tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73692731205765905842024-03-05T07:14:29.821-08:00Manna Project International Ecuador UpdatesJackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02197009724577599748noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369273120576590584.post-16617889581744438412009-12-08T18:53:00.000-08:002009-12-08T21:42:38.799-08:00July-December 2009 (it's a big one!)<span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Preface to the MPI Ecuador Update (if you have a Facebook account):</b></span><p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Manna Project is currently a part of a voting competition through Facebook and Chase Community Giving.<span> </span>Chase Bank will be awarding $25,000 to the top 100 non-profit organizations with</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">the most votes on Facebook (if we win, $5,000 will go directly to our programs in Ecuador).<span> </span>MPI is currently in position to win one of the</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">top 100 spots, but with </span><span style="font-size:100%;">only </span><span style="font-size:100%;">two days left </span><span style="font-size:100%;">in the competition, </span><span style="font-size:100%;">we don</span><span style="font-size:100%;">’</span><span style="font-size:100%;">t want to lose this po</span><span style="font-size:100%;">sition.<span> </span>W</span><span style="font-size:100%;">e need YOUR HELP!<span> </span>Please logon to Facebook and vote for us through the links listed below.<span> </span>Voting ends THIS Friday, December 11<sup>th</sup>, so be sure to vote soon!<span> </span>Every vote counts!</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">Here’s what to do:</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span>1)<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Become a “fan” of Chase Giving <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ChaseCommunityGiving" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span>2)<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Vote for MANNA PROJECT <a href="http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/221233" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">Muchisimas gracias!<span> </span>We can’t do it without you!</span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8uJ5-q63I/AAAAAAAABCk/chMRvuDiJV8/s1600-h/DSC_0334.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8uJ5-q63I/AAAAAAAABCk/chMRvuDiJV8/s400/DSC_0334.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413096024840006514" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Let's kick the competition! (Sarah and Bibi duke it out on the trampoline.) </span></span></p><p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>And onto the Ecuador Update...</b></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">¡Saludos de Ecuador!</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">Welcome to our first general update of the 2009-2010 Program Director year!<span> </span>We hope it finds you well and in good post-Thanksgiving/pre-holiday spirits.<span> </span>For those of you who are familiar with the Ecuador updates of the past, things have changed just a bit.<span> </span><a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuador-team#jackie" target="_blank">Jackie Weidman</a> and I (<a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuador-team#sarah" target="_blank">Sarah Scott</a>), the co-PR people around here, have decided to put an increased focus on our <a href="http://www.openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Daily Life Blog</a> in hopes that it will give those who are interested a better and more in-depth look at what’s going on in Ecuador from day-to-day.<span> </span>In light of that, we will be writing fewer general update letters throughout the year, so you’ll only be getting e-mails from us every once in awhile.<span> </span>And for those of you who are unfamiliar with the Ecuador updates, welcome!<span> </span>Thank you for your interest in MPI Ecuador.<span> </span>We hope this e-mail will provide you with a broad overview of what we have accomplished since our arrival in July and the outgoing PDs’ departure in early August.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8vZT_KjII/AAAAAAAABDE/0346Y5F6v98/s1600-h/bw+group.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8vZT_KjII/AAAAAAAABDE/0346Y5F6v98/s400/bw+group.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413097389031066754" border="0" /></a></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Team Ecuador 2009-2010</span><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;">Our gratitude goes out to the old PDs, as their hard work allowed us to inherit a beautiful <a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/2009/03/photographs-from-grand-opening.html" target="_blank">library and teen center</a>, a solid line-up of educational programs, and a positive reputation in Rumiloma, the community in which we work.<span> </span>Since they left, we have worked hard to further develop and expand our educational curriculum, scout out potential new projects, and offer several opportunities through our library – all of which are helping to turn our library space into a more inclusive community center.<span> </span>We have added several sections to previously existing programs, such as Adult and Children’s English, in addition to beginning new programs like Natural Science and Geography.<span> </span>We are continuing to work and strengthen our relationships with a handful of local organizations, including the Aliñambi School and the local co-op, Esperanza y Progreso del Valle (EPV).<span> </span>And we are looking forward to the future, with several exciting projects in the works, including creating a nutrition program for students at Aliñambi, developing a preventive health information center, using our newly certified business class instructors to teach business courses to community members, building a kitchen on the floor above the library and starting a nutritional cooking course.<span> </span>(For more specific details about our programs, please reference the separate sections below.)</span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8rdgH_wUI/AAAAAAAABCU/fE6ANQiK50c/s1600-h/DSC_0455.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8rdgH_wUI/AAAAAAAABCU/fE6ANQiK50c/s400/DSC_0455.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413093062962299202" border="0" /></a></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Haley and Gisela during Summer Camp</span><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;">It’s hard to believe how much has happened since July, and it’s equally exciting to think about what we will accomplish in the next eight months.<span> </span>Thank you for your continued support of Manna Project International Ecuador.<span> </span>We could not be here without you.<span> </span>If you would like more anecdotal, day-to-day updates, please visit our <a href="http://www.openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Daily Life Blog</a>.<span> </span>And if you would like to see the accompanying photos to this Ecuador Update, please click <a href="http://mpiecuador.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.<span> </span>Have a wonderful rest of the year and a very happy New Year!</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">Sincerely,</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">Sarah and Jackie (and the rest of <a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/2009/10/que-pasa.html" target="_blank">Team Ecuador</a>)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">Co-Public Relations Chairs</span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8uKr39FaI/AAAAAAAABC0/xdxn3pxfa1s/s1600-h/DSC_0076-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8uKr39FaI/AAAAAAAABC0/xdxn3pxfa1s/s400/DSC_0076-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413096038233609634" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">On our first group retreat (during the 7-hour hike...)</span><br /></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Detailed Programmatic Updates:</b></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">The nine of us are working on different projects, based on personal interests, to further our mission of using the asset-based model of community development in order to help create sustainable and holistic change in our community.<span> </span>Project areas range from managing the Library/Teen Center to developing programs related to agriculture and environment… with a little bit of everything in between.<span> </span>Below you’ll find more specific rundown of what we’ve been working on since July.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8oG9HOh-I/AAAAAAAABBM/m1fO9ll0s9s/s1600-h/IMG_4116.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8oG9HOh-I/AAAAAAAABBM/m1fO9ll0s9s/s400/IMG_4116.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413089377071826914" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Krysta, Sarah and Lori (MPI Executive Director) goofing around on a hike</span><br /></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><u>Library/Teen Center</u></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">Both the library and the teen center, run by <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuador-team#jackie" target="_blank">Jackie Weidman</a>, <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuador-team#mike" target="_blank">Mike Gabrys</a>, and <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuador-team#shawn" target="_blank">Shawn Fagan</a>, have been flourishing since they opened in March 2009.<span> </span>In August, we helped run <a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/2009/08/faces-of-summer-camp.html" target="_blank">summer camp programs</a> for both <i>jovenes </i>(teens) and <i>niños</i> (children), which helped introduce us to the youth in the community and begin the transition from last year’s PDs.<span> </span>Soon thereafter we began classes in addition to reconstructing the library set-up.