GOFUNDME NOTES:
You are not required to tip GoFundMe. GoFundMe defaults to adding a 15% tip during donation payment. This is optional, and on top of the 2.9%+$0.30 of your donation that they already charge. You don’t have to tip anything, and you can change this tip to $0 by dragging the slider on the page all the way to the left.
Using GoFundMe saves me time and energy that I can then give to principle activities. GoFundMe provides behind the scenes organization that I would have to do myself if everyone donated individually, taking my time and effort away from my principle activities. Please consider the GoFundMe fee a replacement for paying someone to manage the fundraiser.
You can make a free transfer outside of GoFundMe. If you have PayPal (jeromeekiley@gmail.com) or Venmo (@Jerome-Kiley-1) in the US, these methods are free transfers. You can send me a personal gift, and I will add your anonymous gift to the GoFundMe’s fundraiser list of donations. However, you won’t receive the updates I post on GoFundMe.
Update 8/13
Hello, and thanks for your patience! The last month I worked through some health issues while in Ecuador until July 31 and am catching up!
First, thank you to those who have already donated to bring us already to $1,470 in the fundraiser to make something special happen in Ecuador. I always say that I’m amazed and grateful for all the generosity I see, and it never gets old! So, thank you!
Great news is that on August 7th, Rafaela had her open-heart surgery in Guayaquil after a month of preparation in the hospital! Everything looks good so far, and she is slowly recovering. I’m in touch with her mother Janeth, and will include any new information in further updates. But this is great news!
Since 2019 the family’s been told by doctors that she needed to have this surgery, and after so many obstacles and so much time, it became a reality. There are some in the family who thought - understandably - that Rafaela’s overall care would eventually become far too costly over the years (she has a number of medical issues), and instead of trying to find funding to provide for it all, it would be better to just let nature take its course. This is not so uncommon in the rural areas, where life is harder and there are more obstacles to more advanced medical care. So Janeth’s persistence and endurance over the years is just so remarkable, and real testimony to a mother’s love. It’s very moving to think about, and the support we’ve given over that time is a part of Rafaela’s medical support, but beyond the dollar amount it also support’s her mother’s confidence and determination amidst a lot of obstacles and doubts, to really make something special happen together! So thank you to everyone who has supported over this time, and I hope you feel in some way like a part of the community! Because the family didn’t need to go to a private, more costly hospital, their financial needs are being satisfied right now through the previous fundraiser, and so I’ll leave our support from this fundraiser at the $300 we already gave to the family.
The schoolyard roof was originally planned to start in mid-August, but there’s a delay because of a change in leadership in the organization that’s procuring the supplies. I’m in touch with the community president Inés, and so far we have raised $1470 - $300 = $1,170 for the roof. I’ll be speaking to her as a schedule finalizes, and hopefully we can raise a little more to give a cushion, but I think that so far, this should be enough to combine with the community funds to build the roof. But things are often shifting a little bit, so I’ll see. When the time comes, I’ll electronically transfer the money to someone in the village, who will deliver the cash.
Thank you again for joining us in generosity, and feel free to share this, as we’re still accepting gifts. I hope you feel in some way like a part of the community, and may God make something special happen for you in these days of summer.
-Jerome
Update 7/11
I first want to thank those who have already donated to bring us already to $1,170 in the fundraiser to make something special happen in Ecuador. I really am always amazed and appreciative. In fact, it puts me back in touch with all the times I’ve been generous, and makes me feel close to all you who give, even though we might be 3,000 miles away from each other. Thank you!
As you notice, this fundraiser has taken more time than others. One reason is because of my own being busy in transition and travel, and the other reason is that I’ve wanted to be here in Ecuador with feet on the ground before giving new updates.
I arrived in Ecuador on June 26 in the wee hours of the morning, and have been blessed to see the sun continue to rise on some new steps. I’m just back from Chontal as I write this, and want to share a few changes.
First, Rafaela's family had been supported with $2,885 from the fundraiser done back in March, including the $400 we gave. That money has been set aside for expenses related to her treatment. Rafaela and her mother Janeth are in the coastal city of Guayaquil these days, awaiting treatment in a hospital there. In my stay in Chontal, I was able to speak with Janeth by phone, and I left $300 from this fundraiser for the family, to bring our total up to $700 to complement the community's effort in the March fundraiser. She was very grateful, as you might imagine. And more importantly, she's hoping to have news about Rafaela's treatment in the coming days.
Second, the community has raised about $1,500 of its own money for the $2,500 labor cost for the school patio roof. This is good news, and a better way: we can aim to match the community if we can, and give $1,500. In talking with the president of the community, Ines, they would like to have a little more funds because costs are increasing - they have already had to reduce the size of the roof a little bit. Having a little extra funds will be good, but if we don't reach $1,500 that’s ok, too. So this changes the fundraiser goal from $3,000 to $2,000 ($500 for Rafaela and $1,500 for the school). You'll see this reflected on the goal amount.
