Day 12: Working is Persisting

by Brandon Baldovin ‘15

As our time in Ecuador nears its close, we can’t help but reflect on our work thus far. Have we really made an impact?

Last mass at La Marin

We feel we have, but the degree is harder to determine, especially when we find ourselves laboring to complete projects whose ends we cannot see. One example was our scrubbing the cafeteria’s rainbow-colored walls, which are stained by permanent grime and dirt. They’d just be dirty again; how long would momentary cleanliness last? It was a kind of work we expected to be satisfying, but whose satisfactions were less visible. Then again, many of us have forged bonds with the kids we’ve met that only blossomed over the course of our stay, and in repeated, unexpected meetings. These are also less visible, but we know will count for something.

How to clean a carpet Quito style: you slap the enchilada.

Today we returned to a familiar place: Center #1 at La Marin, where the inner-city Quiteno ninos come. However, instead of working with the muchachos, who were celebrating their last day of classes, team Regis washed carpets and wiped down benches. We learned the art forms necessary for doing good jobs. We were tired -- as if it weren’t obvious to JQ, who caught us all napping in unison -- but despite this we soldiered on. Perhaps the task was one we weren’t to see concluded, just continued.

Sleeping the sleep of the just.

We left enough in the tank to challenge Fordham Prep to a quick soccer match. When JQ pulled us off the cancha (yes, in Ecuador the balling is so hard, any time, anywhere) we held a 2-0 lead.

We boarded the bus, napped, helped cook mac and cheese, and slept some more for the amazing adventure waiting for us at dawn. Banos, here we come!

Don't say we never set a benchmark.