Wheel Chair Assembly
We spent the rest of the morning and most of the afternoon assembling 300 wheel chairs. And yes, that is not a typo, 300 chairs!
It was so rewarding to be working with Rotarians from different clubs and also with Rotarians from Ecuador. Hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, we unboxed, assembled and organized the chairs.
By the end of the afternoon, we were all hot, sweaty, dirty, tired and so happy!
The chairs come in different sizes ranging from 12″ to 20″. I can still remember the how I felt when I unboxed my first 12″ chair. It was so small. I remember looking over to my friend Gary Trail and saying that “If you think it’s hard to see a chair for someone so small, wait until you put someone in it. ” I call these heart-string chairs, because they really do pull at all your heart strings at once.
Here is a photo of a 12″ chair next to a 20″ chair.
We had completed all the chair assembly and clean up early so the bus took us back to the hotel for some well deserved R&R. We went for a swim and a bite to eat and then back to our room.
The bus picks us up at 8pm to go to the Rotary meeting. We found out that they normally don’t eat until 10.30pm, but that since we are used to eating much earlier they have moved the meal to 9pm.
I am really looking forward to going to the meeting. I have been asked to make a presentation at the club on behalf of the team and those who know me, know that I love to speak about things I am passionate about!
Well I think that is more than enough for today! I am off to enjoy a glass of rum before we head out. (PS: 5 year old aged rum, $5.99 for a 26 ounce bottle at a store around the corner from the hotel! )
Adios Amigos!
3 Responses so far
Lynda Geddes
November 9th, 2009
9:38 pm
Speachless……I can’t begin to tell you how your blog entry for the past two days has affected me. I expect that if nothing more happened this week, you would all be feeling gratified. The rest is a bonus. One feeling I can identify is pride…in each of you for your desire to go and determination to make it happen. There is a niggly in the back of my mind ” what if they come home with the plan to live there ?” It looks like a very affordable country with lots of opportunities. Just come home safe and not too tired o.k.? I love you,
Mama Lynda
Marc
November 10th, 2009
12:18 am
Amazing as it sounds, although our days are full, the energy from the team and the people we are helping here, seems to be rejuvenating!!
I look forward to actually distributing the chairs – the school today was heart warming and a huge reality check, but tomorrow is when my Irish Eyes will be full of tears – kidneys are right behind them I think!!
Thank you to everyone for keeping up on our blog – and for the Birthday wishes…. going to be a great birthday~!~
Jenn
November 10th, 2009
5:56 pm
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!!!! We will have to properly celebrate when you get back!!! Missing you guys lots!
love ya