The 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Ecuador on April 16, 2016, left many coastal communities in rubble, the small beach town of Canoa among them. Here, just a few miles from the epicenter of the earthquake, nearly 90% of the buildings were destroyed, leaving most of the population of approximately 5,000 instantly homeless.
Among those in this dire circumstance, were the Catholic nuns of the order of Hermanas Franciscanas Misioneras de Maria Auxiliadora (Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians) whose church and residence were destroyed.
“It was something that nobody expected to have lost, in the blink of an eye.”
Even months later, the four nuns from Canoa still feel the pain of their loss since the church where the community they served could congregate was the very heart of their life.
“Everything still feels fresh to me, and it all impacts me in a very emotional way.”
Although they prayed, their hope of rebuilding the church and grounds was weak since so many people are still in desperate need of help and only limited resources are available.
“The archdiocese does not have enough resources for everyone. All this belongs to the archdiocese and they do not have enough to help us rebuild.”
“It is a dream come true for us after the earthquake. Being homeless, without a church, without catechetical rooms. And, as we have always said, ‘At the end of the tunnel you always see a light.’ I think God blessed us with this … with this offer they have made to us.”
“You could have just said: ‘We are going to build houses, we will help people, and then we will organize other things.’ But no, you saw that the most important thing to us, that would help us the most, was to lift up the material temple to God. Suddenly, we felt a great wave of spiritual relief.”
“Our people and our community are very happy. We find God everywhere, but it is true that we need a place specifically to pray and praise God.”
“The rebuilding of our church, yes, it is a material house, but it is also a symbol … it is rebuilding the church that is within each of us, the temple that is each of us, united.”
The four nuns were moved when they discovered the thread of commonality between Buddhism and Christianity, that a root aspiration is shared by both faiths.
“I was reading a little about [Master Cheng Yen’s] teachings [about] feeling compassion for people. I think that brings us together, feeling compassion and helping people.”
The dedication of Tzu Chi volunteers was also something that touched the nuns’ hearts, as they recognized its ability to motivate others and create a chain effect of love.
“With that earnestness that they have shown us, that effort to want to help our people … it motivates one to move forward. I think they are just like this presence that helps people get up despite the pain they still carry. This is called hope and it must be kept alive … people are motivated by it. It motivates me personally, it really motivates me. I think those folks who have spent some time with the volunteers, are also motivated by this great gesture, one that is so noble and so charitable”
“I was able to experience the love of God between both of our spiritual organizations which I consider to be related to each other like brothers, because love is the one that unites and conquers everything. No matter what religion, no matter what race or skin color, regardless of any differences, Tzu Chi carries on with a great love for humanity, and it is something inexplicable.”
“Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to share and coexist with those from another group of people.”
The nuns are filled with gratitude that they wish to express to Master Cheng Yen, in whom they recognize the qualities of Christian saints.
“Who was Saint Francis of Assisi? How long ago did he live? 1,200 years ago! A man seemingly poor, small, and illiterate, and look how he has inspired, and we are benefitting from 1,200 years of inspiration. I think that this woman is a saint. And when she dies, I think that they will worship her as a saint, because the saints are those that really inspire."
The dedication of Tzu Chi volunteers was also something that touched the nuns’ hearts, as they recognized its ability to motivate others and create a chain effect of love.
“She will always be in our minds and our hearts.”
“I would really like to tell her, ‘May God bless you and continue to give you life and good health.’ We really are grateful for this help that we have been given and that we will continue to receive.”
“It’s a gift from God.”
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To learn more about what’s happening in Ecuador a year after the earthquake of 2016, watch our documentary series Rebuilding With Faith.