<span> </span>Some of our new features include:</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:100%;" ><span>·<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">A reorganized library space to encourage more reading</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:100%;" ><span>·<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Weekly internet scavenger hunt <i>fichas</i> (worksheets)</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:100%;" ><span>·<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">More grant searches to increase funds for educational materials and additional furniture</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:100%;" ><span>·<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">An improved electronic check-out system for library books</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:100%;" ><span>·<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Improving hygiene education for the kids by requiring hand-washing and teeth-brushing upon entering the library</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">The <a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/2009/09/todays-guest-blog-was-written-by-mr.html" target="_blank">Teen Center</a> continues to thrive by offering several favorite opportunities such as Friday movie nights and teen-organized parties.<span> </span>Additionally, Mike and Shawn have introduced their ideas by reorganizing the space to encourage more personal interaction, turning off the video games for Thursday Game Days, and by stocking the center full of brand new board games.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8vZz_7f1I/AAAAAAAABDM/VJGD65E9lP0/s1600-h/bw+bibi+and+kids.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8vZz_7f1I/AAAAAAAABDM/VJGD65E9lP0/s400/bw+bibi+and+kids.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413097397624209234" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Bibi reads to kids in the library</span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8rddrkiuI/AAAAAAAABCM/B4MAkXuAXeE/s1600-h/DSC_0538.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8rddrkiuI/AAAAAAAABCM/B4MAkXuAXeE/s400/DSC_0538.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413093062306204386" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Haley, Shawn and Sonia check out the fireworks during 10 de agosto celebrations in Quito</span><br /></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><u>English</u></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">Our English classes, which are run in the third floor space above the library, have seen increased and consistent attendance in comparison to years past.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:100%;" ><span>·<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Adult English, taught twice weekly by <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuador-team#chet" target="_blank">Chet Polson</a>, <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuador-team#krysta" target="_blank">Krysta Peterson</a>, and <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuador-team#haley" target="_blank">Haley Booe</a>, is just finishing its second round of classes.<span> </span>They have high standards for their students, as they are taught new vocabulary and grammar each class.<span> </span>The <i>profes</i> work to make class more exciting and applicable by adding different elements such as the song of the day, where students learn new vocabulary by listening to a popular song in English.<span> </span>Chet, Krysta and Haley<i> </i>are looking forward to starting both a beginner and an intermediate course in January, and are hoping to see several returning students advance to the next level.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:100%;" ><span>·<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">The <a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/2009/10/app-lays-banan-os-and-grap-ays-welcome.html" target="_blank">Children’s English class</a> saw an enrollment of over 20 students in mid-September and has since split into two classes, to more effectively teach to the students’ varying levels.<span> </span><a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuador-team#jackie" target="_blank">Jackie Weidman</a> and <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuador-team#shawn" target="_blank">Shawn Fagan</a> teach the advanced class (formerly taught by <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuador-team#dana" target="_blank">Dana Conway</a>, who returned to the States in late October), while <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuador-team#sarah" target="_blank">Sarah Scott</a> teaches the beginners.<span> </span>The main goal for Children’s English has been to bring an increased level of consistency to the class, in hopes that students would learn and retain more than in the past.<span> </span>This has been accomplished by providing a more structured syllabus and class schedule, both of which have been phenomenally successful.<span> </span>Attendance has remained high, and we’ve already had several inquiries about when classes will resume in January.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:100%;" ><span>·<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Jackie and Krysta started a Natural Science class, in conjunction with Children’s English, which takes place every Friday.<span> </span>Students have covered several topics ranging from <a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/2009/10/have-you-ever-tried-to-make-homemade.html" target="_blank">fossils</a> to <a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/2009/11/ready-set-explode.html" target="_blank">volcanoes.</a><span> </span>The class has become so popular that it will be splitting from Children’s English to become its own program, along with Geography, in January.</span></p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><p style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8oHfmUO3I/AAAAAAAABBU/WR9NqbAgTnI/s1600-h/IMG_0601.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8oHfmUO3I/AAAAAAAABBU/WR9NqbAgTnI/s400/IMG_0601.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413089386329029490" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Basic Children's English learning the names of different fruits in English</span><br /></p><p style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8uJVirfLI/AAAAAAAABCc/KpUW9Y08-hc/s1600-h/DSC_0386.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8uJVirfLI/AAAAAAAABCc/KpUW9Y08-hc/s400/DSC_0386.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413096015058926770" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >Ivan and Emelia, two Children's English students have a serious chat during Summer Camp</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><u>Art</u></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/2009/10/just-typical-tuesday.html" target="_blank">Art class</a> is in its second year of existence, and although none of us are budding artists, we wanted to continue this popular, creativity-evoking class.<span> </span><a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuador-team#chet" target="_blank">Chet Polson</a> and <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuador-team#sonia" target="_blank">Sonia Patel</a> tag-team this class, which is offered twice a week.<span> </span>They have chosen month-long themes to tie together different projects, which range from Animal Month (September) to Shapes Month (October).<span> </span>Different projects have included making mobiles, rain sticks, and expressive collages.<span> </span>Art class allows Rumiloma’s youth an opportunity for a creative outlet, which oftentimes is overlooked in the Ecuadorian education system.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8oIOmkYuI/AAAAAAAABBk/JReg_NsLoFM/s1600-h/IMG_0557.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8oIOmkYuI/AAAAAAAABBk/JReg_NsLoFM/s400/IMG_0557.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413089398946554594" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Wendi focuses on her project during art class</span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8yULlKzHI/AAAAAAAABDU/3v1xOK_MAjI/s1600-h/DSC_0980.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8yULlKzHI/AAAAAAAABDU/3v1xOK_MAjI/s400/DSC_0980.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413100599410084978" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Profe Chet gets a make-over by some of his art students</span><br /></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><u>Health</u></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">Since roughly half of the current PDs have an interest in health, it’s no surprise that the last 5 months have seen a lot of production in the health realm.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:100%;" ><span>·<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">In August, our joint-run <a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/2009/09/clinic-worth-fighting-for.html" target="_blank">clinic weekend</a> with the Aliñambi school and partner non-profit, Healthechildren, was a huge success thanks in large part to the detailed planning by <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuador-team#krysta" target="_blank">Krysta Peterson</a>.<span> </span>In only two days doctors were able to see over 130 patients, while only charging $1 per visit.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:100%;" ><span>·<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">The <a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/2009/09/balancing-act.html" target="_blank">Women’s Exercise Class</a>, run by <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuador-team#haley" target="_blank">Haley Booe</a>, has seen a huge jump in attendance since moving the class from Rumiloma’s Casa Barrial to the third floor space above our library.<span> </span>Since the move, Haley’s class has seen an average attendance of about 10 women.<span> </span>Class is offered three times per week, with a different exercise focus for each class including tae-bo, aerobics, and yoga.<span> </span>Additionally, Haley and the Health PDs are looking forward to starting a nutritional cooking class in conjunction with Women’s Exercise.