ten days in south america...

...and i´m finally updating my blog!!! i´m currently sitting at a local cyber (internet cafe) in arbolito, with one of the first chances to sit down / relax / clear my thoughts. a lot has been going on since our two-week in-country orientation began, so i´m going to take excerpts from my journal to possibly piece together a bit of my experience in ecuador so far.

At the Commissioning Mass, our last day in the U.S., we got crosses made by the boys at the Chicos de la Calle shelter here in Ecuador ... ``Remember to listen to Jesus!´´ --famous last words from Charles ... On a scale of 0 to 10, my nerves were probably an 8 leaving this morning ... Almost cried when we saw the new Mt Sinai and old Duran vols picking us up at the airport, SO good to see them ... got my first letter here, from DAN LOVE yayyy ... First morning went to 28 de agosto community, a neighbor showed hospitality by giving us soda ... went to Semillas afterschool program that afternoon, SO many kids! ... bid farewell to the wonderfully inspirational 2 yr vols, Danny Carolyn Tracy and Amy ... Went to Manos Abiertas afterschool program the next day, did an academic activity with the older kids ... God works in incredible ways ... 

On the way back from Chicos, we got Yugoso coco, this ice cream treat that´s packaged so its okay to eat (the old volunteers showed us so much hospitality and love!) ... visited Nuevo Mundo, what an incredible environment and opportunity .. chatted with Sida, who served us delicious crackers and cheese! ... heart-to-heart with Diana, a voice from God as to one reason why im living in AJS this year ... went to Valdivia afterschool program, did some math stuff there woo! ... Saw the face of Christ .... we had our very first Community Night - popcorn, soda and a game of fishbowl! ...

I´m going to miss the old vols, theyve been so great to give us so much knowledge, love and hospitality .... I feel right being here, in Ecuador. Maybe it´s a bit dusty, hot and far away, but it´s full of love, joy and opportunity ... ``Today´s August 7, and on the seventh day, God rested, so were going to rest too!´´ ... Things I love about today: Diet Coke, Oreos, Pinguino ice cream, relaxing, chicken, freshly squeezed OJ .... lots of time praying and talking through our worksite discernment process, esp since weve visited all the sites now ... I want to join a choir at one of the churches here, loved Mass today! ...

First Spirituality Night - we did Boundary Breaking Questions! so great, just what we needed ... all that wisdom from the old vols plus the bus route packet Jamie compiled helped us MAJORLY on the bus challenge today .... funny pictures, no one had to take a taxi, good community bonding ... now I understand bus protocol, know most of the routes, can ask how to get places ... my Spanish is already improving, I understood so much of what Soraya said today! ... starting to discern where we will be working after dinner, say prayers for us!

thank you all SO much for your prayers, emails, snail mail and love. the support means SO very much. missing and loving you all!

agape,

isabel (spanish doesn´t have the ``th´´ sound, so my ecuadorian name will be isabel!)