NOTE: You are not required to tip GoFundMe. GoFundMe defaults to adding a 15% tip during donation payment. This is optional, and on top of the 2.9%+$0.30 of your donation that they already charge. You don’t have to tip anything, and you can change this tip to $0 by dragging the slider on the page all the way to the left.
NOTE: Using GoFundMe saves me time and energy that I can then give to principle activities. GoFundMe provides behind the scenes organization that I would have to do myself if everyone donated individually, taking my time and effort away from my principle activities. Please consider the GoFundMe fee a replacement for paying someone to manage the fundraiser.
NOTE: You can make a free transfer outside of GoFundMe. If you have PayPal (jeromeekiley@gmail.com) or Venmo (@Jerome-Kiley-1) in the US, these methods are free transfers. You can send me a personal gift, and I will add your anonymous gift to the GoFundMe’s fundraiser list of donations. However, you won’t receive the updates I post on GoFundMe.
Update 2/7
Hi everyone,
I hope the winter is settling in safely for you. We keep lights on in the winter to shine in the darkness, and hopefully you continue to find the lights in life that carry you forward.
I want to share with you the good news of what has happened with the remaining $755 we had from the fundraiser. (And I'll continue to update as needed on this webpage.)
On January 17, I did end up sending another $350 to Isidro and Karina to support their care of Zoe. They are very grateful. And a few weeks ago, Zoe unfortunately had an emergency hospital visit to replace a damaged G-tube that enters her stomach. She's better now, and support like ours is a big help.
Also, 7-year-old Rafaela is recommended for heart surgery as soon as possible, and thankfully the local community is having a fundraiser in the first week of March. I was able to speak with her mother, as well as the community president, to arrange for the delivery of our remaining $405, to join in with the community fundraiser, and to help the family in the very short term. She has been recommended to a private doctor far away in Guayaquil, and has a long trip to bring Rafaela for an appointment and a variety of tests next Tuesday. So this support will come at just the right time!
I'll continue to update on the webpage, and there will be plans later this year to join in for more support for the local community. For now, I thank each of you for all of your generosity, and may it give you in kind an experience of God's closeness throughout this season. God bless, and thank you very much,
-Jerome
Update 1/12
Hi everyone,
I hope the New Year has begun well for you. We've had a bout with Covid around here, so it's been a little slow following up, as the work year has started full steam on top of it! Patience seems to be the theme, and in the news we hear sadly about natural tragedies and wars that call for patience and action, and our love and giving within our own sphere of influence can contribute to the light that "shines in the darkness" and patiently overcomes.
Once again, a big, big thank you to everyone who has contributed to the fundraiser. Amazingly, we've finished with $1,455, more than doubling the goal of $700 goal! Again, I appreciate everyone's generosity so much, and friends in Ecuador do, too.
I'm including here an update of each of the areas of support that the money is reaching.
I'm also working out the final plans for the $755 over the goal. Having been in contact with the family of 7-year-old Rafaela, it looks like things might take a while to happen (February might be a time where her mother begins dialogue with a charity organization). So, my thought is to pass along another $350 to Isidro and Karina in these days in January (1/17 update: I did follow through with that, and have now posted that receipt here.), and then hold the other $405 until I know more in February about Rafaela. If something concrete doesn't develop for her family in that timeframe, I'd then pass along the remaining money again to Isidro and Karina, as their monthly bills for the care of Zoe are over $350. We could then think down the road of something separate for Rafaela and her family.
The Daycare
The spending of the $150 still hasn't been worked out, and I'm anticipating something this month.
Zoe Ortiz
Isidro and Karina sent over more photos. I've sent them the first names of people who have made gifts, so they know a little of who is behind the gifts they're receiving. Zoe continues to be stable these days, and her big brother Liam is as cute as ever!
Liam in the middle with his blue glasses!
The church
I've sent over the $200 to a friend who helps in making the cash transference, and it's been handed over to the local priest. It will be included in covering costs for operations, including long-needed maintenance. I'll post any updates later on about any specifics I can find out.
In this spirit of patience, I want to thank you all again very much, and again offer my hope that this new year bring you an experience of God's closeness that you've been a part of giving. God bless,
-Jerome
Update 12/30
Hi everyone,
Once again, my best wishes during this Christmas season. As a new year dawns, it can be a good time to reflect on things.
