Enjoy highlights and photos from a humanitarian trip to Ecuador from January 10 to January 16, 2024.
Screening children for malnutrition
and distributing supplements
NutriTour participants helped the local Bountiful coordinators with screening children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers for malnutrition in Otavalo and Quito, Ecuador. 🍏 Nutritious food supplements were distributed to the families who were found needy. At the end of the day, participants created joy by creating balloon animals for children. 🎈 Local Bountiful coordinators distribute supplements to the families monthly and re-screen the children for progress at 6-month intervals.
“I was touched by the gratitude of the mothers we met while distributing the supplements. I received handwritten cards, small gifts, and many hugs from women I had just met. Their hearts were truly full of gratitude for the help they received.”– Cindy
“I really enjoyed meeting all of the moms of the kids we helped. Even though I didn’t speak Spanish, I could still feel the moms’ love for their kids, and how grateful they were for our help. I couldn’t help admiring the strength of these moms, taking care of their family in considerably more difficult circumstances than what I see at home.”
– Emily
Balloon party after screening the children
“I really liked playing with the kids and seeing their smiling faces. I liked walking around the market and getting to see the culture of the town. I also really liked going to put that woman’s roof on, it seemed like she really appreciated the help.”
– Miriam, age 12
Roofing a house
As a part of their Bountiful NutriTour, participants helped roof a house, providing hope to a family in need. 🔨
“It was eye opening to see how some people don’t have the bare necessities such as a roof on their house. I really liked quite literally putting a roof over someone’s head.”
– Levi, age 16
“The best moments for me were helping the family complete the roof on their house. It was very satifying to make a meaningful impact on a family’s well being in a few hours of diligent work. Also, it was impactful for our family to see how difficult the life circumstances are for some people and how blessed we are in comparison.
“Helping distribute the supplements felt useful, but it was the surprise visit from the bishop and his wife who had earlier benefited from BCF’s work and their heartfelt description of what it meant for them to receive the aid at that time that really softened my heart.”
– Kenny
Cooking is done apart from the house
so as not to smoke up the house
A thank-you selfie for a roofing job well done!
“Seeing the living conditions of the family that we helped build a roof for was very impactful for me. By helping add a roof to their house, we doubled the amount of space they had where they could be safe and dry when it rained. Even with the new roof, their house was so small. It made me feel so blessed to have a house to return home to that is safe and warm. I realized that the phrase ‘because I have been given much I too must give,’ applies to me much more than I had ever known.”
-Sarah
Catching fish for lunch
Visiting an orphanage
The NutriTour included opportunities for connecting with local families during home visits 🏡 and visiting an orphanage where they played with children, fostering laughter and happiness ❤️
Museo de Sitio Intiñan
Mitad del Mundo Monument
(Equatorial Monument)
NutriTour Volunteers
at the Equator in Ecuador
Participants also explored Ecuador’s rich culture at the Intiñan Museo de Sitio which includes a monument built right on the equator in Quito.
Trip Summary:
Wednesday: We went to the animal market, then hiked to a waterfall, had lunch at the catch-your-own trout place, and then looked at the lake and got an ice cream.
Thursday: We went to the condor zoo. Then we did a screening in Otavalo. We went to dinner and walked around town.
Friday: Roofing project for a family in Otavalo. Everyone got involved. Dinner that night.
Saturday: Bountiful screening in Quito. The kids were involved in the measuring and weighing the children. We went to the equator museum and to visit an orphanage. We had dinner with the Stake president.
Sunday: We went to church. After church, we visited some very old catholic churches in Quito, and did part of a walking tour of downtown.
Monday: Touring day. We went to TeleferiQo (gondola up the side of the mountain with great views at the top) and then a couple of museums. Some of the group continued on to the Galapagos islands.
Bountiful footnote:
The bonds formed during their visit to Ecuador transcended borders, creating a sense of community that will endure long after their departure. We are ever so grateful to our humanitarian trip volunteers.
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