<span> </span>They are currently fundraising to support the construction of a kitchen in the third floor space.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:100%;" ><span>·<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Our relationship with the Ministry of Health has been strengthened substantially since our arrival in July due to <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuador-team#shawn" target="_blank">Shawn Fagan’s</a> efforts.<span> </span>Along with the Sangolquí Hospital, she has helped coordinate weekly shadowing sessions between each of the 5 Health PDs and doctors in the surrounding area.<span> </span>Shawn, Krysta and Sonia shadow physicians in the hospital, while Sarah and Haley shadow physicians in the <i>campo</i> (rural area) one morning per week.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:100%;" ><span>·<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Our goal of opening a preventive health information center is progressing slowly but surely.<span> </span><a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuador-team#sonia" target="_blank">Sonia Patel</a> and <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuador-team#sarah" target="_blank">Sarah Scott</a> have worked to create a survey and plan informative focus groups with members of the community to gain a better perspective of what preventive health looks like in Ecuador.<span> </span>This information has allowed them to enter the planning phase, with the hope that the project will get off the ground when they return from winter vacation in January.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:100%;" ><span>·<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">The nutrition programs are also progressing nicely.<span> </span>Thanks to Krysta’s planning and the help of the rest of the PDs, every student at the Aliñambi School has been measured for height and weight, and that information has been plotted on the WHO growth charts.<span> </span>After further research, we plan to develop a nutrition program and start its implementation in conjunction with the school upon our return in January.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;"><u>Art</u></span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/2009/10/just-typical-tuesday.html" target="_blank">Art class</a> is</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><p style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8rc0JLvwI/AAAAAAAABB8/snxka4vMFJk/s1600-h/DSC_0754.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8rc0JLvwI/AAAAAAAABB8/snxka4vMFJk/s400/DSC_0754.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413093051156119298" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Krysta and Haley lead a dental charla during the health clinic in August</span><br /></p><p style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8oHnFlUUI/AAAAAAAABBc/gI-Yy14x8II/s1600-h/IMG_0582.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8oHnFlUUI/AAAAAAAABBc/gI-Yy14x8II/s400/IMG_0582.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413089388339220802" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Haley leads aerobics during a Tuesday Women's Exercise class</span><br /></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><u>Agriculture/Environmental</u></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">In September, <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuador-team#jackie" target="_blank">Jackie Weidman</a> and <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuador-team#erik" target="_blank">Erik Swanson</a> began to address solid waste issues in our community by hosting a <a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/2009/10/minga-de-limpieza-comunitaria.html" target="_blank">community clean-up</a> <i>minga</i> (community project) and working with the local government on improving trash pick-up efficiency and discouraging the burning of household trash.<span> </span>We also continued the agricultural <i>charla </i>(talk) series started by last year’s PDs, with the first community speaker talking about raising health chickens.<span> </span>In the future we hope to bring more publicly accessible trash cans to the community and start to tackle the issue of providing clean drinking water in Rumiloma.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8uKYuSqJI/AAAAAAAABCs/IjU1a2m-Ies/s1600-h/DSC_0136.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8uKYuSqJI/AAAAAAAABCs/IjU1a2m-Ies/s400/DSC_0136.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413096033092806802" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Mike and Dana picked up trash and kids during the clean-up minga</span><br /></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><u>Small Business Development/Microfinance</u></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuador-team#chet" target="_blank">Chet Polson</a> and <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuador-team#erik" target="_blank">Erik Swanson</a> have made great strides toward their goals for the microfinance and small business programs. Cooperation has increased greatly with the partner agency Esperanza y Progreso del Valle (EPV) in efforts to find workshops and other training opportunities for the cooperative. We have also been working to get EPV a better rating on an online microfinance community called Mix Market, which allows small co-ops like EPV find more funding from reliable sources. On the small business front, Chet and Erik became <a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/2009/11/part-1-business-class-in-spanish.html" target="_blank">certified small business trainers</a> by the Business Innovation and Development Center of the Escuela Politecnica del Ejercito (ESPE). This certification will allow the duo to teach classes to community members and interested future entrepreneurs as well as certify other small business instructors.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8uLDSPcNI/AAAAAAAABC8/oCGVpfJoT4Q/s1600-h/DSC_0014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8uLDSPcNI/AAAAAAAABC8/oCGVpfJoT4Q/s400/DSC_0014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413096044517880018" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Chet is a newly certified business course instructor...</span><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8rdNVi9dI/AAAAAAAABCE/yjKliJsxEak/s1600-h/DSC_0579.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8rdNVi9dI/AAAAAAAABCE/yjKliJsxEak/s400/DSC_0579.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413093057918858706" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">... along with his small business partner-in-crime, Erik</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8211B3b4I/AAAAAAAABDc/Ged79S3V_E0/s1600-h/IMG_0607.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5mVMrmQpgZA/Sx8211B3b4I/AAAAAAAABDc/Ged79S3V_E0/s400/IMG_0607.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413105575518498690" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">One of many beautiful sunsets, as seen from the roof of our library</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Thanks for checking in with MPI Ecuador! Until next time,</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sarah and Jackie</span><br /></p>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484027492161345232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369273120576590584.post-54573379754130323252009-06-13T10:46:00.000-07:002009-06-13T11:39:14.963-07:00April-May 2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcBMmYGaC3_7RimVpCxzXsYjOn8UUTaDZQsvOmseDFaaS6HCf3rU3DcqbGoJTIF702kCci0NO3MHAroHZ02AO1UT9BGSDZSID-rAg8ITt7eb3dK6h5R5hyphenhyphent6qRtMK52Mv2xWovFluWfer/s1600-h/DSC_0032.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcBMmYGaC3_7RimVpCxzXsYjOn8UUTaDZQsvOmseDFaaS6HCf3rU3DcqbGoJTIF702kCci0NO3MHAroHZ02AO1UT9BGSDZSID-rAg8ITt7eb3dK6h5R5hyphenhyphent6qRtMK52Mv2xWovFluWfer/s400/DSC_0032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346875728902385538" border="0" /></a><br />For eight ex-pats living in Ecuador, April was the pause, the deep breath, the cool breeze from the mountains. Nestled between three jam-packed weeks of March spring break trips and the onset of May summer sessions, April filled our South American lives with peace and normalcy. Ok fine, as much normalcy as could be expected from life in the Manna Ecuador house.<br /><br />Programs in April carried on much in the same vein. <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/teamecuador08-09.asp#serena" target="_blank">Serena’s</a> women’s exercise class continued, amazingly, to attract new members each day. Along with organizing all five of the <a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/search/label/spring%20break?max-results=20" target="_blank">Spring Break</a> trips, <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/teamecuador08-09.asp#jocelyn" target="_blank">Jocelyn</a> managed to teach her advanced English class the lyrics to a new techno song (which we still hear them singing to themselves while reading at the library). Under <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/teamecuador08-09.asp#seth" target="_blank">Seth’s</a> guidance, the kids in the teen center held elections to form their own “Board of Directors” in charge of organizing events and making sure the center runs smoothly, a notable result of which being an increase in Friday Movie Night events. <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/teamecuador08-09.asp#eliah" target="_blank">Eliah</a> and <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/teamecuador08-09.asp#dana" target="_blank">Dana</a> hosted another successful agricultural charla (presentation) in the library space, this time focusing on pigs, and <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/teamecuador08-09.asp#dunc" target="_blank">Dunc</a> continued to accumulate more books for the library while taking care of it’s day to day functioning along with <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/teamecuador08-09.asp#mark" target="_blank">Mark</a>. <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/teamecuador08-09.asp#holly" target="_blank">My</a> children’s art students studied Diego Rivera and perfected their <a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/2009/05/self-portraits.html" target="_blank">self portraits</a>, while Seth and I began a new <a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/2009/05/sketching.html" target="_blank">teenage art class</a> in conjunction with the teen center.