The people I serve here in Ecuador are the Indigenous people called the Quichuas. The Quichuas have been around since the Mayans and Incas living as farmers in the Andes Mountains. When the Spanish came over to South America in the 1540's they made the Quichua people wear different clothes to show which person is Quichuas. They still wear the same clothes to this day. In the different Providences or Communities the Quichuas have a different color skirts, ponchos, or a different style hat to show that they come from that providence. From the very begging the Quichuas have been discriminated against. Missionaries started their work with the Quichuas during the 1950’s and slowly started to reach these misunderstood Indigenous people. Now in 2011 working with the Quichua I have learned so much from these people I love dearly. Their "issues" isn't really that they don’t have water, starving, or millions dying from diseases. Yet these may be some issues in some communities. The problems are more social than anything else.
- Machoism
- Domestic violence
- Lack of hygiene
- Child labor
- Blending of their Old Ways with Christianity
- Lack of education
These are some issues that we missionaries are faced here in Ecuador. I can tell you so many stories that these wonderful people have told me about their lives. But I will tell you a little bit in each issue to help you better understand the Quichuas.
Machoism & Domestic Violence
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| Young Quichua Couple |
Machoism is where the men are in control of very thing and the women are downgraded. The women are only supposed to only cook, clean, and have children. The men are very rude to their wives and abuse them. One woman that attends the church is now handicapped from her husband's abuse. She cannot take care of her children and now stays with her parents and stays in bed all day. But we and other missionaries here are now teaching the Quichuas to love their wives and what the bible says. We are seeing some changes!
Lack of Hygiene
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| Chosas |
The people here are not up to date with the rest of the world when it comes to hygiene. It is more important to work or take care of other things. For example: The people here farm the land all day and are very dirty and the next day they have to farm again. They see it as there is no point of showering if they are going to get dirty the next day. Also very one else in their community does the same thing. The children are sick all the time because they do not wash their hands before they eat. The water is not safe most of the time and has bacteria that may harm them. Their houses as well are not clean or they may live in a Chosas. But we and other missionaries here are to educating them in the correct way of hygiene!
Child Labor
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| Me and the girl who was hitt while selling |
Here because most Quichua families are poor they need their children to work as well. There is ALOT of shoe-shine boys here or girls who sell candy or fruit on the street. You see a lot of mothers who bring their young children with them while they sell. There was a young girl in our church who was selling candy with her sister and did not see a car coming and was hit. She broke her arm and was bruised up pretty badly. Praise the Lord, now she is fine and is walking around! But she had to have pins put into her arm and will live with that the rest of her life. She is also only 6 years old. The Susongs are directly working with these children all around Ecuador. Most children are socially and emotionally affected for the rest of their lives.
Blending of their Old Ways with Christianity
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| Mama Negra |
This happens with Quichua people all over Ecuador. Most of them don't talk about it but it is practiced to this day. Along with following their Christian ways they still follow their pagan beliefs. For example: When a child is born they put garlic to keep evil spirits away, when someone becomes sick they go to a medicine man, or if someone wants to get revenge with another person they go to a "Witch Doctor" and basically perform "Voo Doo." There is a huge Festival in Latacunga called Mama Negra or "Black Mother" with is celebrating their old pagan beliefs. We and other missionaries are fighting against this and teaching them that in the Bible it is wrong to still follow their old pagan ways.
The Quichua people are very much discriminated against and very low in society here in Ecuador. But God loves them just as much as He loves us. The Quichuas are some of the most wonderful people I have ever met. They are so humble, loving, curious, helpful, and just awesome people. I have never seen someone pray as long as these people pray! I am so blessed that I have the opportunity to live and work with these people. To laugh, cry, joke, and learn with them as well. Please pray as us missionaries who work with the Indigenous people and teach them the ways of the Lord and reach the unreached.
Love yall :)
