We had the pleasure to interview Sister Paulina Pillajo, who told us that she went to Manta with Sister Adelaida to help the people who were injured by the earthquake of April 16th, 2016. She stayed there for 3 years and 10 months.
She arrived at Luz Maria Ulloa´s house, her friend who has a foundation called “El Rostro de Jesus”, Luz Maria was also a great help with the moving and adaptation process. Sister Paulina explained to us that this was an unexpected experience; therefore, she felt insecure and fearful. After that, she stayed in a house of the missionaries from the “Divino Costado” and she could live there without problems.
Sisters Paulina and Adelaida went to help, with the support of different organizations and private companies like the Ministry of Health and Education to the Ceibo´s Renacer sector. There were around 200 families that lost their homes and belongings in the earthquake. They also helped people emotionally with different activities which fell into different projects like the one called “Tejiendo sueños”. This project was carried out with the participation of the women who had lost their homes and jobs after the natural disaster. This project also interacts with the “Rio Manta” foundation.
There was also aid for the kids who have low economic incomes, allowing them to go to the facilities and have some of the material needed in the virtual classes. There was also great help in the house building process and delivery of them for the ones who needed them.
This place was not in the center of the town, so one of the biggest problems that she found was that basic rights, such as education, job, and health, were non-existent. There were no education or job opportunities, there was only one hospital, so getting medical treatment was difficult and limited, compared to cities like Quito or Cuenca.
She told us that the experience that most marked and gratified her was bound created with teenagers and the children because she enjoyed supporting them at their school development and making projects together. She commented that many of them were motivated again after all this process.
Her main feelings while she was there were: gratitude, security, and support. Besides, she is thankful to all the institutions that provided her resources to continue with this task. She felt the help that other people gave to inspire hope and support for the rest. She felt the help of God in different situations with kind people and other experiences. Her experience in Manta was a gift that enriched and sensitized her a lot. However, sometimes she felt impotence having limitations in the way she wanted to help.
Returning to Quito was paradoxical because at the beginning she was looking for any excuse to visit Quito. Nevertheless, after spending time in Manta and sharing with people, she got used to this place, so returning was difficult for her. Despite that, she is now grateful and joyful being back in La Dolorosa and she is happy with the plans that God has for her life.
At the end of the interview, she told us that she would like to do missions again in any place they need her because she said her life is an instrument of God's love, and seeing this love reflected in all the people who came forward makes her happy and motivates her to continue.
Written by
Camila Vega & Adriana Trujillo
3ro BGU A
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