<br /><br />We also began a new series on the Daily Life Blog, aptly named “<a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/search/label/interview%20a%20PD" target="_blank">Interview a Program Director</a>”. Each week I sat down with one of the PDs and filmed their responses to questions submitted on the blog. They are definitely worth watching whenever you have a pause in your day!<br /><br />Also in April: we traveled, we had family dinners on the roof, we read in the hammocks, we got caught in afternoon rainstorms. Life continued on.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEspeB1yAN64xpyc3PLSuP8SouL5p3V4TwVSjsScNYNhnezkyDE_FDDmjKbxyEN_Uu_v26c9N5Pf3y3xKoU7rKW7fKb8reD6XsBvP2GeY-cEYBIG_165SVwdJ3uiWwbfIUubGGlAyiNob1/s1600-h/DSC_0054.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEspeB1yAN64xpyc3PLSuP8SouL5p3V4TwVSjsScNYNhnezkyDE_FDDmjKbxyEN_Uu_v26c9N5Pf3y3xKoU7rKW7fKb8reD6XsBvP2GeY-cEYBIG_165SVwdJ3uiWwbfIUubGGlAyiNob1/s400/DSC_0054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346878044273911698" border="0" /></a>(Iori show his excitement for May)<br /></div><br />And then came May. If April was the pause, May was the dive. On the 12th we welcomed nine college students into the apartment (or Manna Hostel as it’s now been renamed) for the start of <a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/2009/05/questions-for-holly-and-meet-summer.html" target="_blank">Summer Session One</a>. Between the nine of them they re-organized the entire layout of the library, built a ping-pong table for the teen center, taught an intensive three week<a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/2009/05/los-muchachos-dulces.html" target="_blank"> English class</a> for 30 students, shadowed at the Ministry of Health (and helped deliver a baby!), taught yoga at women’s exercise, led art classes, organized a <a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/2009/06/planificacion-familiar.html" target="_blank">health fair</a>, baked some wickedly good desserts, and traveled to some of our favorite spots around Ecuador. We as PDs were really just along for the ride.<br /><br />With the recent arrival of both Summer Session Two and our fantastic new Country Director Bibi Al-Ebrahim (more to come on that front, clearly) the craziness around here has only intensified. Today we look ahead at our remaining two months in Ecuador with bittersweet excitement and anticipation for the end of the rainy season!<br /><br />If you're looking for more updates, you can always check out the <a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/">Daily Life Blog</a>, where posting is a little more consistent and on-schedule.<br /><br />Sweet summer wishes from a house in the Andes,<br />Holly and Team Ecuador<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyqBzCzgAFIt8sUwnToW6nubK-QOZwL1BBk3tuS_PlLk7DRxzToMUXEBIgHVieSb-xj_Vm4impPqveOnFbM-Oq-jDwdJUl4WIfOfIbWGZzscgJTAEdQnOiftVepgaCwIVb5zyDqvrhXjM/s1600-h/IMGP5150.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyqBzCzgAFIt8sUwnToW6nubK-QOZwL1BBk3tuS_PlLk7DRxzToMUXEBIgHVieSb-xj_Vm4impPqveOnFbM-Oq-jDwdJUl4WIfOfIbWGZzscgJTAEdQnOiftVepgaCwIVb5zyDqvrhXjM/s400/IMGP5150.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346874597763023378" border="0" /></a>(Eliah, Dunc, Holly and Dana on an oceanic cliff on Isla de la Plata, the "poor man's Galapagos")<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VCfxTDiaqxYGJcYV0jnkW2u8aEvUjnIn4rHEEGR3IlwgkP58hdUx5u82frX8MRj84mgFj9q_KUGW5xI_f_Ng7wV4tUVZheB90D17TAkgQmzfVdrjRh2qsgPWow72NYBfjFcjdMp8vwqg/s1600-h/P4120358.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VCfxTDiaqxYGJcYV0jnkW2u8aEvUjnIn4rHEEGR3IlwgkP58hdUx5u82frX8MRj84mgFj9q_KUGW5xI_f_Ng7wV4tUVZheB90D17TAkgQmzfVdrjRh2qsgPWow72NYBfjFcjdMp8vwqg/s400/P4120358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346874602548227362" border="0" /></a>(Blue Footed Boobies on Isla de la Plata!)<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrMUYzmoXY2BDr-SaeFLtSHFNVLxuW-mQNDwlCUxjArZn5Xcjavrb0vMFHVMqWy22V3_Zdn5cP567inAu-FexGNTSY54GtN0xd_gYlaPpEDFFPIEZXXrPQ4h1vAZyrrb5YnhiHPwuAO1q/s1600-h/2629_1064548017228_1331820144_30341421_1735994_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrMUYzmoXY2BDr-SaeFLtSHFNVLxuW-mQNDwlCUxjArZn5Xcjavrb0vMFHVMqWy22V3_Zdn5cP567inAu-FexGNTSY54GtN0xd_gYlaPpEDFFPIEZXXrPQ4h1vAZyrrb5YnhiHPwuAO1q/s400/2629_1064548017228_1331820144_30341421_1735994_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346874602536046242" border="0" /></a>(Our fantastic sign advertising the Library and Teen Center)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMtov4jHgcx6ZXw2MwC_e_PovTV4y9HWp5FlLCcIVml5wqKXDxFgrRNDM_IidhrRnIa2yd5ja2Nkv92_7KXgBMiPGsv5pyTx3UTQXDMwoIQw-0f4EPcIhFWIrDiKUbrpMmuugSCEF2L3j/s1600-h/DSC_0040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMtov4jHgcx6ZXw2MwC_e_PovTV4y9HWp5FlLCcIVml5wqKXDxFgrRNDM_IidhrRnIa2yd5ja2Nkv92_7KXgBMiPGsv5pyTx3UTQXDMwoIQw-0f4EPcIhFWIrDiKUbrpMmuugSCEF2L3j/s400/DSC_0040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346879383794608002" border="0" /></a>(Dennis, Seth and Jonathan play 'traffic' donated by the McCalla family)<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWPfSsOkBE2gYXdQqmDnqS2ZZN_Q4G803p3_u8FbhTW_uJB7SB02X2CSxmSoNXT-xDj2TdVXwNDQVcwkTI-sDNxjLqzXCbbqhJEgdhyiQCD2ZM_7OvzNqG2mvvu8ocqHZzi4K_pN4mPaH/s1600-h/DSC_0027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWPfSsOkBE2gYXdQqmDnqS2ZZN_Q4G803p3_u8FbhTW_uJB7SB02X2CSxmSoNXT-xDj2TdVXwNDQVcwkTI-sDNxjLqzXCbbqhJEgdhyiQCD2ZM_7OvzNqG2mvvu8ocqHZzi4K_pN4mPaH/s400/DSC_0027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346875735939881058" border="0" /></a>(Dunc and Tobin Fulton organize new additions to the library)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Rs4-d51pVlND5mOQ1A_TEKXpPp3QLitpm4L-AfEMwGuWC0NP-uV9Iuu7sQ8Z43XXenOAAkftQSeMX0Y8jQt6gh4Jd9yRIPItsyAJOjTG5c4jFZ5xJsmeyqIu4FzS2Z2un9K85GRecmDM/s1600-h/DSC_0043.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Rs4-d51pVlND5mOQ1A_TEKXpPp3QLitpm4L-AfEMwGuWC0NP-uV9Iuu7sQ8Z43XXenOAAkftQSeMX0Y8jQt6gh4Jd9yRIPItsyAJOjTG5c4jFZ5xJsmeyqIu4FzS2Z2un9K85GRecmDM/s400/DSC_0043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346878040673678466" border="0" /></a>(Mark, Selena and Carlitos relax on the bean bags between books)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZJrJbsbOpbeJj8IUWh8Br3luVA-H5us7sFA9kL2nTLSXf2pVeaToRT9E1Y_kiLpNxi2cQz8JFWRHvTEcXurYI14L2dsfitNnISZXHJCopgeS230N1oTsblXvF0pFxWsSn2GFChI_tip8/s1600-h/DSC_0024_2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZJrJbsbOpbeJj8IUWh8Br3luVA-H5us7sFA9kL2nTLSXf2pVeaToRT9E1Y_kiLpNxi2cQz8JFWRHvTEcXurYI14L2dsfitNnISZXHJCopgeS230N1oTsblXvF0pFxWsSn2GFChI_tip8/s400/DSC_0024_2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346874613660824546" border="0" /></a>(The teens organize a BBQ on the roof)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbSblbfGnaM37RSZDXCQhibYIQwlonuWGIoba6mIzZHvyCdCoEPq9QmY_OPsPEK78F8CoMmeak84NaD1H143B7eGEXkxSRJyRH8J1iSgXdCVPuQSxlQsMTmD2OZ3rQNuH0_zOeS9RLaOY/s1600-h/DSC_0021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbSblbfGnaM37RSZDXCQhibYIQwlonuWGIoba6mIzZHvyCdCoEPq9QmY_OPsPEK78F8CoMmeak84NaD1H143B7eGEXkxSRJyRH8J1iSgXdCVPuQSxlQsMTmD2OZ3rQNuH0_zOeS9RLaOY/s400/DSC_0021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346875722474980242" border="0" /></a>(A good afternoon)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZN6xQYVHIKdov2T1_BUVguPRXQYkhEhLCL-CkWwlLm06FmOUUW-eg9gH0iOI7y48TJeCakW4MJB3lLRjBNS6UNSdC7RKERkp04wQ26nyIz22wFVtDkcpbNg3RyJNkhyphenhyphenNG8055QpIINn1/s1600-h/DSC_0013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZN6xQYVHIKdov2T1_BUVguPRXQYkhEhLCL-CkWwlLm06FmOUUW-eg9gH0iOI7y48TJeCakW4MJB3lLRjBNS6UNSdC7RKERkp04wQ26nyIz22wFVtDkcpbNg3RyJNkhyphenhyphenNG8055QpIINn1/s400/DSC_0013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346875733071926594" border="0" /></a>(Dana and Mark laugh at an undoubtedly inappropriate joke)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0djjfo8s5GE264C7BiSjvgNhoPwM6gAwxl0wqW-z4vK2VlGSb7HTv1LfgAEdCZpkeK4alSpJakTH2CHUHI3PEqmNPbjZl1a33tvsvTQhO7g_tDKGE4ppSlatrRcnkOvYQQ06EdscbLyPI/s1600-h/DSC_0059.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0djjfo8s5GE264C7BiSjvgNhoPwM6gAwxl0wqW-z4vK2VlGSb7HTv1LfgAEdCZpkeK4alSpJakTH2CHUHI3PEqmNPbjZl1a33tvsvTQhO7g_tDKGE4ppSlatrRcnkOvYQQ06EdscbLyPI/s400/DSC_0059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346878050449940642" border="0" /></a>(Summer Volunteer Perry Dubin and I get ready to march in a parade)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-94U7aPEmOvT5yiNmudq_VKmuS2DUZmQRjkw-ryPw2mBwgElvjocjLpapsVdJ1U7dnJNCaGpVaQ4IA6bmBBGCX5voFyj86NYYruBTQFF4UjjEUVYHLLMd_N0GNA2VDECGVoRXW_RAv0R/s1600-h/DSC_0063_2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-94U7aPEmOvT5yiNmudq_VKmuS2DUZmQRjkw-ryPw2mBwgElvjocjLpapsVdJ1U7dnJNCaGpVaQ4IA6bmBBGCX5voFyj86NYYruBTQFF4UjjEUVYHLLMd_N0GNA2VDECGVoRXW_RAv0R/s400/DSC_0063_2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346878058827286818" border="0" /></a>(Which one of these is not like the other?<br />Trying to blend in during the parade...with little luck)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgohM6df4jEnSDteKw3vDpndIgY0IzhO5qfPQ_OFHahIsRc4pFOltxBazVcYyeQ98PEf26_ob4KqmMi2hxg7qHFsyL-vXjp_JDH9aKhtIPwcRgppfHCGxbHga0V18f3Xj09puKC_xTrBSC/s1600-h/DSC_0077.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgohM6df4jEnSDteKw3vDpndIgY0IzhO5qfPQ_OFHahIsRc4pFOltxBazVcYyeQ98PEf26_ob4KqmMi2hxg7qHFsyL-vXjp_JDH9aKhtIPwcRgppfHCGxbHga0V18f3Xj09puKC_xTrBSC/s400/DSC_0077.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346883121148901474" border="0" /></a>(Serena answers questions at the health charla)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVdm8Vci8Cfqp5drHrFsQ1jvobPPY_diA7QpR64A9DzKCLDem6L89YFx-TfkqPk50gBJnPt3n82PJpXgr1rLbCs3_vuts1iiYwr2tE5DZCpg3LDoY8hE0-NUuXaorf6bM8Dt-lvG-jVAH/s1600-h/DSC_0045.