Another big, big thank you to everyone who has contributed to the fundraiser. Amazingly, we've gone even further past the $700 goal and received $1405 in gifts! I appreciate everyone's generosity so much, and friends in Ecuador do, too. I'm working on a plan for the money over the goal, and I'm including here an update of each of the areas of support that the money is reaching.
The Daycare
As I mentioned before, the $150 for the daycare center didn't arrive in time for the Christmas program, and the center will keep me updated with what they are going to use the money for. I'll continue to update this webpage.
Zoe Ortiz
Isidro and Karina sent over a family photo, including photos of Zoe and Liam, their 4-year-old son. I'm sending them the first names of people who have made gifts, so they know a little of who is behind the $350 gift they've received.
As mentioned before, Zoe is more stable these days, and the family is grateful for her and all the support too.
I’ve known Isidro for about 10 years now, and have lived with the family while in Mindo in 2022 and 2023. I remember the day that Zoe, who showed no signs of any significant problems up til then, was first brought to a medical appointment, as I was in the taxi with the family going to the same town. That day turned into a nightmare, as she began having seizures, and everything heading straight downhill. It’s really almost a miracle that Zoe is still alive, and also the the family has been able to survive. I admire their dedication and struggle handling this hard reality.
I remember the day because it was also my sister Lisa’s birthday. Lisa suffered severe brain damage at birth, and lived for almost 28 years in the same state that Zoe finds herself. So, I’m very drawn to support the family in memory and in the name of my own sister and family.
Isidro and Karina, with their daughter Zoe and son Liam
Kari and Zoe
Liam is growing fast! He and I are buds!
The church
I've sent over the $200 to a friend who helps in making the cash transference, and it should be put into the hands of the church representative in a few days. People are grateful, and I'll post an update.
Possibilities for the extra support
I'm considering what to do with the extra money gifted ($705 so far). In addition to potentially supporting Zoe and her family some more, I've followed up with the family soon-to-be-7-year-old Rafaela, who has a long array of long-standing medical issues that the family doesn't have the resources to address.
Rafaela’s medical attention has been on the back burner since the pandemic. It was known then that she needs open heart surgery, or her heart will overexpand early in her life, and she’ll die. In order to do that, certain preliminary surgeries were required, including dental. Her family is poor: Arsenio has a minimum wage job, and they have a small piece of land for growing a few things. He and Janeth have 4 daughters, and were one of the families who lost their entire home in the 2014 landslides. (It was in supporting them then that I got to know the family more closely.) Some say they should just give up, stop hoping to spend money on her care, and just accept that she will die early. But Janeth has admirably and consistently sought to find a way for Rafaela’s medical attention, with finances and their distant location from Quito major obstacles.
In talking recently, she shared with me that people are getting a little tired of supporting them. The care is also very much behind, and becoming more complicated. Rafaela had some minor dental surgery a year or so ago. But, she needs surgery on the tear canals for both eyes. She also needs ventilation tubes surgically inserted into both of her ears (in the past two weeks, she’s become practically deaf from inflammation and infection in both ears.) And before all that, she needs open heart surgery. There’s a medical appointment in January to talk about next steps, and hopefully that comes to fruition. She is in the public healthcare track, so the tradeoff for affording the surgery (free, I believe), is the long, long wait through cancelations and priority to others. There are also genetic and other expensive tests that medical professionals are advising. And it all falls by the wayside, and things for Rafaela are worsening.
Rafaela at her 6th birthday in January 2024
Janeth is looking for help from a foundation that she came across. We are in contact, and I’d like to augment any support that she can find, if possible. The community president has limited community fundraisers in the last year, so that’s another obstacle. But I will keep you all updated what comes about….
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"Give, and it will be given to you." (Lk 6:38) In this spirit, I want to thank you all again very much, and hope this new year begins with the experience of God's closeness that you've been a part of giving. God bless,
-Jerome
Update 12/27
Hi everyone,
Firstly, my best wishes that in the mix of hectic busyness and tranquility, and some mix of joy and sadness, Christmas has been a special time for you.
Once again, a big thank you to everyone who has already contributed to the fundraiser. Amazingly, we've gone far past the $700 goal and received $1200 in gifts! I appreciate everyone's generosity so much, and friends in Ecuador do, too.
