Dump Visit is Defining Moment for Paul and Linda Cripps

For much of their lives, Paul and Linda Cripps were defined by their successful auto dealerships in Simcoe, ON, Canada, and by their commitment to family and church.

But when cancer struck Paul, it forced the couple to re-evaluate their lives. They sold one of their two dealerships and focused on Paul’s treatments, which were successful.

They also expanded their vision to look more closely at how they were investing their time and resources.

In 2006, they traveled to Ecuador. It turned out to be a life-changing trip.

“Our first trip to Ecuador we ended up in the home of (Extreme Response founders) Jerry and Dawn Carnill,” Paul said. “Just seeing their heart and passion for the Ecuadorian people excited us.

“The following day they took us to the Zambiza Dump in Quito. Back then, the children and babies were next to their moms picking through the trash.

“We fed them a real simple meal. They were actually living in crudely constructed homes among the garbage. It just broke our hearts. It was one of those defining moments in your life when you have to make a decision to either act on what you saw or you turned your back,” Paul said.

“I ended up having to hunt for Linda that day because she was carrying food for moms with kids. We were kind of concerned. We found her in one of the shacks helping a mom feed her kids.”

“On our second trip to Ecuador, we went to Manta and visited an orphanage,” Paul said. “They had bread and they had bones they got from the butcher with no meat on them. They were trying to make soup. That is how they existed.

“They had no support structure at all. We were sort of an advanced scouting party to see if the orphanage would be a suitable project for ER to support. We’ve been able to bring a team back every year, plus we’ve had other teams from Canada go without us.”

Paul and Linda were so moved by their experience in Ecuador, they started Extreme Response Canada to help expand ER as an organization. They have made 10 trips on behalf of ER to impoverished areas of several countries.

“If you asked anyone who knows me, they would tell you I’m an entirely different person” Paul said. “It goes back to that defining moment in my life. I had to make a decision to either let it change me or harden my heart to it.

“ER helped me put priorities in place,” he added. “It’s not just about us. There is a greater purpose in what we do.

“No matter whom the poorest person in North America is, he or she is extremely wealthy compared with 98% of the world. We are extremely blessed to have so much. Understanding this has caused me to look for ways to use what we have to help other people.”

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

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

Extreme Response partner Lemuel writes… The new Orientation Center in Port au Prince was off to a great start before the earthquake hit in January of 2010. Amazingly, the building was not affected by the quake. As the school staff prepared to re-open after the quake, they were inundated with parents asking them to take their children into the school. With so many schools destroyed, many students had no where to go to finish out the year. Viewing this as an opportunity to reach out to those families, the school staff took in so many students that they more than doubled their numbers!

Since January 12, when a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti, Extreme Response has been involved in assisting our two projects there to help those around them effected by the quake.

After the quake, aid began to pour into Haiti.  Both ER projects, Lemual and House of Hope, were receiving sufficient food.  This allowed ER to look for other ways of helping those effected by the disaster.  One of our first moves was the purchase of a 2010 dump truck to be used at our Lemuel project.  This truck was initially used to clear rubble, repair roads and haul water.  Large cisterns were dug by hand by local Haitians on a work-for-food program.  The truck was used to haul away the fill. The truck has been a vital part of our efforts in Haiti,but it will also be able to provide a source of income to the project long after the rebuilding is finished.

Extreme Response was also involved in the shipment of three containers to Haiti.  Each container carried supplies vital to the rebuilding process. They contained much needed medical supplies, water filtration units, tarps, tents, wheelbarrows,picks, shovels and batteries.  With the shipment of the filtration units, the local community had access to clean drinking water.

Along with the items mentioned above, ER has used donated funds to:

ER will continue to work with our partners in Haiti.  You can still give to these efforts by helping to sponsor the reconstruction of a home for a Haitian family.

For more information, contact us at info@extremeresponse.org or infocanada@extremeresponse.org

submitted by Paul Cripps, Extreme Response Canada

Here’s the latest news from Extreme Response partner, House of Hope, located in Port-de-Paix, Haiti…

The House of Hope in Haiti has begun to receive children who lost their parents in the earthquake and have no relatives who are able to care for them. Two young boys flew up from Port-au-Prince last week. Magloire (14 years) and Carlo (12 years) are cousins who will be staying at the House of Hope for the foreseeable future. When we first met them at the airport, they were very afraid and sad. They seemed so small and lost. I’m sure the thought of flying on an airplane with two strangers and leaving all that was familiar to them, was a frightening thing, indeed! We did start to become friends, though, when we gave them a sandwich, a drink and some Cheezies. The boys seemed to enjoy their first ride on an airplane, smiling the entire way, and they have settled in so well at the House of Hope. All of the other children have made them feel welcome and they are already part of the routines and life here. They look happy and confident…very different than the two scared little boys that we met just last week. The House of Hope has made a huge difference in their lives in just a few short days.