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVdm8Vci8Cfqp5drHrFsQ1jvobPPY_diA7QpR64A9DzKCLDem6L89YFx-TfkqPk50gBJnPt3n82PJpXgr1rLbCs3_vuts1iiYwr2tE5DZCpg3LDoY8hE0-NUuXaorf6bM8Dt-lvG-jVAH/s400/DSC_0045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346879390151926050" border="0" /></a>(Playing Blokus is our favorite library past time- after reading, of COURSE)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3sUbb55BlJFrHYNQuQr5I0f3ARjYzNk05gJGL9X0xWPZGkwHNFbTbW-fOoxk5ju1jRnmVJbEUh2YINEOPjDZmVvxAg3mWsvDp4q3YAIEhnePtuf6qqkl957kOXY111KWKuXI1fED9O96/s1600-h/DSC_0093.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3sUbb55BlJFrHYNQuQr5I0f3ARjYzNk05gJGL9X0xWPZGkwHNFbTbW-fOoxk5ju1jRnmVJbEUh2YINEOPjDZmVvxAg3mWsvDp4q3YAIEhnePtuf6qqkl957kOXY111KWKuXI1fED9O96/s400/DSC_0093.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346879392995246690" border="0" /></a>(Iori, Prisilla, Jocelyn and Selena discover the joys of the new I Spy: Adventure book)<br /><br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369273120576590584.post-73400293491587477392009-04-03T22:42:00.000-07:002009-04-04T07:33:42.729-07:00March 2009Another month, another missive from Manna Project, Ecuador.<br /><br />This time, however, instead of attempting to rehash the past month's events in a perhaps too wordy email, I thought we'd try something new. At times, when something really big has happened, written words just cannot do justice to it; this was definitely the case with the library-teen center project of ours. To that end, below you will find a link to a short film I pulled together from footage taken at the grand opening of our new space. Think of this as "monthly update, version 6.0".<br /><br />We wish you all could have been here to share the day with us; please know that you were in spirit. Also please bear in mind that I am still learning the ins and outs of iMovie; we've all got to start somewhere, right?<br /><span><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwOczWV6B7BNtMzqsYY-o4SBMUc4fKbxu6CTZS_ROYLvOkHJGyMZBJwXwUvDgtp1_9KvicjZ45katNWE4wuCQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br />After watching that, if you're aching for more video documentation of Manna Ecuador life, head over to the Daily Life Blog and watch the <a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/2009/04/interview-pd-mark-hand.html" target="_blank">interview with country director Mark Hand</a>, the first in a series. Who knew life with a video camera could be so fun?<br /><br />Until next month,<br />Holly and Team EcuadorUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369273120576590584.post-87359086767727928102009-03-09T08:10:00.000-07:002009-03-09T08:43:23.911-07:00January-February 2009<div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYW-YSr94KQfkomv_T134wq8aQLHBSXJIE8fVDYHjkWH0BbXHXhcgLWKjeTmigGepMkBlL82zMhOWxZqox-tRQ_zfKhNa1e8MF475Zy4GJUizmHahhMDRwfVTyQTpzPfY5dqduykuJFraH/s1600-h/DSC_1262.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYW-YSr94KQfkomv_T134wq8aQLHBSXJIE8fVDYHjkWH0BbXHXhcgLWKjeTmigGepMkBlL82zMhOWxZqox-tRQ_zfKhNa1e8MF475Zy4GJUizmHahhMDRwfVTyQTpzPfY5dqduykuJFraH/s320/DSC_1262.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311212748141063682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(View from above in Mindo, an Ecuadorian cloud forest)</span><br /></div><br /><br />How wonderful it is to look around and feel proud and at peace, even amidst the tumult of activity that January and February brought for us down in Ecuador.<br /><br />After returning from our respective December destinations, we jumped into one of our infamous Monday morning marathon meetings, discussing and planning out our next seven months. <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/teamecuador08-09.asp#jocelyn" target="_blank">Jocelyn</a> and <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/teamecuador08-09.asp#dunc" target="_blank">Dunc</a> took point on the intermediate English program, picking up where their beginners English had left off in December. With seven students inscribed, the two of them are able to provide detailed and closely monitored attention to each student, which comes in handy when attempting to explain past participles and irregular future verbs.<br /><br />During the last class of women's exercise in December, <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/teamecuador08-09.asp#serena" target="_blank">Serena</a> had the women fill out an anonymous questionnaire, the overall aim of which was to find out their impressions of the class, whether they were satisfied with the workouts, and what they would change. 100% of the women cited complete satisfaction with the class, writing that the only improvement they could see would be "<span class="clickable" onclick="'dr4sdgryt(event,"><span class="q">más</span></span>!" (more!). Inspired by their positivity, Serena has expanded the women's exercise program considerably, incorporating yoga, aerobics, tae bo, pilates, weights, and tai chi into three days of intensive exercise. The women love and hate it at the same time; the groans of pain on pilates abs days are universal.<br /><br />Late winter also saw the initiation of two brand new programs for MPIEcuador, children's beginning English led by <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/teamecuador08-09.asp#dana">Dana</a> and children's Art, led by me (<a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/teamecuador08-09.asp#holly">Holly</a>). With 15 kids enrolled in each class, Dana and I have our hands full in the most wonderful ways. English meets on Mondays and Wednesdays, and is filled with memory games, team competitions, and more vocabulary than I'm able to keep up with. Class is often held outside, and Dana's enthusiasm is enough to inspire even the coolest middle schoolers into running around in search of the day's vocab words.<br /><br />Children's art class, a first for most of my students, fills the Casa Barrial every Tuesday and Thursday with piles of crayon shavings, newspaper cut outs, paint splatters and rogue markers hiding out under the bookcases. Thus far we have drawn imaginative responses to Neruda poems, made tissue paper Valentines, and kicked off our painter's study with Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night. The shock factor of Van Gogh's famous ear incident fixed the students focus immediately; with studies planned through March for Georgia O'Keefe, Jackson Pollock, Oswaldo Guayasamin, Monet, Andy Warhol and Vermeer, here's hoping I can find something for each artist akin to a chopped ear to draw them in...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIS8dUV4zKmb-Jt4j7XJ9SE7_KSYcGa_mNmx3qxjoIgAtMezZiVXOL8acplh2DXtcGJP_xdXE-y6YQqsjKpk-7kmlhDzY8dewctZ4O3I3j36g3SDiIK1qsWscXsqO_3CHdlhliwOdNuVFZ/s1600-h/DSC_1160.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIS8dUV4zKmb-Jt4j7XJ9SE7_KSYcGa_mNmx3qxjoIgAtMezZiVXOL8acplh2DXtcGJP_xdXE-y6YQqsjKpk-7kmlhDzY8dewctZ4O3I3j36g3SDiIK1qsWscXsqO_3CHdlhliwOdNuVFZ/s320/DSC_1160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311213551137349442" border="0" /></a>(Art students create their own interpretations of Van Gogh's "Starry Night")<br /></div><br />The middle of February found <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/teamecuador08-09.asp#eliah">Eliah</a> and Dana, our Agricultural Education PDs, joined with 20 Ecuadorians from the community in the first agriculture charla (discussion-instruction) as they learned the best practices of raising cuy, ie. the guinea pig. No irony wass lost on the fact that Eliah, our staunch vegetarian, put the whole thing together.<br /><br />But wait, there's more! During the last week of January, we received something we've been anticipating for months: the keys to MPIE's very own library/teen center/office space! <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/teamecuador08-09.asp#mark">Mark</a>, <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/teamecuador08-09.asp#seth">Seth</a> and Dunc have attended weekly meetings with the Cooperative to map out our big plans for the first lending library and teen center in the entire Valley and have spent countless hours planning, designing, fund raising and stocking the space. To kick off the grand opening this Saturday, Seth has been putting together a huge concert/ book drive, complete with Ecuadorian celebrities, interviews on local radio stations, and more meetings than I would have thought possible.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9tyzpS3rBfKyfQMqEaJ4h7szNUUk-6qxWV27K-r-nsoa90_Qmt-qM-_XMI-tyeGw8Oh4RHA_rG0niScr56SlvYK9jPNbLqMeQPgnggpDqsshFruzxbDNIiYDVwOwXRXFo6cFFwoKIcPJf/s1600-h/DSC_1168.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9tyzpS3rBfKyfQMqEaJ4h7szNUUk-6qxWV27K-r-nsoa90_Qmt-qM-_XMI-tyeGw8Oh4RHA_rG0niScr56SlvYK9jPNbLqMeQPgnggpDqsshFruzxbDNIiYDVwOwXRXFo6cFFwoKIcPJf/s320/DSC_1168.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311212765084170146" border="0" /></a>(Part of the new library space; stay tuned next month to see what we've done with it!)<br /></div><br />And there you have it: our past two months in a slightly too-long email summary. Tune in to the <a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/">Daily Life Blog</a> for up-to-date information on each PD, the progression of their programs, and a coming-soon weekly video interview with the lucky victims of my choosing...<br /><br />Sweet Hopes for Spring,<br />Holly and Team Ecuador<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_G0ae2I0-uZchZdy8vTHh_dky-EEyt-MFqfoCGsa_WtNDlcc1rd5TTh_dPo24G_b4b9Xd5iBUhXHPbQ6fWF5b671yPF_nVqDgGYiEzM1BS0i3p0USepiDhhffC91Ki31gomjWoIMNLgT/s1600-h/DSC_1156.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_G0ae2I0-uZchZdy8vTHh_dky-EEyt-MFqfoCGsa_WtNDlcc1rd5TTh_dPo24G_b4b9Xd5iBUhXHPbQ6fWF5b671yPF_nVqDgGYiEzM1BS0i3p0USepiDhhffC91Ki31gomjWoIMNLgT/s320/DSC_1156.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311210309837217906" border="0" /></a>(our advertising attracts people of all ages...maybe he's interested in women's exercise?)