August 2008
Dear friends and family,
It has been very long since our last update - summers are particularly busy here for us. We organized and hosted groups from the Diocese of Atlanta who worked at Iglesia del Buen Pastor in south Quito, from Seabury Deanery in Connecticut who worked with Iglesia Ascensión in Puyo near the Amazon, and from the Diocese of Massachusetts who worked with Iglesia Resurrección in La Hondonada, an indigenous community a few hours south of Quito at 12,500 feet above sea level (Quito is about 9,200). We also facilitated visits for two volunteers who spent two months here, each working with and learning from different parishes in Quito. These times have been very significant for both the visitors and Ecuadorian companions as we together are challenged, empowered and changed by the relationships of eating, working, living and sharing together.
We have also spent these past two months without Bishop Wilfrido’s presence. He had a colostomy in June and recuperated in the United States and Puerto Rico from June 20 to August 21. His brother, who was bishop of Costa Rica, thankfully was able to fill in for him in his absence. We are very happy to have Bishop Wilfrido back. He has recovered well and feels much better.
With CLAI we continue translating and editing for their English language newspaper as well as translating various other documents, the most recent being a grant for church-based workshops on the upcoming election for a new constitution here in Ecuador (the election will take place on September 28th). Chris has had the opportunity to write a few articles for the English and Spanish CLAI publications. He also helped facilitate Brazilian theologian Leonardo Boff’s visit to Quito in June. See an article about that incredible visit here: http://www.alcnoticias.org/interior.php?lang=688&codigo=11652. Chris will also spend September 1-5 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, for an Agencia Latinoamericana y Caribeña (ALC) conference, a Latin American ecumenical news service.
Trish finally finished the major organization of the Diocesan library. She now continues to catalogue books that are being donated to the library as well as coordinate purchases of new books for the library. Trish’s work with Colombian refugees continues to be busy and fulfilling. Medical assistance continues to be a great need, with two women needing costly procedures in the past couple months. On June 20 we held a service of reflection for World Refugee Day. It was a good time for remembering the plight of the refugees here in Ecuador as well as those who live in worse circumstances in various countries all over the world. The refugee project has begun funding through microloans and donations small businesses, so far a project to raise chickens and a shoemaker. And we have said goodbye to a family who was resettled in Argentina and will say goodbye soon to a family who will be resettled in the United States. But new families keep coming! So the needs continue. Therefore Trish’s focus in the next couple months will be looking for funding for the coming year. All lab tests for Trish’s kidney continue to be positive. She will have an ultrasound on September 10 to make sure that it looks healthy and more blood work done to make sure it is functioning well.
Both girls are doing very well. Claire celebrated her graduation from kindergarten, which included a ceremony and a luncheon afterwards. She will start first grade on September 2 at her new school, which she is extremely excited about. She has enjoyed hanging out with the various groups from the United States that have come down and spent the week in La Hondonada with Chris and the group from Massachusetts while Trish and Isabel stayed home. Isabel turned 2 on July 3 which we celebrated with Chris’s parents and nephew, Brennan, as well as a little party at her daycare, which she relished. She is starting to sleep in a “big girl” bed and use the “potty.” She’s very proud of herself.
We will be in the Boston area from October 9-20 for a wedding and visits. We look forward to catching up with some of you in this very short time!
Thank you for all your prayers and support. Please be in prayer for the Diocese of Central Ecuador as we continue in the search for a new bishop, and for CLAI as we continue the process of hiring a new general secretary and staff. Please pray for good health and safe travels within and out of Ecuador.
Much peace,
Trish, Chris, Claire and Isabel Morck
p.s. There is currently a very significant trial going on in the Ecuadorian Amazon against Chevron by groups who have been affected by petroleum contamination. Vanity Fair has a lengthy article about it with excellent information (though not all will appreciate the way that the writer expresses it): http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/05/texaco200705
Regardless of how the trial ends, the fact remains that environmental contamination (such as babies with cancer and cesspools of oil runoff) and societal disintegration (especially within indigenous people groups) are true costs of our petroleum use, much greater than the price-per-gallon.
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Pablo Fajardo, lawyer representing Ecuadorian Amazonian settlers and indigenous groups: "One of the problems with modern society is that it places more importance on things that have a price than on things that have a value. Breathing clean air, for instance, or having clean water in the rivers, or having legal rights—these are things that don't have a price but have a huge value. Oil does have a price, but its value is much less. And sometimes we make the mistake."
Chevron lobbyist: "The ultimate issue here is Ecuador has mistreated a U.S. company. We can't let little countries screw around with big companies like this - companies that have made big investments around the world." http://www.newsweek.com/id/149090
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