Here are pictures I took of the schoolyard. I spent my time in Chontal in prayer and in catching up with a lot of people. Ramiro Oña has lived there his whole life, as his father and mother were some of the co-founders. He’s my age (54), and he still lives beside the school with his family, in a newer house next to the one he grew up in. He mentioned how the condition of the schoolyard affects the students and their education experience. He was glad to tell stories from the days in 1978 when he was starting there. The schoolhouse was just one building made of bamboo, and the corner of the schoolyard was carved out so that the rainwaters than came down from the mountain could drain out of the schoolyard. The whole schoolyard was dirt, and turned into mud during the rain season. In Ecuador, Monday mornings include a school meeting in the schoolyard, where important announcements are made and the national anthem is sung. In his day, students had wooden planks they would need to stand on so they wouldn’t sink in the mud. It usually splattered on their clothes, and so eventually kids needed to wear boots. Needless to say, things have changed since the school has been built up over the years, but the strong sun and the rains still affect the kids’ ability to have constructive experiences outside the classroom.
The community believes construction will start mid-August, so there are still several weeks to spread the word. I’m hoping to invite more people to participate this time because it's a little larger ask. Please consider sharing the news with others who you think might be interested! I'll continue to post all the updates here.
Update of the Last Fundraiser in December
Zoe Ortiz
Being in Mindo and Chontal has brought me back in contact with many people and places. I’m staying again in the same hotel in Mindo with Isidro and Karina, with their children Liam and Zoe. Zoe is doing pretty well, all things considered! She is in Quito now, in the children’s hospital Vaca Ortiz, with her mother for more testing (there’s a continual struggle to see what types of treatments she might respond to with her Leigh’s Syndrome. But she is much more stable, at least for now, though she doesn’t sleep steadily at night. She responds to voices and touch and stimuli with smiles and laughs, and in watching the family care for her, it brings me back to my own household, where my sister was similarly disabled. Thankfully, the family feels that they’re in a much better place now than a year ago. They feel they’ve grown, too. So thanks be to God and so many people that have surrounded the family in so many ways through a very difficult time and transition - including all of you who gave financially and spiritually in this time.
Liam recently had his 5th birthday, and a good time was had by all (though Zoe was caught in a tough moment!)
The Church Roof in Chontal
Back in Chontal, I spent time in the church, and right away a change was noticeable - it was much cooler, without the usual heat buildup. It looked like a great job was done putting in a sub-roof to limit heat transfer from the roof to the church air (there are also two new additional ceiling fans installed). Our $200 was a part of that effort, so thanks to you who contributed to that effort in December! There are also plans to follow some advice I had suggested in the past, which was to replace the window that leads to the church bell tower with a framed screen, so heat can escape like a chimney. This is all good news, and something I had hoped could come about for a long time. Back in the day, I used to go and buy water and give out drinks of water after the 2pm Mass because it was so hot inside! Now, it feels really cool - what a big help!
Here are some pictures, including a few from the past to show the difference. I think it’s really stunning! I also took a picture next to the plaque that commemorates the first act that brought this all about, back in 2009. You might notice a stunning difference in me from 2010 to today, LOL! Anyway, the note says the gift was given “In thanksgiving to God for His Mercy”, and I think that has always embodied the whole mission.
Thank you all again very much, and once again I hope you feel like you are a part of the communal experience of giving and receiving. And may God make something special happen for you in these days of summer in the US.
-Jerome
Update 6/25
Hello, and greetings again from Boston!
I first want to thank those who have already donated to bring us already to $970 in the fundraiser to make something special happen in Ecuador. I always write that I'm humbled and amazed by people's generosity, and it's always true. We're on our way to reach the $3,000 goal - thank you so much, it makes a huge difference! Everyone can still give through the GoFundMe platform here, or by PayPal or Venmo. Please come and and check it out - everything helps, including your prayers and sharing the GoFundMe site with others.
I’m heading to Ecuador in these days, so I’ll have more updates as things develop. I’ll continue to share on the fundraiser page - click on the “See all the details” button below.
This year is a larger fundraiser than usual, so I’m hoping to invite more people to participate. Please consider sharing the news with others who you think might be interested!
Thank you all again very much, and I hope you feel like you are a part of the communal experience of giving and receiving.
Make Something Special Happen
Can something special happen when life looks dark?
My friend recently lost his sister who had Down's Syndrome, and after the funeral, he told me a story about her. One day when they were all kids, the power in the house went out from a big storm, and all the kids were scared. But in that short moment of panic before the fear could set in from the total darkness, they heard the sound of their sister's voice: Happy Birthday to you … That's what she knew: when the lights went out, it was time to sing Happy Birthday! The darkness meant that something special was happening.
It's completely counter-intuitive for us. But it's true. Whenever there is darkness in life, something special is happening. And you can help to make that a reality for others.
I'm Jerome, a lay missionary who's carried out over 25 fundraisers in over eleven years in Ecuador, in collaboration with local communities and institutions. I’m in the States these days, and yet you can join me to bring about something special by collaborating with a local community, Chontal, in Ecuador, where I have a 15-year-long personal relationship:
• A family needs financial hope to continue looking for serious medical treatment for their daughter, Rafaela.
