Dan Smoker Finds Joy Serving Others

Dan Smoker has experienced life challenges no one wants to face. Having lost a loved one and his job, Smoker turned his focus outward.

Smoker left York, PA, and has been serving others, including a three-month stint in Quito helping Extreme Response by doing maintenance and team preparation work.

“I have had some serious changes of direction in my life,” Smoker said. “I am looking for a time of personal healing and to help people.”

“I was laid off last September. Without a job, I worked in New Orleans in the 9th and 10th wards and really bonded with the people.

“I love Latin America. I’m here in Quito on a tourist visa, but I hope to come back.

“I love the way the local leaders are taking charge to reach their communities and Extreme Response is partnering with them.”

Smoker said his efforts to serve other people have challenged him on several levels.

“I have trouble trusting people. I don’t reach out. But I want to open my heart.

“It’s easy within an organizational situation, but not when you are isolated. I want to break down my skepticism and fears.”

by Tim Fausch

Chris Roina Challenged to Take Ecuador Lesson Home to California

Chris Roina could spend his vacation time at the beach or mountains of California. Instead, Chris has made two trips to Ecuador to help throw parties in several impoverished areas of Quito.

He returned home to Santa Maria, CA, with some powerful insights.

“I was thinking about the challenge to love my neighbor,” Chris said. “Are people in Ecuador my neighbors? It doesn’t seem like it. But when you are standing in Quito, loving on people and serving them, the cultural and language barriers don’t exist anymore.

“You have kids running up and hugging you even though they don’t even know you. You see the power of love to touch and change people’s lives.

“That does something to you and makes you want to be a part of it,” he said.

“One of the things I’ve been raised to believe is that if you’ve been given much, much is required. I feel I have a responsibility to give back because I have the resources.

“This morning, I got a hot shower. Most of these people (at the parties) didn’t. I have a lot of give and it’s pretty selfish if I don’t.

“The town I live in, Santa Maria, California, is actually quite similar to Quito, not only in weather, we also have a very high Hispanic population. I was thinking I should learn to speak Spanish so I can come to Ecuador, but I realized I should learn Spanish to speak with people who live in my own neighborhood. I can reach out and be a part of their lives as well.

“It’s funny how you have to go thousands of miles to realize some of the same opportunities are in your backyard.”

Chris said he was impacted deeply by the Christmas party at Pan de Vida, a community center that reaches out to street kids and homeless adults.

“Pan de Vida was amazing. There is just so much joy in the place, in spite of whatever hardship was going on.

“Even the power of a child’s heart – they are just so happy and joyful. You can’t help but catch that as well. It touched my heart. I hurt from smiling.”

by Tim Fausch

UK Computer Consultant Finds Joy in a Dump

Louise Carver’s co-workers in Winchester, England, think she is “slightly mad”. That’s because she prefers to spend her holidays taking care of other people’s kids thousands of miles from home.

In 2007, Carver decided it was time to take a trip where she could see and do something extraordinary. She wanted to experience a new culture, different weather, and a foreign language.

More than anything, she wanted to invest her time working for an organization that was helping people living in difficult circumstances.

After a bit of research, Carver found an organization that was placing volunteers in the Zambiza Dump in Quito, Ecuador. So she signed up for a six-month stint and stayed with an Ecuadorian family while working with children in the dump’s daycare.

The experience was life-changing. Each day Carver was able to work with the babies and small children of dump workers. She witnessed the transformation of children who often entered the nursery as malnourished, unvaccinated, and poorly stimulated.

Before the daycare (launched and managed by Extreme Response) opened, parents had no options. The children played in the trash as their parents “mined” for recyclable materials for hours on end. The families often ate food taken from the trash as well.

When Carver’s six months were up, she identified a way to continue serving the poor in Ecuador. She now returns as part of Extreme Response’s Christmas in Quito team of volunteers from around the world.

The team partners with local community centers, including the Zambiza Dump, to present annual Christmas parties where adults receive food staples and the kids receive gift bags. All participate in games, crafts, and family photos.

“After returning home, I found myself appreciating what I have that others don’t have and made a decision to do something about it,” Carver said. “I came back to be part of the Christmas parties so I could see the kids again.

“I enjoy taking a break from my paid work to come back to Quito,” Carver said. “It refreshes and recharges me.

