THE STORY OF HOW IT ALL BEGAN
Julia's Hope, a foundation in its beginning stages, is designed
to help underprivileged people in Ecuador starting with those in Quito and then in Lago Agrio. Some of you may wonder why this is a goal of mine. Growing up, I used to visit Ecuador quite frequently and one of those times, my Uncle leaned over the kitchen table and asked; "Would you like to go to the jungle?" I said "Sure!" Shortly after, plans were made to leave and our adventure began. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I trusted my Uncle. I trusted that he would take me on a trip that I would never forget.
Julia's Hope, a foundation in its beginning stages, is designed
to help underprivileged people in Ecuador starting with those in Quito and then in Lago Agrio. Some of you may wonder why this is a goal of mine. Growing up, I used to visit Ecuador quite frequently and one of those times, my Uncle leaned over the kitchen table and asked; "Would you like to go to the jungle?" I said "Sure!" Shortly after, plans were made to leave and our adventure began. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I trusted my Uncle. I trusted that he would take me on a trip that I would never forget.
He did not disappoint. We got on a tiny plane that sat about 15to 20; and after a very scary and loud flight, we landed in a tiny little airport. Boy, was I ever so happy to be on the ground! Upon our arrival, we traveled an hour to an army encampment with barracks where my Uncle's brother-in-law was a general. The house was beautiful and I was grateful to take a hot shower after a long day of travel. We stayed overnight, then, in the morning, we journeyed another hour to the edge of a river.
On my way to the river's edge, I encountered a bunch of kids in the back of a pickup truck. I asked my Uncle what they were doing and he said that they were on their way to school. I said to him; "but it's raining" I said concerned. He said that was the way they were used to going to school. It really hit me right there that these kids, who didn't know any better were happy in to be taken to school, even in the rain. It was right then that I was inspired to create a better way for kids like them. I envisioned a school bus for them. A safe, dry way to get to school, every day. It was then that the dream began. The dream of Julia's Hope.
At the river's edge, I saw gigantic Blue Butterflies. They were so beautiful that I did not want to leave. I wanted to get a perfect shot of them, but time did not allow. Eventually, I got into the long canoe with a missionary, an armed guard, my Uncle and his other brother in law along with supplies, including a mattress and a humungous pot that was almost as wide as the canoe itself. It was like something out of a documentary from biologists studying in the wild. It was like being in the old television program, Nova, but in real life.
At the river's edge, I saw gigantic Blue Butterflies. They were so beautiful that I did not want to leave. I wanted to get a perfect shot of them, but time did not allow. Eventually, I got into the long canoe with a missionary, an armed guard, my Uncle and his other brother in law along with supplies, including a mattress and a humungous pot that was almost as wide as the canoe itself. It was like something out of a documentary from biologists studying in the wild. It was like being in the old television program, Nova, but in real life.
I sat at the front of the canoe as we made our way down the river into this beautiful bay that looked like it was made of glass. We stopped to visit a biology compound that was created for biologists studying in the wild, (owned by yet another brother in law!) then we went to visit the indigenous people near by.
TO BE CONTINUED....
TO BE CONTINUED....