The light goes on

Often during the days here there will be a surprise journey, an unexpected visit, or a conversation that will make the light come on. Yesterday was one of those days for me, a day when all three of those things happened. So I sit here at 3:30am, unable to sleep because of what I have figured out.

Yesterday afternoon we were taken on a shopping excursion to Ibarra, a city only about a 30 minute drive from here. We were hoping to find common items such as laundry soap that is unscented or natural, some household items to fix things around the centre, and just generally to explore what the city may offer. In actuality we did not find much worth going for. Unfortunately, this part of the world has also fallen prey to the world of chemical soaps and deodorants, the cause of so many physical ailments. Did you know that there are hundreds of chemicals used to make those scents, most of which are carcinogens (causing cancer)? They also cause heart and lung disease such as asthma, hearing loss and eye problems, skin irritations and on and on it goes. Some of us can go into anaphylactic shock causing heart failure. It was this search for the elusive chemical free body products which inspired the visit to the city.

We found chocolate (always a good thing) that was $1.00 less per bar, so we stocked up. It was this item that got me up this morning at 3:30, not to eat it, but to explain the importance of what this chocolate bar represents.  There are several good choices for chocolate, most made here in Ecuador, but for some reason this brand name stuck out for me. Perhaps it was just the surprising variety of flavours, or the sound of the name, I’m not sure. In any case, it led to this light going on in my soul.

We had also purchased the ingredients for making spagetti for our hosts, as they have graciously made us many meals since our arrival (and their children love spagetti!). When we got back there were two young men at the house, relatives of our hosts. They spoke some English and they were very pleasant to talk to, having similar interests. They seemed to really love our pasta dish and were very happy to share one of the chocolate bars purchased that afternoon. The one young man noticed the brand name of “Pacari” on the small package and his face lit up into a smile. “Ahh” he says, “ this is a fair trade organic company here in Ecuador. This is a company practicing sustainable growing techniques”. He was so proud of this company and was very happy that we purchased the product. I told him this was how we shopped at home as well, supporting fair trade, non GMO and organic producers. He was surprised, but very happy to know that we supported this kind of business. I saw first hand the pride of someone from a foreign country that produces an item we enjoy in a country that cannot do so.  Yes we do make a difference when we choose to support fair trade.

But still, that was not the lightbulb moment for me, it was just what led to that moment. As I lay here unable to sleep I understood very clearly for the first time that this was what my father lived and died for. This wonderful and beautiful idea that people in South America, everywhere in the world actually, deserved to live a good life, they had the right to own their land, feed and cloth their families, give them an education and be proud of who they were. I have been supporting his ideals all these years without truly understanding this. Being here, allowing the culture and the surroundings to seep into my bones, breathing in the air and feeling the sun has given me this perspective. I somehow knew this before I left Canada, that I would understand when I had spent some time here, whether or not this foreign land was indeed home for me.

Yes I am truly home, this is where I am from. Maybe not Ecuador, but South America is the land of my birth and the man who came to me in my dreams for so many years, is my father.

Excerpt from “Finding Home”

“….This reminds me of something I was told in a dream the previous week. In the dream my son Lucas told me “The closer you get to home, the closer you will be to where it all began”. Connecting this message to the dream this morning inspired me to start the book Finding Home. It is time….”