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmpMzxLHHuAB4iBOOmc1h-QIqPe6OSEWUHlfPOZpM9o85gJJRummrzesBLLUeJUd3XbSJ9tXBtXzBFCROn-c4ik-CzywsA7J0Qzv-sQeusLkeimxI2rfhTR_RnxwH6ny1NIZ5-JvLPuMB/s1600-h/DSC_1147_2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmpMzxLHHuAB4iBOOmc1h-QIqPe6OSEWUHlfPOZpM9o85gJJRummrzesBLLUeJUd3XbSJ9tXBtXzBFCROn-c4ik-CzywsA7J0Qzv-sQeusLkeimxI2rfhTR_RnxwH6ny1NIZ5-JvLPuMB/s320/DSC_1147_2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311210301428007650" border="0" /></a>(Mark and Serena show their excitement of having a car for a week! Thanks to NJ, Mark's wonderful aunt and our house-guest for a week)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkWedAQycF38zykAn5wuvKcyDmUxqIeXeSKbuQSv_ITrLtkwzYLxHODUVGdEW3PfQcfZ_sRbLkybRW40hm7p_3z4GxRGF6o4_jUthq2g_gr5q4g-BRCwWW9bhOlJrTen2Wdgfg-T1qqBp/s1600-h/DSC_1147.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkWedAQycF38zykAn5wuvKcyDmUxqIeXeSKbuQSv_ITrLtkwzYLxHODUVGdEW3PfQcfZ_sRbLkybRW40hm7p_3z4GxRGF6o4_jUthq2g_gr5q4g-BRCwWW9bhOlJrTen2Wdgfg-T1qqBp/s320/DSC_1147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311212753906322514" border="0" /></a>(Dana and Jocelyn play a game with the kids in Children's English)<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4cSNhJqTdxMHlUbf9ElRMeJTVNvvYKgWXYU8bN-81Lf9qAX7vueBHZ0yF_B5RLtIe6hlqKsR8Chx4PbbP6SSP1aNuC73nz16jP3BVVcaEFxhcydp9vJtbnEBHJCrWcMHwHOXs4Im_xvL/s1600-h/DSC_1215.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4cSNhJqTdxMHlUbf9ElRMeJTVNvvYKgWXYU8bN-81Lf9qAX7vueBHZ0yF_B5RLtIe6hlqKsR8Chx4PbbP6SSP1aNuC73nz16jP3BVVcaEFxhcydp9vJtbnEBHJCrWcMHwHOXs4Im_xvL/s320/DSC_1215.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311211266175735826" border="0" /></a>(Eliah and Dunc get ready to cross a river in Mindo in a tiny metal cage)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIKa31X4iZMK81lVrvQn-MxuthVkXqx3BBG39xaaWxLeMcAG1LwY21cpF3a52lcps7Xh8hc6NU4RJpzEB7Oqz3VxyNe-rR07Gm2Dgli5my4s3LYZXsKteUQVbpVgZlh_pmLqojd-2w97O/s1600-h/DSC_1158_3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIKa31X4iZMK81lVrvQn-MxuthVkXqx3BBG39xaaWxLeMcAG1LwY21cpF3a52lcps7Xh8hc6NU4RJpzEB7Oqz3VxyNe-rR07Gm2Dgli5my4s3LYZXsKteUQVbpVgZlh_pmLqojd-2w97O/s320/DSC_1158_3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311211257953188018" border="0" /></a>(Seth tends to the meat for Serena and Mark's birthday bbq)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyIo9jRK3_A22cpE0RxGr6UwyNr5PlLHGl9PCJAAXeCMDM1JJnCxP5Tr-rcXXG1qKqteGJ7jLfSpCgCOv5SHuCK9Hpfno2eLnt5fY4Kp71VzLv3SfhHYrrRbGC5uAuDmIeWvROOO0i4MF/s1600-h/DSC_1117_2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyIo9jRK3_A22cpE0RxGr6UwyNr5PlLHGl9PCJAAXeCMDM1JJnCxP5Tr-rcXXG1qKqteGJ7jLfSpCgCOv5SHuCK9Hpfno2eLnt5fY4Kp71VzLv3SfhHYrrRbGC5uAuDmIeWvROOO0i4MF/s320/DSC_1117_2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311210299239741618" border="0" /></a>(making friends with a lost baby cow outside our front door)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9SANH-1zTn9niAj2eJpeuoon5x_rC7itkbXKbYR1EYWz668x7mFdm4uiamR9bSaFyW4fdugy5_6N52gAlSTQRgcCCV_h_ejXVOqSuTGEu3bsufDquP6Wr4C3cYOJoRq0lu9VWqUGnjJo/s1600-h/DSC_1154_2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9SANH-1zTn9niAj2eJpeuoon5x_rC7itkbXKbYR1EYWz668x7mFdm4uiamR9bSaFyW4fdugy5_6N52gAlSTQRgcCCV_h_ejXVOqSuTGEu3bsufDquP6Wr4C3cYOJoRq0lu9VWqUGnjJo/s320/DSC_1154_2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311211244013199106" border="0" /></a>(the whole crew with Pepita and family at our house for a dinner party)<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369273120576590584.post-78812119916030168532008-12-07T08:18:00.000-08:002008-12-07T09:08:51.509-08:00December 2008<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZbhS0n7Z3Qkfpr30XEtakRJDgruqgt2OJB_jsCtnbtTqUWSJT2fsHXyHSYFvjK7nHcPOHWLiOXWSyrqszkNCTU7Mb8qZIlnhWQBk28BWkGg2gS2txsyEgfAtzeeViAzKleJwpXG1rSMJ/s1600-h/DSC_1159.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZbhS0n7Z3Qkfpr30XEtakRJDgruqgt2OJB_jsCtnbtTqUWSJT2fsHXyHSYFvjK7nHcPOHWLiOXWSyrqszkNCTU7Mb8qZIlnhWQBk28BWkGg2gS2txsyEgfAtzeeViAzKleJwpXG1rSMJ/s320/DSC_1159.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277095657927249954" border="0" /></a><br />As October took its final bow below the Ecuadorian horizon, November stepped into center stage, bringing with it a dizzying frenzy of activity.<br /><br />Three days after getting my family onto their plane to return to the States, we welcomed the Manna Project Director trifecta: The Director, Lori Scharffenberg, Mark’s counter-part Nicaraguan Country Director, Amira Tahir, and Chris Taylor, our State-Side, Fix-Everything Director. After introducing them to each of our programs, dragging them along on our weekly Sangolqui markets runs, and welcoming them to the wonders of nightly family dinners, they escaped together to Tena for a weekend of caving and bug bites. We were lucky enough to keep Chris for an extra week after a little airport incident called ‘forgetting a passport’, and he joined us for our bi-annual team retreat to Papallacta and one incredible Thanksgiving dinner.<br /><br />Each of our programs saw a healthy continuation throughout the month of November. We opened a new store at Apoyo Escolar, the currency for which is earned by each book read, good behavior, and the completion of the daily ficha (worksheet). While the kids have yet to fully grasp the concept of saving (“Why save $15 for a set of new colored pencils when I can buy 5 $2 erasers right NOW?!” seems to be the general mentality), Dunc is helping to incentivize the savings process by opening an Apoyo Bank and offering interest. Women’s exercise continues on, having expanded in the middle of November to three classes a week based on demand and providing those of us involved with increasingly hysterical mental images, most involving mid-ab-pose collapses into unstoppable laughing fits. Jocelyn’s English class recently learned the lyrics to “I am the Walrus” as sung by Eliah, and is learning how to structure a complete dialogue.<br /><br />On Friday we commemorated International Volunteer Day along with our counterparts back home and around the world. Established in 1985 by the General Assembly of the United Nations, December 5th is set aside as a day to celebrate the people and communities connected by global volunteer efforts. The day reminds us of the blessings and challenges that life abroad has thus far offered up and speaks to the promise of what is yet to come. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, please know that your support of our work here not only earns you our sincere gratitude, but also links us together to the bigger chain of global community development efforts.<br /><br />At the risk of sounding like a broken record, don’t forget to drop in from time to time on our Daily Life Blog!<br /><br />Best to you all in this wintry season,<br />Holly<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPQDFliLsfUj5q7M0HBpuXaJluxjlaWmiCFkO3xom884MPI3XhtdmudRJFGVsx7va13wpnQKsfxe7RHfc4m98nFx403UQuX_cA8WbnSCuKUYaxgoWVyNQUSPN3YFzmYoURqlDd_kYpW9S/s1600-h/DSC09084.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPQDFliLsfUj5q7M0HBpuXaJluxjlaWmiCFkO3xom884MPI3XhtdmudRJFGVsx7va13wpnQKsfxe7RHfc4m98nFx403UQuX_cA8WbnSCuKUYaxgoWVyNQUSPN3YFzmYoURqlDd_kYpW9S/s320/DSC09084.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277085493523228098" border="0" /></a>(watching the US election with Ecuadorians and ex-pats in downtown Quito)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTOTUWoEVRoRa73IfE3iShy8cOEX9g2r-Vvc71Sd6eOc1DWJN4VrTqc0qEibEuzXQCbwtlc8f0NioMCQVD84bQu1TGc8gtVqFPl7dnbX_WsWGzokXBZNwa_wFcYYZS1gdgxMHHUh8xVsZ/s1600-h/DSC_1156.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTOTUWoEVRoRa73IfE3iShy8cOEX9g2r-Vvc71Sd6eOc1DWJN4VrTqc0qEibEuzXQCbwtlc8f0NioMCQVD84bQu1TGc8gtVqFPl7dnbX_WsWGzokXBZNwa_wFcYYZS1gdgxMHHUh8xVsZ/s320/DSC_1156.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277092601056918834" border="0" /></a>(The whole crew plus Chris waits for our bus outside the Papallacta hot springs)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIYQ8Yaa8qIZWEN5VS8amIMzy-6KyDoaBIUNCAxK8oLoP-OjgSJgYqGEWif0wJxReDyzZupSYo_EwGHz7PFJtabIF-97VQ2zKdR2wkDXVDjruLf3BEMTu4KYDhyZ7DtGmw5VS9ry9-HUAk/s1600-h/DSC_1108.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIYQ8Yaa8qIZWEN5VS8amIMzy-6KyDoaBIUNCAxK8oLoP-OjgSJgYqGEWif0wJxReDyzZupSYo_EwGHz7PFJtabIF-97VQ2zKdR2wkDXVDjruLf3BEMTu4KYDhyZ7DtGmw5VS9ry9-HUAk/s320/DSC_1108.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277085501657037986" border="0" /></a>(The stage is set at Teatro Sucre for an evening of Andean music...and some strange US oldies)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbdjMAPwOULsJ7FvKDMFW-0UynysIBCDRYfwQkMk_FLTaXshxMKH5kjmFJKV8fIrAHhfJJqeAB3cQ-T8aYt4RTCimj0vCYM5ykp9ClCIzeDrFtRm7YfxcPUOMaKtDcSrNAA4FV4WyP26E/s1600-h/DSC_1233.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbdjMAPwOULsJ7FvKDMFW-0UynysIBCDRYfwQkMk_FLTaXshxMKH5kjmFJKV8fIrAHhfJJqeAB3cQ-T8aYt4RTCimj0vCYM5ykp9ClCIzeDrFtRm7YfxcPUOMaKtDcSrNAA4FV4WyP26E/s320/DSC_1233.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277092564437997090" border="0" /></a>(The girls, plus Lori, come together up on the roof)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvHhv0xpcrBQfu4Wh-1B2nJ961KlURduNXO1pyaCpUGQTI3Vhk5QrDZmGLy6LnuOvOYsNhGWERti1GxcjWG7ktM7qAqhyzStzELay6-4s-LUnge3N1UWqFXQdM6VOZ3HOTxh3v1aXzfas/s1600-h/DSC_1204.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvHhv0xpcrBQfu4Wh-1B2nJ961KlURduNXO1pyaCpUGQTI3Vhk5QrDZmGLy6LnuOvOYsNhGWERti1GxcjWG7ktM7qAqhyzStzELay6-4s-LUnge3N1UWqFXQdM6VOZ3HOTxh3v1aXzfas/s320/DSC_1204.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277085503429843730" border="0" /></a>(The boys demonstrate correct form for "Cowboy, Bear, Ninja", a new version of "Rock, Paper, Scissors")<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDugmgIGF4B3EdKXiKcQDbeUUr0Oz0MQAlLM_2Bc9060VQnz-BgFqqAKttwu50HMv6KZUhGz1kk55waJRhgamNA8nUIYP8Tu4pXjS-bY-rvis5q3skaDM0VJJfQsYXNZB3gh5D6-jUePI/s1600-h/DSC_1109.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDugmgIGF4B3EdKXiKcQDbeUUr0Oz0MQAlLM_2Bc9060VQnz-BgFqqAKttwu50HMv6KZUhGz1kk55waJRhgamNA8nUIYP8Tu4pXjS-bY-rvis5q3skaDM0VJJfQsYXNZB3gh5D6-jUePI/s320/DSC_1109.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277092579323363666" border="0" /></a>(Dana and Serena take a break along the river hike in Selva Alegre)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8zUSAF9xXpXGQ38TSDVw6qp-lHD3xUe2HsRPjsR6U-ly0Jd_obgBaWlcq_tWAMc0cIPerms9McTP2LHJgt1HAK97AjVIDalSqy33iM75xW5eBCyp8qNeOchAbXinuZ_Gr4Lhq2Yyv8TV/s1600-h/DSC_1263.