I am going to Ecuador in September, where a good friend (and lovely bloke) Jose Delgado and his wife Mercedes are leading a small but growing church in a poor area of Manta, the closest city to the epicentre of April's devastating earthquake. Their church is all about serving others and making a difference in the community. They are supporting people who are homeless, or whose houses are condemned, many of whom - already poor - have lost jobs because factories are destroyed and the economy set back years.
José and Mercedes receive no payment from the church (there's no money to do so!) but both work in low-paid jobs just to scrape a living. I will pay my own travel and all expenses - but I want to take a gift to support the church´s work among the poor. In the process I want to re-learn from them what are the real riches of being human - and I will try to bring back some of the smiles and laughter that seem very typical there!
I am walking 150 miles during August (from Dublin along the Grand Canal, Barrow and Wicklow Ways) so you can think of any gift as sponsorship for that if you like. To all supporters I will be glad to send you a postcard and sketch either from Ireland of from Ecuador - but make sure I have your address!