Our first $150 has already gone to the daycare center. Although the money transference didn't get there in time for the Christmas program, the center is in discussion of using the money to develop the center with badly needed supplies. They are keeping me updated with what they are going to use the money for, and I'll continue to update this webpage.
I've passed along the $350 to Isidro and Karina for their daughter Zoe. They're very grateful, and I talked to them just after Christmas. Zoe is more stable these days, and they're grateful for her and all the support too. It's been a long road! I'll post more details on the website.
I'll send the $200 soon to the church, and post another update afterwards.
I'm considering what to do with the extra money gifted ($400 so far), and in addition to supporting Zoe some more, I've following up previous contacts about another young girl who has long-standing needs for medical attention, Rafaela. I'll be following up with more updates.
I just want to also repeat the request to please consider if you know anyone who might want to make a small monthly donation to the Ortiz family, to support the constant care of Zoe.
Thank you all again very much! I'm aiming to send to the people who've received support all the names of people who have given, so they can at least know that about you. As I like to say, I'm really just the bridge, and each other and our relationships are the eternal gift we're given. I hope we each find some contact with that this Christmas.
-Jerome
Update 12/23
Hi everyone,
A big thank you again to everyone who has already contributed to the fundraiser. We're already up to $595 of the $700 goal! As Christmas is arriving, I want to thank you for following so far, and firstly wish you a peaceful time in what can be hectic days!
We only have $105 left to raise, so I will keep the fundraiser open over into the New Year. In preparation for Christmas, when we share, it opens the way for God to come into us and act and move. Please feel free to share this fundraiser with others, as it can open up surprising possibilities!
I'm still waiting to hear back about the Christmas gifts and the $150 we gifted for the children in the daycare, I hope to hear more today. These days are busy for everyone, as the Christmas novena in the village is in full swing, and the fundraiser for the church was this weekend, too. I will post more in the next update.
I have the next $350 ready to send to the family of Zoe Ortiz, and aim to send that before Christmas. The final $200 will go to the local church.
I just want to also repeat the request to please consider if you know anyone who might want to make a small monthly donation to the Ortiz family, to support the constant care of Zoe.
Thank you all again very much! In these last few days before Christmas, I hope you experience God's closeness, through the "yes" of someone generous like you!
-Jerome
Update 12/19
Hi everyone,
Thank you to everyone who has already contributed to the fundraiser in many ways, including sharing it with others. That always makes such a big difference and is so much appreciated, so please feel free to share with anyone you think might want to participate in the act of community.
We're already up to $520 of the $700 goal! I'm always impressed by people's generosity, so thank you to everyone who has given a gift!
I've already sent $150 to the daycare in Magdalena, and they have their Christmas program tomorrow. The next $350, which we already have gifted, goes to the family of Zoe Ortiz. I'll send that along as soon as it clears the bank. Meanwhile, the final $200 will go to the church.
I'll include more updates as they come!
In the meantime, please consider if you know anyone who might want to make a small monthly donation to the Ortiz family, to support the constant care of Zoe.
Thank you all again very much, and I hope you feel like you are a part of the communal experience of giving and receiving.
-Jerome
Bring God Close at Christmas
I work with immigrants in Boston, and whenever I explain to them that when I'm here in the States, I miss people in Ecuador, and when I'm in Ecuador, I miss people here in the States, I get universal head nods. We all know what I'm talking about. There are times in life when we feel so close and also so distant from who we want to be. Or we can feel so close and at the same time so distant from those we love. Or the same with the circumstances that make us feel at home.
What has helped me is the realization that no matter how I might feel separations in life, God is always just one step away. He's never far. And that is the message of Christmas: God is with us. God came down from the comfort zone and became one of us, to be always with us in everything, especially life's most difficult moments. And you can help to make that a concrete reality for others.
I'm Jerome, a lay missionary who's carried out over 25 fundraisers in over ten years in Ecuador, in collaboration with local communities and institutions. I’m in the States this Christmas season, and yet you can join me here in the States to be close by collaborating with local communities and institutions in Ecuador:
A local childcare facility is looking for Christmas gifts for 35 children
A young family is struggling to meet all the needs to provide for their 2-year-old daughter who has suffered severe brain-damage
The local church is hoping for support for its operations
I’m looking to raise a total of $700 to help in each of these situations, and possibly more. Would you like to join with me and local communities here, and be a part of offering the very special gift of bringing God close from a distance?
