The Tipping Point

I read this book a couple of years ago, The Tipping Point, you might have heard of it once or twice. It is all about the momentum of change, how one small moment can spin you into something life-changing, something great.

Meet my tipping point: Homes of Hope

I know it would make sense to start from the beginning, to tell the whole story about Homes of Hope and how I crossed its path. But it seems like there is no way I could do the story justice. I'm still trying to figure out how this place, and the people I met there, are changing me and my understanding of the world. All I know is that I recognized the moment when the potential for change hit me full on.

Over lunch in her beautiful home on the beach, Aleida Mejia, one of the organizers, contributers, and all around amazing developers of Homes of Hope, was telling us about her exile from Cuba when she was only twelve years old. I listened as she recounted her early childhood in Cuba, the revolution, her family's escape to New York, and how she eventually ended up in Ecuador to do the amazing work she is doing for the natives of this country. And this thought hit me, "The example of this woman, all that she has experienced, all that she has endured, and all that she is doing now in spite of everything else, can change your life if you let it happen."

And that was it, my tipping point.

Now, I'm fired up for all that is possible. I can't wait for all that I can experience by working with this organization. And all that you who are planning a visit to Ecuador, get to experience as well. Dave and I have thought a lot about it, and we want to let you in on our plan. Everyone who makes the trip to visit us deserves to see the true life and potential that is Ecuador. Therefore, we want to give all visitors the opportunity to give one or two days of service with Homes of Hope. You never know, it could be your tipping point as well.

"Be the change you want to see in the world" - Mahatama Ghandi

Años Viejos, Pyromaniacs, and Fireworks...Oh My

I have to admit, it has been quite awhile since I have actually been awake to ring in the new year and say goodbye to the old. Dave and I have always been a bit more concerned about the eight hours of sleep necessary to enjoy life rather than seeing the ball drop. But this year...is different. It is 12:58 and the neighbor's hired band just started, there are rapid fire explosives (aka fireworks) going off in three minute intervals, and the car alarms throughout our block seem to be answering the loving call of said fireworks. There will be no eight hours to start off the year for the Richert's this time. Nothing about our experiences in Ecuador could be classified as typical, and New Year's Eve is proving to be no exception. The evening started out quite and low key, dinner at home with a movie. There were the occasional firework, but that isn't anything atypical. I was even contemplating continuing the tradition of snuggling into bed by 10:30. Before I called...

Yes or No?

A couple weeks ago, slipped in the far reaches of my mailbox, I found a note that took me back to the good ol' days of elementary school. You know what I'm talking about. Remember how you would just be sitting at your desk, one leg pumping back and forth, pencil eraser nudging your bottom lip, as you tried to puzzle out those mind-boggling multiplication tables? And then, out of the corner of your eye, you would see Andy passing a note to Melissa, who would then pass it on to Mark, who would then palm it off to you right before Mrs. Nelson turned around from the blackboard. Your name would be written all in cursive and curly-q's on the clumsily folded paper. Carefully, stealthily, you unfold the paper to find: Well, InterAmerican sent me a 'check yes or no' note, and it raised the same sensation of anxiety that those old love notes of yesterday used to inspire. Instead of the traditional, "do you like me?" question, it was the "will you continue...

Christmas in Colombia (The post is better late than never...)

As promised, here is the Amazing Richert Christmas Adventure 2008, with special guest star, Sherry Silvers. Bogota, Columbia. As you can see...this city and I were obviously made for each other. Bookstores, libraries, and coffee shops were on every block. Yes, the majority of the books were in Spanish which causes some slight difficulties, but I don't like to focus on those kind of details. I'm more of a cup half full kind of gal. Also, the city is bike crazy. There are hundreds of miles of bike lanes; we saw bike lanes throughout the city and even along the highway. They just created a bike/walking lane in the middle of the highway, incredible! They even close off some of the major streets every Sunday and holiday so people can ride their bikes through the main arteries of town without dealing with the potentially dangerous obstacle of cars. The city had me at hello. Dave found a wonderful place for us to stay that was right in the heart of the historic district of ...

Living The Good Life

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