“I like working with ER because it doesn’t just do projects that the volunteers want. ER focuses on the needs of the people and the culture. The organization stays in touch so a relationship builds over time.”

by Tim Fausch

Canadian Teen Lauren Moyer Expected Tears, Found Joy in Ecuador

Most teenagers are focused on themselves and their friends. After all, self-focus is one of the signatures of being a teenager.

But when people from her church in Simcoe, ON, Canada, returned from a humanitarian trip to Ecuador in 2009, Lauren Moyer was inspired. She listened to their stories and wanted to join them on the next trip.

So in 2010, the 17-year-old Moyer became one of the youngest volunteers to go to Quito, Ecuador. For a week in early December, Lauren joined an even larger international team that helped throw Christmas parties in several community centers and the Zambiza Dump.

The teams ventured into impoverished areas of Quito to work with leaders who were passionate, but under-resourced. Lauren and the other volunteers provided the energy and help.

They participated in five Christmas parties in five days, serving thousands of people. In addition to providing games, face and nail painting, and family photos, the volunteers distributed food staples to the adults and gift bags to the children.

“When I first signed up to go, I thought it would be sad,” Lauren said. “I thought I’d be crying a lot. But instead, I’ve experienced real joy.

“Everyone here is so happy and polite,” Lauren said. “They have so little but are so happy. They are less greedy. I volunteer at an after-school program in Simcoe and the kids are never this polite.

“Coming here has helped make me see more clearly people who are in need. I am hoping to change the way I see things in my life. It’s been a lot of fun. I had a great time in Quito.”

by Tim Fausch

Chester Van Ness Collects Junk to Help Orphans

Chester Van Ness has a weird hobby. He picks up junk – mostly scrap metal – at businesses located near his home in Scotland, ON, Canada.

Some guys pick up scrap to make a few bucks on the side, maybe to help pay for hockey tickets or a nicer truck.

Chester recycles scrap because it helps pay for a few basic necessities for the kids at the Montanida Verde Children’s Home in Monta, Ecuador. It is run by the Por Amor Foundation, a partner supported by Extreme Response.

The idea for the recycling came during a discussion among the youth of the church Chester attends. The group wanted to become involved in giving back to those in real need, but did not have the financial means to do so.

“I told them if they were willing, they could ask for scrap to be dropped off at my place and help process it, then I would recycle it for the cash,” Chester said. “The idea blossomed and now if the youth feel the call to participate in something like Extreme Response, they have a means to do so.”

Chester hasn’t always been into recycling scrap metal. The idea came to him after returning from one of the four or five (he’s lost track) trips he’s made to Ecuador. He became determined to do more after seeing the orphanage’s lack of food, clothing, and educational supplies.

Chester has seen poverty in Canada too, but the magnitude and lack of options in Ecuador caused him to make some life-changing decisions.

“Children who come to the orphanage have no parents, or parents who cannot take care of them. Often, they were living on the street,” he said.

“The newest child there is two and one-half years old. Her name is Diana. She was beaten by her family and made to sleep outside at night. Whether or not she ate depended on whether she could scrounge food.

“It’s a pretty sad situation - heart tugging. Diana is such a beautiful child, ready to love on anyone willing to pick her up and hold her. I could have very easily put her in my suitcase and taken her home,” Chester joked.

“I have a great appreciation for the house parents. They give the children stability in their own country and culture. It’s better to give them a hand up in their own country.”

Witnessing the extreme needs first-hand in Manta and Quito, where Chester and other volunteers help throw parties in impoverished communities, has impacted his family profoundly.

“Working with Extreme Response has made me realize how important it is to give back to the world, not just people in my own country. I now try to do something in my country and other countries. It has caused my wife and I to look hard at what are truly our wants versus what are truly our needs.

“I was encouraged on my recent trip by the new community leaders that ER has come alongside and partnered with. That’s huge for me to see ER partner with on-the-ground organizations indigenous to the area.

“The leaders are the shepherds of their flocks. They are so passionate about helping their people. I have seen such a change in what we have been able to help them with in order to accomplish their vision. I don’t think we would have had the same ability to achieve what has been achieved without these partnerships.”

by Tim Fausch

Ecuador Trips Improve Michigan Couple’s Vision

While Dan and Karen Brown’s sight hasn’t actually changed, they now see the world more clearly. They attribute their improved vision to trips to Ecuador through Extreme Response. Dan has made three trips; Karen two.

