extreme Response to Quito, Ecuador for the purchase of physical therapy equipment for Hogar Betañia.

Submitted by Kathy Dreyer