Hello WBC Friends,
I want to provide an update on our Working Boys Center Ministry. Let's start with the not-so-good news first:
- Ecuador is among the worst-hit countries in the world by the coronavirus disease pandemic. In terms of confirmed deaths per million inhabitants, as of October 22, Ecuador ranked fourth in the Americas and ninth worldwide according to data from the World Health Organization. They are way behind the US in their recovery.
- News broke in January about a vaccine scam where a clinic in Ecuador was taking money and giving out fake vaccines.
- In reality, Ecuador just administered its first (legitimate) covid vaccine dose in March 2021.
- The vaccine rollout has come with more scandal as the Ecuador health minister resigned after 19 days over queue-jumping, nepotism, and other allegations.
- Ecuador's hospitals are being overwhelmed with covid cases right now.
Enough of that, let's talk about some positives:
- Please pray for everyone in Ecuador, Quito, and at the WBC. As you read above, they need our prayers every day.
- The WBC continues to assemble and make available food kits for our 336 affiliated families as many families depend wholly upon these kits for their basic nutritional needs.
- The WBC also continues to provide education in these challenging times:
- The Center’s high school program that was recalibrated 3 years ago is today fully accredited and offers its 76 students two curriculum tracks: a regular high school curriculum and a Vocational Tech extension specializing in Metal Mechanics.
- The Center has recently been recognized and accredited by Ecuador’s Ministry of Education for its implementation of and academic success with the “Multiple Intelligences” teaching methodology. Throughout the pandemic, the Center’s distance learning program has utilized Multiple Intelligences and our 237 students have continued to make great strides despite the extenuating circumstances
- St. Gabriels has recently revamped our website. Check out the new WBC page here.
- Follow the WBC on Facebook to keep up on how the amazing staff has been able to continue to serve those in need at the center.
- Please prayerfully consider any help you can afford by donating here or via Faith Direct.
- We recently received our 5th order of St. Gabriel's branded masks manufactured at the WBC in Quito. Feel free to pick one up in the basket in the Narthex and drop a small donation to help purchase more. Try out some of our new colors!
- Finally, a recent WBC newsletter featured another beautiful story of the work being done at the center. I hope you enjoy reading it:
Meet Pauleth Hurtado!
Our little bundle of good news, Pauleth Hurtado (pictured below) is four years old and in our kindergarten program. She loves to pose for pictures and has become a star at the Center. Pauleth is the youngest of five siblings and she’s such a good reader that she always wants to help her older brothers and sisters (three of whom also attend school with the WBC) with their homework. Although her siblings don’t always agree that her help is actually useful, they appreciate her love and support! Pauleth’s mother, Marimar, is a single mom who was an orphan and moved to Quito in her teens. As she has shared, Marimar's life has not been easy, but she continues to do her best because of her family: "My dream for my children is that they become professionals in their own fields with a college education of their own.” To support her children, Marimar has found a job cleaning houses three days a week and earns $10 per day.
The family of six recently moved to a new home with more living space and indoor plumbing that they acquired with the help of the Center'sminga program. Through these continued times of uncertainty due to COVID-19, the Hurtado family also receives help from our food program that keeps the entire family supplied with nutritious meals.
As things recover and return to normal faster here in the US, let us not forget those that are still in the middle of the fight against this tragic pandemic.
God bless you and yours,
Mark
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