JULY 2007 UPDATE

“On a scale of one to awesome, how would you rank Manna Project?” was one of the questions I was asked at the MPI Benefit Dinner in Denver, CO on July 28th. Trying to be as realistic and honest as possible, I replied, “Way better than awesome.” I only speak the truth. Manna Project IS way better than awesome.

The benefit was a huge success. Hosted at Crestmoor Pool, about 60 people attended, nearly everyone brought donated school supplies or sports equipment for MPI, and in total we raised over $3,000. Zak flew in from NY for the event, John cooked paella, Annie set up a beautiful silent auction and I made a few pitchers of “Abbie’s knock-your-socks-off sangria.” In addition to a slideshow and presentation, we also set up candles, red tablecloths, played South American music to set the mood… and managed to have a lot of fun in the process.

The month of July has flown by and it’s hard to believe that the Ecuador site will be launched in about 30 days. Our Ecuador team has returned from their adventures around the world: Hilary is now home from Nicaragua, Craig is back from Spain, Seth has returned from his time in Taiwan, and I arrived home from Kenya about two weeks ago. And just when you thought we’d all be in the same country at the same time, Mark packs his bags (for 2 years!) and will head off to Ecuador in a few days to get things started.

We’re counting down one month until Ecuador- so while we get everything set to go, please send us happy visa thoughts (we’re in the process of applying) and wish us luck… because the next update you receive will be sent from Quito!

Take care and until next month,

Abbie Foust


Annie, John, me and Zak at MPI Benefit Dinner in Denver.

p.s. Our apologies: Last month, another organization mistakenly added the MPI Ecuador listserv to their own. We have corrected the problem, apologize for any unsolicited emails you may have received, and promise to do better.

If you'd like to find out more about that organization, check out www.studentmovementusa.org.

JUNE 2007 UPDATE

Green grass, barbecues, sunshine, conference calls and fund raising letters means that it's officially summer time for the MPI Ecuador team. As our departure for Ecuador comes nearer and nearer, we're all excitedly preparing (applying for grants, sending out fund raising letters, publicizing, etc.) and of course finding time to do some other really fun things on the side.

In early June, John, Luke and I met up in Colorado and hiked a 14,000 ft. mountain called Quandary. This was the beginning of what we've named the "Fun-in-the-Mountains Committee." In addition to testing our physical endurance we realized a few things: (1) that John is insanely in shape, (2) oxygen at 14,000 ft is essentially non-existent, (3) mountain goats are beautiful, (4) Zak (the New Yorker) didn't know what a "14er" was, and (5) we'll definitely be repeating the mountain adventures in Ecuador and educating Zak on mountain-lingo.


Luke, me and a mountain goat (see to the left?) hiking Quandry in Colorado.

In terms of fund raising, John, Zak and Craig submitted the Kellogg Foundation Grant application (we'll hear within a few months). Also, everyone (yes, this includes YOU) is invited to attend a Manna Project Benefit Dinner on July 28th in Denver, Colorado hosted by John, Annie and I. Email Annie at abachmanster@gmail.com if you're going to be in the area and would like to join us.

Mark will be headed down to Ecuador on August 3rd so he can get to know UBECI (our partner organization) and their programs before the rest of us arrive the first week in September. Our first month in Ecuador will be spent at Guayasamín language school , where we will have the opportunity to live with Ecuadorian families and take both salsa dancing lessons and South American cooking classes. Prepare to be dazzled on the dance floor and in the kitchen when we all return from Ecuador.

Meanwhile, our Ecuador team is spread all over the world. Seth is traveling in Taiwan, Craig is leading a language trip in Spain, Hilary is with MPI in Nicaragua, Zak and Austen have 'real jobs' in NYC, Mark and Luke are down south in Louisiana, John and Annie are hiking mountains in Colorado, Stephanie is working hard in Houston and I am leading a Vanderbilt service trip to Kenya.

Thanks again for your support, and we'll be in touch again in a month!

Abbie



Part of the Ecuador crew on top of 14,000 ft mountain, Quandry, in Colorado.

Manna Project International Ecuador

We made this video after traveling to Ecuador in January for the feasibility study.

FEASIBILITY STUDY, January 2007

On January 11th, 2007 four other MPI volunteers and I boarded a plane to Quito, Ecuador, for eleven days. The goal? To start a new Manna site in Ecuador.

I'd never been to South America before, and was taken aback at how beautiful it was to fly into Quito. Long and narrow, Quito is sandwiched between the two cordilleros of the Andes Mountains. Approaching Quito, it's easy to start dreaming of hiking Cotopaxi and Pichincha (two huge, dormant volcanoes close to Quito), considering that from the center of the city all you have to do is look up to see their ominous, snow covered peaks. Women walk around in traditional Incan attire with babies strapped to their backs using colorful, hand-embroidered cloths. Northern Quito boasts modern buildings, clean streets and an impressive infrastructure that helps business flourish. Southern Quito, on the other hand, is home to great poverty. The dichotomy is striking. For MPI, it means access to resources and communities of real need all in the same geographical proximity.

The days were full and wonderfully exhausting, as we spent the week networking, locating a community where we could work and finding a partner organization. I personally found solace in the brief hot-water showers at Casa Victoria (a huge treat because we don't have hot water in Nicaragua at the Manna house) and the occasional cup of coffee from Café Oro, the best coffee I've ever tasted.


Highlights of the trip:

1. We found several potential sites. Our favorites are a quiet little village south of Quito called Santa Isabel, and San Roque, an urban site in the heart of Quito.

2. The boys from the trip will eat anything, including hot chillies that will make you cry and guinea pig. Yes, guinea pig (they say it tastes like chicken).

3. The organization that seems to fit best with our needs as a partner is a small community-based organization in Santa Isabel called UBECI. UBECI is looking to expand the programs they already run - which is where we come in.

4. We'll begin in early September, 2007 (woo hoo!).

So what are we up to now? After finalizing our Ecuador team in early April (it will be an amazing group of 9), we are busy solidifying partnerships in Ecuador. We're working on getting our visas, continuing to network with our contacts in Quito, researching Spanish schools, getting in shape to hike Cotopaxi and fundraising, fundraising, fundraising. And I'm counting down the days when I can get my hands on some more Café Oro coffee. On behalf of the MPI Ecuador team, we're pumped, and we look forward to keeping you updated on our progress.

Abbie