Many of you have been asking about specifics for mail (and rightfully so!). Here is a good overall summary:
1. Address:
Beth Awalt o Megan Radek (include both)
Rostro de Cristo
Casilla 09-01-1024
Guayaquil, Ecuador
2. It costs 98 cents to send a postcard or a letter under an ounce. Letter under 2 oz, $1.76; letter under 3 oz, $2.54. Most letters only weigh an ounce (that's your regular 44-cent stamp coverage -- again, it's 98 cents for mailing to Ecuador). Beyond that, just write "FIRST CLASS MAIL, INTERNATIONAL" somewhere near the stamp, so the post office sorts it correctly! No other special stamps or anything needed.
3. Please NO boxes, Fed Ex, DHL or UPS packages, and nothing over 4 pounds! Many of these companies don't even deliver to Guayaquil, and we'd have to pay a lot of customs fees for these items. They say letters or soft padded envelopes are best (or postcards I assume)!
4. It takes about a week for letters to arrive from the U.S., a bit longer for padded envelopes. We pick up mail once a week in Guayaquil - and they say it's pretty reliable!
5. We'll be able to send our outgoing mail (with American postage) with volunteer groups as they depart, for them to drop in a mailbox when they get home -- a simple and cost-effective way to send lots of snail mail to friends at home without dipping too much into our very small monthly stipend.
Check out the USPS website on mail to Ecuador, if you have more questions! ....or you can just ask at the post office :) I got a ton of cards and stationery last week, so i'm definitely excited to keep in touch via snail mail!
Summary: to send me a normal card, letter or postcard, put 98 cents worth of stamps on and write "First Class Mail, International" on the envelope, then drop it in a regular mailbox!
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