Another new arrival to the House of Hope family is little Carly who is 15 months old. Her parents were both killed in the earthquake while she remained buried under the rubble for several hours. A neighbor managed to pull her to safety and get her the care that she needed. Little Carly had 2 broken legs and several cuts and she has spent the last several weeks in a hospital in PAP. Carly arrived at the House of Hope on Sunday and, understandably, she was very unsettled. She must have had a dad who was very involved with her care because, at first, she would go to boys much easier than girls. Once again, the entire HOH family has gone out of their way to make her feel welcome and coax some smiles out of her. Everyone from the older kids to the younger ones can be seen carrying Carly around or offering her toys. 3 days after arriving at the HOH, Carly is much more calm, more settled, less anxious…and the smiles are not so hard to come by. The HOH family is now Carly’s family and, from our perspective, they all take this very seriously and really know how to “be” a family.

Here are some images sent from Haiti February 4, 2010. Our ER representative wrote some quick observations:
· Traveling through the city, destruction is everywhere
· It’s random - the houses that are flattened and those that are still standing
· People are getting back to life…people know how to survive
· The loss is evident but life takes precedence over death
· People are leaving…you see in one of the photos that they are walking away on foot

Collision Solutions Network was looking for an avenue to help those devastated by the recent earthquake in Haiti. After considering various agencies, they chose to direct their $10,000 donation through Extreme Response. ER was a good fit for their philosophy of helping others. CSN members are active in their communities, seeking ways to help their neighbours. Extreme Response wishes to thank CSN and their members for this generous donation.

John Goodlet, General Manager Simcoe Collision Centre CSN , Larry French, National Director of Sales CSN Corporate, Paul Cripps Extreme Response Canada

submitted by Paul Cripps, Director Extreme Response Canada

The earthquake in Haiti has the world scrambling to help. I (Jerry) have been inundated with phone calls and e-mails from friends, churches, and from people I’ve never met asking if we are sending teams that they can join, or if we will be accepting donations of food, water and clothing.

I have spoken with our partner, Lemuel. They are in need of funds for food, water, rebuilding their own facilities as well as staff housing. They, of course, want to help the people of Haiti survive the current crisis, rebuild their lives and homes.. They have asked that we do not send teams any time soon because they are having hard time surviving themselves let alone having to worry about visitors who do not speak the language, don’t know the country culture, safety issues etc.. The unknowns of day to day living are overwhelming right now. They have asked for donations so they can purchase supplies locally. Prices may be high but purchasing locally will help to re-stimulate their economy and at this time many of the supplies that have arrived at the airport are stuck there because of the logistical problems with all the damage of the roads and building.

Yesterday we got word from them that all but one of the boys they work with in Port-au-Prince were alive.

ER rep Jean David was scheduled to fly from Quito to Haiti yesterday. We have not heard if he arrived or not. The current plan is that he will assist with the distribution of aid alongside the Ecuadorian military…. more details to follow.

We are accepting donations that will be distributed in Haiti at the discretion of our partners. If and when they are ready to host work teams we will begin planning and sending teams. My guess is that it will take 3 to 5 years for them to rebuild to the pre-quake situation which was not good by any standard. We will have plenty of time to send teams when the rest of the world had forgotten and moved on to the next disaster. This is a long term project. Right now it’s the crisis - recovery and first-response efforts. Much will need to be done with this phase has ended. Thank you to all that have already donated.

Jenny from House of Hope Orphanage writes…
Today was another busy day, trying to connect people with their loved ones. Again some good and some bad endings, but we are glad to be able to help. We communicated with Dr. Boucher, and he sounded much better today. We are still trying to get our kids out of PAP and up here. We have received numerous requests to keep people who have survived and have no place to go. We are happy to do so, and so are waiting for them to start showing up. We imagine our family growing quite a bit over the next few days, and we are happy to be able to help out in this way.

The hospital we are connected with(CMB) is starting to fill up with wounded that have been able to make it out here. We’ve sent all our extra medical supplies to them because they will run out quickly (dear friends at Simcoe {Extreme Response Canada}– your medical supplies are being put to good use!). Dr. Mozart was exhausted this morning, so you could pray for him and the other Dr.’s and nurses as they treat these wounded. They were told they’d get some extra nurses from the government, but so far we haven’t seen them yet.

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