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8zUSAF9xXpXGQ38TSDVw6qp-lHD3xUe2HsRPjsR6U-ly0Jd_obgBaWlcq_tWAMc0cIPerms9McTP2LHJgt1HAK97AjVIDalSqy33iM75xW5eBCyp8qNeOchAbXinuZ_Gr4Lhq2Yyv8TV/s320/DSC_1263.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277094196357976418" border="0" /></a>(Dunc carves the turkey on Thanksgiving as we all jumble around each other in the kitchen, vying for oven space)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgth0E-8v0k0mp0erQMwC78rB0gtoq2Ulym5RW83kwMhNPMYWHP42Hwp-tenWkQ3OshZKBeh8tyLfNTzO6zxQum3fjOAJBblMRyPUfGesEN_YD_d2x9OE0-gTQMc6_BJU5f0WPju3zzWp54/s1600-h/DSC_1178.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgth0E-8v0k0mp0erQMwC78rB0gtoq2Ulym5RW83kwMhNPMYWHP42Hwp-tenWkQ3OshZKBeh8tyLfNTzO6zxQum3fjOAJBblMRyPUfGesEN_YD_d2x9OE0-gTQMc6_BJU5f0WPju3zzWp54/s320/DSC_1178.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277094186424307218" border="0" /></a>(Festivals of Quito, and a fierce bull fight)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCtuN2l_93o-t1IeupS3VknTPBKcvVQ_w9nWKCHWD66lGBD5cRf6svhfQaxhQXZtE6YVuHVRTIaSjv1bc2O-TzlZJN8vfi_sA3hGKOARdFY7C8dY3huZ8Xh173u0aYj6riv0Yi9PbUbrI/s1600-h/n5401775_32540665_7431.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCtuN2l_93o-t1IeupS3VknTPBKcvVQ_w9nWKCHWD66lGBD5cRf6svhfQaxhQXZtE6YVuHVRTIaSjv1bc2O-TzlZJN8vfi_sA3hGKOARdFY7C8dY3huZ8Xh173u0aYj6riv0Yi9PbUbrI/s320/n5401775_32540665_7431.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277095664209316642" border="0" /></a>(Jocelyn and I try to blend in at the bull fight)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qj3-O2zKdcr0mdN7AzyrhH94s1u9uNtEf46pEQPFwcbSGz4t_F7RL3rr56u9DiSI2iPNrHY72EXLKC85R-1GXBgxkq3PNzywNzwmBGn-jLpSUlOYc9CIVrXpUoAmXAXaP-HT-lHqltRW/s1600-h/DSC_1104.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qj3-O2zKdcr0mdN7AzyrhH94s1u9uNtEf46pEQPFwcbSGz4t_F7RL3rr56u9DiSI2iPNrHY72EXLKC85R-1GXBgxkq3PNzywNzwmBGn-jLpSUlOYc9CIVrXpUoAmXAXaP-HT-lHqltRW/s320/DSC_1104.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277094211479979154" border="0" /></a>(Following the red and blue to our first big soccer game. Bitter house alliances have been drawn between Quito and Liga...)<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369273120576590584.post-58653704125262695782008-11-10T08:33:00.000-08:002008-11-10T09:41:29.673-08:00November 2008<div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVKEZIxKwLQHf9wg6S2Lw4YntTk2WyfYaJmHX7uoRczHs2N6nJHalkp_DNf8W5Kfbe_VYFYISwJ7nkIFkAgKHEHBbUpujFxMGe9U3yJzfW_Rd-Xa9DrA9hyIzHleoXOjVQNl8bp4gerAN/s1600-h/DSC_1164.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVKEZIxKwLQHf9wg6S2Lw4YntTk2WyfYaJmHX7uoRczHs2N6nJHalkp_DNf8W5Kfbe_VYFYISwJ7nkIFkAgKHEHBbUpujFxMGe9U3yJzfW_Rd-Xa9DrA9hyIzHleoXOjVQNl8bp4gerAN/s320/DSC_1164.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267073589328067106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /></div>Welcome to October in Ecuador, where the green leaves remain on the branches, the only seasonal shift is the full onset of the rainy season, and no one’s ever heard of an orange pumpkin. Despite the unfortunate permanent dampness we’ve all gotten used to (and the lack of any real jack-o-lantern potential), our Ecuadorian October brought us excitement, triumphs, and more than a little halloween spirit in the form of carved gourds and halloween stickers from Mrs. Lancaster.<br /><br />October also saw the initiation of two new programs for MPI Ecuador: bi-weekly adult English classes and a woman’s exercise...experience. Jocelyn has taken point in the English program (after running a successful 2 week summer course for middle school kids in August), and the class couldn’t be in more capable hands. With meticulously planned lessons, quizzes and games, Jocelyn leads the class with the perfect balance of grammar, conversation, jokes and laughter. It is a testament to her ability to teach (and also to her stellar co-teachers Dunc, Eliah, and Serena) that her students hang around after every class wanting to practice English and asking any number of absolutely random questions: “What’s your favorite season?” “Do you like milk?” “What’s your brother’s middle name?”. No one ever said teaching languages couldn’t be amusing, right?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgR7UwAIeIpWmqtjxTC67d00DrANE8nyU4LTHQSsQAIVyo_Ik0IpTLcqTimiLZf5Vi4J1N6wYxBlhYmpqX6UcvRG43c97ZjPW2fonl67AhjTy7_np1SFdGdyvGdE3FDctD-ByITLf3XZt/s1600-h/DSC08757.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgR7UwAIeIpWmqtjxTC67d00DrANE8nyU4LTHQSsQAIVyo_Ik0IpTLcqTimiLZf5Vi4J1N6wYxBlhYmpqX6UcvRG43c97ZjPW2fonl67AhjTy7_np1SFdGdyvGdE3FDctD-ByITLf3XZt/s320/DSC08757.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267080691881892802" border="0" /></a>(Jocelyn and Eliah go over common English introductions in class)<br /></div><br />At 7 o’clock as the last of the English students trickle out, the boys head home to cook dinner (and more than likely play Risk). The girls lace up our tennis shoes, plug in the ipod speakers, and get ready for an hour and a half of hilarity: our women’s exercise class. With ages stretching from 6 year old Marjorie (who comes with her mom) to 68 year old Maria Catagnia, to say that the class ranges in ability is a slight understatement. Yet Serena, the brains behind the operation, has created a class which bridges the dramatic age gap and gets everyone’s blood flowing in a healthy and safe way. Each class includes stretching, cardio, and yoga, while every two weeks we take blood pressure, heart rate, and weight measurements of all 24 women in order to track their progress and give them feedback on their lifestyle choices. Seeing as how the women have collectively and repeatedly asked us to expand the class to three times a week, it is easy to see they’re enjoying it. We’ll see if they still want the third class when they find out it’s specifically targeted towards the abdominal region...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqpLS5Q0uTKaanx_vJh68k99osgGjFbpshp_aWGqUVqDhLZLBJ11XQiorgoKd76DC-scKr6_lvuAL_LVR7gfDdpDqKsORKmbu5IFYF4xFgZl8vW_YRniUHQNVg6HVUCUY4fkZ4Zi8FSsf/s1600-h/DSC08780.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqpLS5Q0uTKaanx_vJh68k99osgGjFbpshp_aWGqUVqDhLZLBJ11XQiorgoKd76DC-scKr6_lvuAL_LVR7gfDdpDqKsORKmbu5IFYF4xFgZl8vW_YRniUHQNVg6HVUCUY4fkZ4Zi8FSsf/s320/DSC08780.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267076619853795410" border="0" /></a>(Women's exercise class stretches after a hard workout. Please notice the sweaters.)<br /></div><br />If you’ve been keeping up with the Daily Life Blog,<a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/"></a> you’ll know that October was also filled with trips to Guayaquil, cooking lessons in humita-making, visits from Coloradan families, mountain summits, and Otavalan wanderings. And if you haven’t yet made it to blog, what better time than now to visit! <a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/">http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com. </a><br /><br />As Thanksgiving quickly approaches, we in the Manna Ecuador house are reminded daily of all the things we have to be grateful for. Please know that your letters, emails, thoughts and support mean so much to each of us. Thank you, <span style="font-weight: bold;">thank you</span>, from our corner of the world to yours.<br /><br />Until December,<br />Holly<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciCP0HmPWgz-KDP5iyVCvCEZSUHryMnwSAa3wZEl7bg7zGFNJbadfP9IjGzPcwanQtToJQTcK8k37gfvD0QkVURj5vae7dw_sg0I6Sx157fxX2dUBD4r1y48g20NUB4Cga9DT7YJl13LO/s1600-h/DSC_1129.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 119px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciCP0HmPWgz-KDP5iyVCvCEZSUHryMnwSAa3wZEl7bg7zGFNJbadfP9IjGzPcwanQtToJQTcK8k37gfvD0QkVURj5vae7dw_sg0I6Sx157fxX2dUBD4r1y48g20NUB4Cga9DT7YJl13LO/s320/DSC_1129.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267082337405091666" border="0" /></a>(The Manna girls goof around in Guayaquil)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6SbKeNku_ypAFawzrszuasngqbG4dKV922NUJfgHd2UScz16qJTVLDpaYZtEQ3jCJUZ2bLq4IkVr7QxiCBt8tFpqWlTywaykUtnVOPwPtZqbfrwCUEduoOzy6ytbU9kj4lVYsPtsjnP3/s1600-h/DSC08747.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6SbKeNku_ypAFawzrszuasngqbG4dKV922NUJfgHd2UScz16qJTVLDpaYZtEQ3jCJUZ2bLq4IkVr7QxiCBt8tFpqWlTywaykUtnVOPwPtZqbfrwCUEduoOzy6ytbU9kj4lVYsPtsjnP3/s320/DSC08747.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267080700333468194" border="0" /></a>(Seth, Dana, Mark and Dunc pause on the trek up Pasachoa)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJ_UJyZxc6g8SkHOXiElTwyUVM_9bTUtQ2CD7N6rVGVPZ9qrNhYlIMphrCCtUrJM7hilWSKPg5-KThGF7RsUHZ8DfykJHTMLfjMs4DsFbaGTszwZXFrnlTaEe0R1iM7wqBuvTVXfZNesE/s1600-h/DSC08743.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJ_UJyZxc6g8SkHOXiElTwyUVM_9bTUtQ2CD7N6rVGVPZ9qrNhYlIMphrCCtUrJM7hilWSKPg5-KThGF7RsUHZ8DfykJHTMLfjMs4DsFbaGTszwZXFrnlTaEe0R1iM7wqBuvTVXfZNesE/s320/DSC08743.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267080708296322690" border="0" /></a>(Mark and Seth make their way back down from the Pasachoa peak)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6PVCMHeNz7wMZrIexa5jUVypUFWGaknbu2eGCm5__luYXrRLPVmopz9h-1T1ymhjgBv406C0maRIWCPdN9yZfPILkD7XQEkEO8l0TNGo0FDijpJeo5yO26ecUZNQDUiUS5tJMLLxJj-4/s1600-h/DSC_1120_3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6PVCMHeNz7wMZrIexa5jUVypUFWGaknbu2eGCm5__luYXrRLPVmopz9h-1T1ymhjgBv406C0maRIWCPdN9yZfPILkD7XQEkEO8l0TNGo0FDijpJeo5yO26ecUZNQDUiUS5tJMLLxJj-4/s320/DSC_1120_3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267076601475506434" border="0" /></a>(Dana, Jocelyn, Serena and Holly wait with Jonathan at the bus stop after Apoyo Escolar)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRR8GZXujF-_SFDef3_trqkYTW1QiKOAWCbHf-djlBbk6aTwTZzKM64q-Y0mYQORecfgZhqn29McxCxavGzEXQkjLguMxlBEOX88C8SARyQfFr05bvAReIX1kWVJg05aiiHSNszdtlcZWX/s1600-h/DSC_1108.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRR8GZXujF-_SFDef3_trqkYTW1QiKOAWCbHf-djlBbk6aTwTZzKM64q-Y0mYQORecfgZhqn29McxCxavGzEXQkjLguMxlBEOX88C8SARyQfFr05bvAReIX1kWVJg05aiiHSNszdtlcZWX/s320/DSC_1108.