Ecuador for Hope

My name is Javier Macias from Guayaquil, Ecuador living in Chicago for 20 + years. On April 16, 2016 at 6:58 PM myself, my wife Sarah Macias along with our Chicagoan friends Scott and Corinne Cathala-Andrews were sitting by the beach mesmerizing the last sunset in Canoa, Ecuador. Our friends first vacation in Ecuador so far was amazing...  when all the sudden the earth detonated beneath us. The earth shook violently for almost 2 minutes... We ran to escape as the earth opened up spewing sulfur gas and buildings collapsed around us.  In front of our eyes,  the carnage, devastation, screams, and the roar that came from the earth.  I guess the Lord had different plans for us that day because we were so closed... We were so fortunately to be spared that night.

That night we drove for almost 45 minutes to high grounds from fear of a possible Tsunami, fortunately, it never happened. But we still were escaping from more destruction.  Later we end-up with a family that gave us shelter and water. The Mero family made us feel like home. That night a total of 27 of us slept on the floor under a thatched hut.  We hold hands and asked God for protection. All night long we felt aftershocks, as often as 20 minutes in between, one a 2:30 AM reminded us so much the 7.8 making us believe, this was the end…

Next morning we drove back to the hotel in Canoa to pick up our things, we saw destruction and death, an apocalyptic experience... Our hotel destroyed, a lot of casualties, people asking for help, it was a total destruction, 90% of Canoa was destroyed and no help was there yet.

We drove for almost 7 hours to Guayaquil, my hometown were the quake did almost not damage. During the trip, we witnessed so much destruction, we drove through collapsed roads, towns that had many houses destroyed, saw people trying to save others trapped, couldn't recognized my beautiful country... Next morning we went to the store to buy food and medicine and witnesses an Ecuadorian country united, long lines of people doing the same. With the help of my cousins, couple of friends and a Lieutenant of the Ecuadorian Navy that granted us fully access to visited San Jose de Chamanga in Esmeraldas, we started the food distribution. Chamanga is located a few minutes from the epicenter and it was badly destroyed, many people were waiting for help. Our group prepared bags with food and other basic items to 65 families. We met face to face with those affected, it was heartbreaking to see so many that lost everything. A bag of food and supplies that day meant so much for them.
The Volunteer team:
From left to right - Byron (Marine), Javier, Sarah, Andrea (Cousin), Enrique (Cousin), Daniel (Friend), Behind is Marco (Daniel's father). We missed in this picture Navy Lieutenant Emilio Rosero,  Job Jurado and his nephew.


Friends, this has been a very devastating natural disaster for my fellow Ecuadorians.  So far, 654 deaths, over 16.601 injured as of 4/24. There are over 25.640 people living in shelters and 58 people still missing. This earthquake is leaving behind many people without family members, their homes, basic services, food, drinkable water, medicine, etc., etc.  It was hard for us to see first hand these places; many of them are completely gone…total devastation.

 Here is what Sarah and I wants to do with your help. We want to focus all the donations to the communities near Muisne, Esmeraldas were the epicenter took place. Why? because we where there and witness the need for homes, homes built in a safe way. There are approx. 40 families that lost their homes and that with the help of the Rotary Club Quito Latitud Cero, together with Rotary Clubs of Quito Valle Interoceánico and Quito Sur, we ae planing to help them.
• The community of Muisne has a population of 8,880 residents.
• Impacted population = 5,749
• Affected families = 1,017
• Harmed families = 380
The communitites around muisne are communities that are not mentioned in the news but are badly damaged as well. We visited them, please see pictures below. They will need tools and construction materials to start building new homes for those that lost everything and for those that need to rebuild their homes.

 Here is how the funds are planned to be distributed:

Our personal goal is to raise 32K to  help the Rotary clubs to provide housing for 40 families affected by earthquake effects houses that are known as "Hogar de Cristo", made under the codes and characteristics for the area. We believe this will help to improve the quality of life of the selected victims.
The land where the new homes will be built was donated by Foundation Muisne Esmeraldas "FUCAME" . They own several acres of land located in the area Puerto Nuevo, known as Fucame, parish San Gregorio, Muisne county, in the province of Esmeraldas.


Once we receive the funds from gofundme, the withdrawal will go to our account and then the funds will be transfer to the Rotary account in Ecuador created to the purpose of building the homes. Once your donations through gofundme reaches the Rotary hands, they will provide acknowledgment of this campaign monetary support.


Any help you can provide, it doesn’t matter how much, will be greatly appreciated. My friends you can help some of the affected families in these areas where the government will take longer to reach. We were there and We know that…

Again, We are lucky to be alive and be surrounded by amazing people like you!

 Thank you for your support of my fellow Ecuadorians!

Javier & Sarah Macias

Here are some images that we captured throughout the time we spent in Ecuador from April 16 to April 20th. 

Please scroll down for pictures and videos!

April 18, Sarah at the supermarket buying donations.


Here we are leaving my hometown with Sarah, Andrea, Enrique, Marco y Daniel to bring the donations to the affected area.


Now we are  in Chamanga, Esmeraldas province near the epicenter, preparing the bags for the 65 families. We were the only civilians doing this in this town. 

The first community, childrens were so happy, they got candies!!! Our "infante de marina" (Marine) Byron was our security the whole time.

This moment is priceless, a plastic cup made them so happy

A lady receiving her provision!



Improvised shelters...


One of the houses destroyed in the communities visited.

People asking us for food.


People waiting outside our donation place as we were preparing the bags with food.

The face of hope.

Waiting for us to call them for the food and medicine.

This is were we spent the night. The safehouse, the place that protected us the night after the earthquake.

They became our family...

Thank you so much Mero Family, WE will never forget you.

Destruction in Canoa

our hotel... to the right still standing up is Scott and Corine's room... luckly we were all outside watching the sunset.

The earth opened... I drove the car over this large crevice

another part of the hotel collapsed


Here-- improvising alternate roads... driving on the beach because a mountain collapsed on the highway...

This was the mountain that collapsed, look at the size of the people on top!!!!


Near to the city of Portoviejo (Sosote) we couldn't pass through anymore. Luckily locals directed us to an alternate country road via Picoaza

More destruction...

):



We will help you!


And here is the video of the morning after in our hotel...
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Leutenant Rosero of the Ecuadorian Navy assisting us with the food distribution. He was key to the success of this humanitarian mission.
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Talking to children and mother that lost her home.
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People sleeping on the side of the road
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