Please consider a gift at GoFundMe, and come check out all the details below:
1. Christmas gifts for children in the daycare: Centro de Desarrollo Infantil "Magdalena" ($150)
We have several times in past Christmas’s supported getting gifts for the children in the daycare center in Magdalena, which serves the children in Chontal, Magdalena, and a few smaller locations nearby.
In years past, Tania Nogales, who was previously the leader of our youth group in Chontal, worked in the daycare and was my contact person. This year, Lili Chuquimarca is in her place. I’ve worked with Lili on a number of small efforts in the church and the community (including in the start of the youth group), and in her role as the president of Chontal last year. She also participated in the English class I offered online last year. As with most everyone that I speak about from there, I know her whole family and extended family, and I trust her.
There are 35 children enrolled this year, so I’m looking to raise $150 to contribute to the Christmas candy bags and gifts.
Here is the official letter from the daycare:
2. Support LITTLE ZOE AND HER FAMILY ($350+)
The family that manages a hotel where I sometimes stay in Mindo, Ecuador has run into a nightmare scenario for parents: a sudden, unknown brain damaging injury to their 9-month-old daughter. Little Zoe is now 2 years old, and it’s been a shocking roller coaster ride for her parents Isidro and Karina, and her older brother Liam.
After a year of trying to find out what happened to her, Zoe remains in an undeveloped state with irreversible brain damage. She is diagnosed with permanent and irreversible aftereffects of arrested development in all basic life activities, epilepsy, incontinence, quadriplegia, and gastronomic feeding.
(I have a special connection to her and the family, not only by friendship, but also accompanying them on that very first day of crisis, which was own sister Lisa’s birthday. Lisa lived all of her 27 years in the same state that Zoe finds herself in now. So, I feel a close connection to the whole family.)
On top of that reality, Zoe’s monthly care expenses are very high: $335 per month. Considering the minimum wage in Ecuador is about 5-6 times less than, say, in Massachusetts, this would be the equivalent to about $1800 per month out of pocket!
The family has received support in many ways, including from the hotel business owner, international friends, and especially the local people of Mindo. We’ve assisted with organization and financial contributions as well.
Now, I’m hoping to look for what people are willing to join with to offer some support in two ways:
a one-time gift of $350. In GoFundMe, please click on the Give once tab to contribute
a monthly gift of $25-50 from willing participators. In GoFundMe, please click on the Monthly tab to contribute. (Click here for more about monthly donations on GoFundMe.)
Below are the daily medication schedule and the monthly costs for Zoe.
3. Support for the local church in Chontal ($200)
The local church in Chontal has a few fiestas each year, and around Christmas time, the community looks to gather some resources to help support the church community and its structures. Before Christmas, they’ve started a fiesta of Jesús de Gran Poder, which is local to Ecuador, as a way to raise funds. I’m looking to contribute $200.
Below is the official invitation letter from the fiesta directors, the Enriquez Ruiz family, and the parish priest, Pd Moises. We all have a long history together (and Tania Nogales is part of the family).
Thank you for considering supporting bringing God close in Ecuador!
I’m always glad to hear from you. Feel free to leave a comment below.
NOTE: You are not required to tip GoFundMe. GoFundMe defaults to adding a 15% tip during donation payment. This is optional, and on top of the 2.9%+$0.30 of your donation that they already charge. You don’t have to tip anything, and you can change this tip to $0 by dragging the slider on the page all the way to the left.
NOTE: Using GoFundMe saves me time and energy that I can then give to principle activities. GoFundMe provides behind the scenes organization that I would have to do myself if everyone donated individually, taking my time and effort away from my principle activities. Please consider the GoFundMe fee a replacement for paying someone to manage the fundraiser.
NOTE: You can make a free transfer outside of GoFundMe. If you have PayPal (jeromeekiley@gmail.com) or Venmo (@Jerome-Kiley-1) in the US, these methods are free transfers. You can send me a personal gift, and I will add your anonymous gift to the GoFundMe’s fundraiser list of donations. However, you won’t receive the updates I post on GoFundMe.