• The elementary school patio, which is the only public gathering space in the school, needs a roof to protect it from the hot sun and the rains and puddles that leave children and staff no place for activities.
So, I’m looking to raise $500 more for Rafaela's family for now, to add to the $400 we already joined to the community's fundraiser for her in March. I'm also looking to raise $2500 for the labor cost of constructing the village's school patio. About $1500 of materials are provided, and the community itself will work with local professionals in what is called a "minga" - a community work day - to build the roof. This has been a need I've dreamed of helping with for the last 15 years, if ever the opportunity came up, and now the community is acting. So, I’m looking to see if we can gather a total of $3000.
I collaborate with the local community, meaning I join with and add to what they do. We don't replace their efforts, or save people - we make a bigger community. Would you like to join with me and the local community of Chontal in Ecuador, and be a part of bringing about something special in dark and difficult times?
Please consider a gift at GoFundMe, and come check out all the details below:
1. Financial support for Rafaela’s medical treatment ($500)
We gave $400 from the last fundraiser to the family of 7-year-old Rafaela, and that was a big help for them. But the Rafaela's story and the family's needs are something much bigger. (For more detail on her story, come and see the updates from the last fundraiser here.
Arsenio and Janeth have 4 daughters, and the first two have graduated high school, and the third is a senior this upcoming school year. Those around here for a while may remember them benefitting from the fundraiser we did back in 2014, when the Mother's Day landslides destroyed about 7 homes in Chontal. Arsenio and Janeth and the 3 girls at the time had just left their home to flee to safety, when a large landslide poured down and buried their small house on the low side of the mountain. In part from our fundraiser, they were able to rebuild a small home away from the foot of the mountain.
Arsenio is a basic day laborer, working in the local naranjilla fruit industry. Seven years ago they had a fourth daughter, Rafaela, who has some genetic birth defects.
These have produced problems with her eyes, ears, throat, teeth, pallet, among other things. Vision, hearing, tooth stability, and language production have all suffered and needed medical attention over the years. But most importantly, she has a growing hole in her heart that requires open heart surgery. It has been urgent since she was a little child, before the pandemic. And now it's more urgent.
There are a lot of obstacles - Janeth has visited doctors in Quito and Guayaquil, and it's been difficult to find the attention Rafaela needs. I am in periodic contact with Janeth, and for now, I am looking for $500 for some short-term support to help keep the family going in their search to resolve finding treatment. Obviously, financial resources can open more options. So as the conversation continues and options become clearer, I hope to look for more support in a later effort.
2. Labor costs for building a patio roof at the local school in Chontal ($2500)
The local school in Chontal has a large patio for all children's activities. It lacks a roof to protect it from the rains and sun, two things that work throughout the school year to make the patio a challenge for children's activities and health.
Since my first days in Chontal, I've dreamed of finding a way to support the community if they ever move to build a roof for the school. And recently, the community decided to make it a priority.
A roof for a school yard that size typically costs about $4000, with about $1500 in materials and $2500 in labor. The community is getting the material, and is looking for help with the labor costs. So, I’m looking to see if we can gather $2500 for the labor cost.
Here are a few pictures and a video taken recently at the school. At times, a large portion of the patio can be covered with puddles:
Not much has changed on the patio since I arrived in Chontal back in 2010.
Here is a view from 2017:
And these two are from Christmas program in 2014, at the beginning of the day and then later when I came out as Santa:
As I mentioned, finding a way to have a roof was an idea I started exploring back in 2019. Ecuador has two principal seasons, a dry season and a wet season. Having a roof over the patio will protect from the hot sun in the dry season and from the rains in the rain season. I have been there for both, and it’s a tough experience for the kids. The hot sun is especially intense as Chontal is only 2 tenths of a degree north of the equator. The rain isn’t typically around during class times, but large puddles throughout the patio can sit for days or weeks during rain season, making it largely unusable for the kids except messy soccer.
Just before the pandemic, a small roof was place over the stairway next to the patio. So a roof over the whole patio is the one, glaring missing piece.
Thank you for considering making something special happen in Ecuador!
I’m always glad to hear from you. Feel free to leave a comment below.
GOFUNDME NOTES:
You are not required to tip GoFundMe. GoFundMe defaults to adding a 15% tip during donation payment. This is optional, and on top of the 2.9%+$0.30 of your donation that they already charge. You don’t have to tip anything, and you can change this tip to $0 by dragging the slider on the page all the way to the left.
Using GoFundMe saves me time and energy that I can then give to principle activities. GoFundMe provides behind the scenes organization that I would have to do myself if everyone donated individually, taking my time and effort away from my principle activities. Please consider the GoFundMe fee a replacement for paying someone to manage the fundraiser.
You can make a free transfer outside of GoFundMe. If you have PayPal (jeromeekiley@gmail.com) or Venmo (@Jerome-Kiley-1) in the US, these methods are free transfers. You can send me a personal gift, and I will add your anonymous gift to the GoFundMe’s fundraiser list of donations. However, you won’t receive the updates I post on GoFundMe.