The trips have impacted them powerfully and broadened their view of how they can serve others. Dan has lead teams from Michigan to Ecuador the last two years.

“My first visit was as part of a construction team to El Refugio,” Dan said. “I had never been outside the U.S. and Canada.

“One of our tasks was to work to enlarge the school yard. It was difficult to see the poor condition the school was in, even after we finished.

“I came away from that trip with a huge vision for what could happen with enough manpower. Visualizing children in an improved building was exciting to me.

“Being in construction, this kind of work was easy for me. I love hard work and I love what I do. When you add in the people and see the joy in their hearts, it makes it so much fun.”

“I was impacted by the love and passion the Quito pastors show to the people they serve,” Karen said. “They are there serving their communities day in and day out. I don’t know how they do it.

“It was so precious to see someone come into the parties with hurt on their face and then start smiling,” she added. “You hear about pain and suffering in the world, but to see it first-hand makes me realize my suffering is nothing.”

“Extreme Response uses these parties to demonstrate love for the people, to help bring them joy, changing lives one at a time,” Dan said.

“It was difficult to come back to the U.S. and listen to people whining over the wrong color tile in their $30,000 kitchens,” he added. “It’s a reality, and that’s OK, but there are huge needs in the world.”

by Tim Fausch

Dave Findlay Transforms into Papa Noel for Kids

Many people enjoy the idea of transforming themselves into someone else. Often, they dream about becoming a world-class athlete, rock star, or actor.

Dave Findlay wanted to become Santa Claus so he could encourage kids. So he did.

The Guelph, ON, Canada resident donned the red and white suit and became “Papa Noel” at Christmas parties in Quito, Ecuador. He joined with volunteers from around the world who gathered to help throw seven parties in five days in community centers and the Zambiza Dump. The parties are coordinated by Extreme Response.

The location of the parties – impoverished areas of Quito – may have lacked the glamour of a stadium, stage, or Hollywood set, but the results resonated deeply.

“I came on my first Christmas party trip three years ago after my daughter and granddaughter said to me, ‘Let’s go’,” Dave said. “My reaction was ‘wow’. I really enjoyed the people and the work was tremendous.

“I looked at the guys who were playing Papa Noel at the parties and said, ‘I can do that’. I had a ball being Santa. I see so much love in the people. The kids hug you so freely.”

The country of Ecuador was not new to Dave. He had first come to Ecuador in 1958 and worked for HCJB before retiring. Returning as part of an international team of volunteers has been rewarding.

“We fell in love with Extreme Response when we saw what they were doing in Quito. It really opens your eyes to the needs. I love that ER’s programs allow you to be hands-on with the people they serve.

“We visited the orphanage in Manta in 2009 and loved what they are doing there too. I had to come back.”

by Tim Fausch

Take a look at the new Extreme Response video - Changing Lives.

click here to view video: Changing Lives

Clean Freak Pattie Wolfe Gets Dirty in Quito

Pattie Wolfe likes a clean house, clean hands, and well, clean everything. So when she joined a team traveling into sometimes less-than-sanitary situations in 2004, Wolfe had to make a choice.

“Coming on these trips takes me out of my comfort zone,” Pattie said. “I’m a clean freak. This is a chance to hold hands that are dirty, kiss faces that are dirty, and pick up trash with my hands.”

Pattie has been coming on trips to Ecuador for four years; her husband Jim, two. The Indianapolis, IN, couple has joined teams operated by Extreme Response that reach out to those living in extreme poverty, often lacking basic necessities that U.S. citizens take for granted.

Pattie has learned not only how to embrace people whose exteriors are a bit dirty, she values the relationships built by showing love to people who are often overlooked by society.

One way that has been accomplished is by throwing Christmas parties in poor sections of Quito.

“I’ve been impressed with how all the Christmas parties are organized,” she said. “I have always felt that if I am going to invest my time and money, I want it to be for something where I feel I am being used.

“There is a special part for each person to play on these teams. I now feel as though I have brothers and sisters who are Ecuadorian.

“I admire the partnership ER has with the local pastors and their wives. I’m impressed with these strong leaders and their heart for the people they serve. They don’t rely on help from the U.S., but they value our partnership.

“Jim and I value these trips because we’ve been able to show our kids there is so much more in life than being successful. Two of our children have come on trips and one is working in South Africa after going on a Christmas trip with Extreme Response.”