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267082325561409618" border="0" /></a>(Pepita supervises Jocelyn's maneuvering of the choclo grind during our cooking lesson)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6q4wXWSmYxaJyBr59AnCP5sdwTtRbmBSQPfp6kEkBuJ1DBfkdXEq5iVMd48Tz5PGacBGNSMGHO2yYIS2jQuby8-j7BwVR5VNA8lRZqCQ4XoePr4l1SV36Sws0DCrELWEa-UdSSttxZUJo/s1600-h/DSC_1128_2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6q4wXWSmYxaJyBr59AnCP5sdwTtRbmBSQPfp6kEkBuJ1DBfkdXEq5iVMd48Tz5PGacBGNSMGHO2yYIS2jQuby8-j7BwVR5VNA8lRZqCQ4XoePr4l1SV36Sws0DCrELWEa-UdSSttxZUJo/s320/DSC_1128_2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267073603339124738" border="0" /></a>(our devious little pumpkin...ok fine, squash)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXfWLi9UAy1WA-qwkoDHDoUWPefgpG0q58xEGQzvdfX2JrnYPtbKG572wPJXDIseA0JSMuqFcEW5V5Zeaup-ziwrrvNrYhwej7O1H6Q02PTEKmiGtXgK2z6pPodtUFmLrjcdakG93thky/s1600-h/DSC_1115_3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXfWLi9UAy1WA-qwkoDHDoUWPefgpG0q58xEGQzvdfX2JrnYPtbKG572wPJXDIseA0JSMuqFcEW5V5Zeaup-ziwrrvNrYhwej7O1H6Q02PTEKmiGtXgK2z6pPodtUFmLrjcdakG93thky/s320/DSC_1115_3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267076608824737474" border="0" /></a>(the Apoyo crew celebrates finishing their homework!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojOX9ZPFpQD5-8VVAdWW9guFr0EyxzzMpwtccq5aJgLWP92DUb2h1ERctMhLFbIG8XARYv3aVlQC13-LdtfBSS0KUqac7vw0OteK0Aoz-bObrf4lkZA4mGm90b0rDcXJvwwp4afAo9f5-/s1600-h/DSC08966.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojOX9ZPFpQD5-8VVAdWW9guFr0EyxzzMpwtccq5aJgLWP92DUb2h1ERctMhLFbIG8XARYv3aVlQC13-LdtfBSS0KUqac7vw0OteK0Aoz-bObrf4lkZA4mGm90b0rDcXJvwwp4afAo9f5-/s320/DSC08966.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267073598732038290" border="0" /></a>(Dunc Fulton and Eliah McCallah get into a tiff while hiking the Quilotoa Loop)<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369273120576590584.post-92123235122304876912008-10-09T08:12:00.000-07:002008-10-09T10:29:29.422-07:00October 2008<div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJcN1PuvH-W8eRH78Fu7z-TN3m-auPgMJX1jel2ZRv-xC98QPaZDZcPUpF6pntyKmtXnMkj2bKeOwIVMcoiaznHm-Qz5Qg7sVr8hhyphenhyphen7qrsgdEEbQOKJSWyr_iienohPH-WmvSrQJPlic8/s1600-h/DSC_1159.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJcN1PuvH-W8eRH78Fu7z-TN3m-auPgMJX1jel2ZRv-xC98QPaZDZcPUpF6pntyKmtXnMkj2bKeOwIVMcoiaznHm-Qz5Qg7sVr8hhyphenhyphen7qrsgdEEbQOKJSWyr_iienohPH-WmvSrQJPlic8/s320/DSC_1159.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255199032366041746" border="0" /></a>(October sunset over the Andes)<br /><br /></div>Another month, another slightly tardy Ecuador update. I'm nothing if not consistent!<br /><br />September saw a number of exciting changes for MPIEcuador in terms of programs expansions, project enactments, and our inner-house community. Luckily I have 9 more monthly updates to cover everything, thus each month I will be focusing the Manna lens on one or two projects.<br /><br />Last year's PDs, drawing from methodologies developed by the World Bank and Northwestern University, conducted community surveys and dialogues aimed at identifying the existing institutions, networks, and individuals which stood as assets in the communities in which we work. As we've analyzed the data from these surveys in the past few months, the number of respondents who identified a desire to start their own small business was a staggering 65%. To this end, Dunc Fulton and Eliah McCalla organized (and participated in) a two week business course for community members at neighboring FEVI University.<br /><br />Partnered with the local Cooperative and the Center for Innovation and Small Business Development at FEVI, the class taught basic business skills to 14 community members (and two Gringos!), covering topics such as entrepreneurial characteristics, formulation of business ideas, marketing, and the creation of detailed business and financial plans. As a final project, the participants created their own actual business plans, evaluated by leaders of the Cooperativa Esperanza y Progreso del Valle. We all attended the final project presentations, and it was incredibly touching to listen to each participant thank Manna Project and the Cooperative for working side by side to put on the class and for taking seriously their individual dreams of being small business owners.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzOechpEu3ykpRfJq3v7JCqYlRXZamSa7R4eCYrvLkwzywxuF5GVNCz-Z2DY8sV6W6nbBdJg8IiOrJ59cD_dqQJ8FKpK3G-CQSZ-pMWn2wLRA1ZYCbQ5N9zdVD9yoX-0b8NczQn_c6tkb/s1600-h/IMG_2803.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzOechpEu3ykpRfJq3v7JCqYlRXZamSa7R4eCYrvLkwzywxuF5GVNCz-Z2DY8sV6W6nbBdJg8IiOrJ59cD_dqQJ8FKpK3G-CQSZ-pMWn2wLRA1ZYCbQ5N9zdVD9yoX-0b8NczQn_c6tkb/s320/IMG_2803.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255193710935100962" border="0" /></a>(The small business class (spot the gringo!), with their diplomas)<br /></div><br />We also welcomed our 9th Program Director, Dana Conway, a fellow Coloradan and ski bum, on September 23. As I write this, Dana is still living in Quito and working her way through the many Spanish verb tenses at language school, but will join us in a week down in the Valley. Already adapting wonderfully to Ecuadorian life, Dana has spent the past few weeks exploring Quito, traveling with us all to Cuenca for our yearly PD retreat, participating in our intensive weekly meetings (which somehow always seem to take over two hours), and practicing for her turn as head chef. Having found her niche in the house dynamic somewhere between the personality extremes perfectly represented by cousins Dunc and Jocelyn, we couldn't be more excited to add Dana to our Manna family.<br /><br />Stay tuned next month for updates on our women's exercise and adult literacy classes, slated to begin in a little over a week. And don't forget to keep up with the Daily Life Blog (found at www.openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com) if you're ever searching for more detailed depictions of Manna life, Ecuador style.<br /><br />Thank you for your continued support, and happy autumn! Think of us next time you pass an orange pumpkin or crunch over brightly colored leaves!<br /><br />Holly<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cj0Spu0kijfJy2t4qV55NOEzXh9LXCxNx-CYuPyHLdM0qCTGF0cm9M09YzTUpZKJnJEYu1EgGKZfhq_8-AOrHV30B1pqDK2FE89vL2q3mFc0UPXmGJYHJ0_2yEMA073Dam5gC6raGZ_m/s1600-h/DSC_1119.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cj0Spu0kijfJy2t4qV55NOEzXh9LXCxNx-CYuPyHLdM0qCTGF0cm9M09YzTUpZKJnJEYu1EgGKZfhq_8-AOrHV30B1pqDK2FE89vL2q3mFc0UPXmGJYHJ0_2yEMA073Dam5gC6raGZ_m/s320/DSC_1119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255193714462690754" border="0" /></a>(Country Director Mark Hand demonstrating the correct technique for 'bus surfing')<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicu6IjOEsPUvgoF5LAfGyb3z98U-6iBIOp9TfElTsi_ijh27bZVrm0exW2ZkqeSihFQCrWlHbn5yz5Fv1qQA8dIg_ytYFj4Ip9w9pfK65BO49A9C3bsFyzkMgGCMBVHf8rS8zGF1EfLfpn/s1600-h/DSC_1104_2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicu6IjOEsPUvgoF5LAfGyb3z98U-6iBIOp9TfElTsi_ijh27bZVrm0exW2ZkqeSihFQCrWlHbn5yz5Fv1qQA8dIg_ytYFj4Ip9w9pfK65BO49A9C3bsFyzkMgGCMBVHf8rS8zGF1EfLfpn/s320/DSC_1104_2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255187982019067538" border="0" /></a>(Jocelyn Lancaster evades capture during a football break from Apoyo Escolar)<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6gAf_shdYbR2DjvlTw-YIhhEY_dHSXD2UzFr9QJDEdmY6RzAjmo0oPjRlz6ENkH2njWlyZkDGHZq96DaegsOXf7pjXy3lNFJ_HK8wABzMw8AouMFMwBxjoueE7Img4zSY_FnFG7cdTIK/s1600-h/DSC03356.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6gAf_shdYbR2DjvlTw-YIhhEY_dHSXD2UzFr9QJDEdmY6RzAjmo0oPjRlz6ENkH2njWlyZkDGHZq96DaegsOXf7pjXy3lNFJ_HK8wABzMw8AouMFMwBxjoueE7Img4zSY_FnFG7cdTIK/s320/DSC03356.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255187987002364530" border="0" /></a>(Dunc Fulton takes part in a business strategy game during small business class)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCYDMUg7iWyPcPquHPYvwSl8Xj70Hr4IK0EF4_qBvhSiD9y_IqtvMjKMdnXxeKnqIAuRDFnt8ul6cnuGFmuKxGzbHkJpko3zOpyGWUjm93gpWEVO8bLULYDUjOozPdYbhW-NJzRSVr_1-/s1600-h/DSC_1126.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCYDMUg7iWyPcPquHPYvwSl8Xj70Hr4IK0EF4_qBvhSiD9y_IqtvMjKMdnXxeKnqIAuRDFnt8ul6cnuGFmuKxGzbHkJpko3zOpyGWUjm93gpWEVO8bLULYDUjOozPdYbhW-NJzRSVr_1-/s320/DSC_1126.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255187992190702866" border="0" /></a>(Serena Zhou and Holly Ward start the long clean up in the community-wide river <a href="http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com/2008/09/our-first-minga.html">Minga</a>)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoj32XjA126ZnGbRxtr1uqd1ZDhI1RbvhOQjvqD0xno6DGQlw13K71DUnwGxK71zSv5UtZjSTjymf0AN245hQaxlkVVlDTpcfjdJMhw2WPSfJiL79WIdNdtgr4tSTwtBwYd9pxZW8Mk05/s1600-h/DSC_1160.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoj32XjA126ZnGbRxtr1uqd1ZDhI1RbvhOQjvqD0xno6DGQlw13K71DUnwGxK71zSv5UtZjSTjymf0AN245hQaxlkVVlDTpcfjdJMhw2WPSfJiL79WIdNdtgr4tSTwtBwYd9pxZW8Mk05/s320/DSC_1160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255189667526628994" border="0" /></a>(Seth Harlan, Jocelyn, Dana Conway, Luke Lockwood, and Serena goof around in Cuenca)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Qonv93i4jmeR_l3GY6B055DG4u-IUIXZKy9uiawFjobfJa9qEY9B9j6a58rLngLD6zQve1gmWUdLovifAjJRflzjayN9-tZ7EvXzic8EapBABLe1IAA6ILB3v95kJpGc5T0GbRHXwdPu/s1600-h/DSC_1241.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Qonv93i4jmeR_l3GY6B055DG4u-IUIXZKy9uiawFjobfJa9qEY9B9j6a58rLngLD6zQve1gmWUdLovifAjJRflzjayN9-tZ7EvXzic8EapBABLe1IAA6ILB3v95kJpGc5T0GbRHXwdPu/s320/DSC_1241.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255189667133156898" border="0" /></a>(Manna Ecuador boys (Seth, Dunc, Luke and Mark) lounge in the pool)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINbKEt5cLYoLe6rX0z6BVd7U735t0AoztAHxGeCHzWqs-jh5qxo3ww3bmVCpgbRRYttaM5x2JuIaTWDq2htrMqGrB-k7OVUocXiJc3AMTcUG9YP8Y8FXQt1KlG0kuEPJkJqRXd6fbUePH/s1600-h/DSC_1249.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINbKEt5cLYoLe6rX0z6BVd7U735t0AoztAHxGeCHzWqs-jh5qxo3ww3bmVCpgbRRYttaM5x2JuIaTWDq2htrMqGrB-k7OVUocXiJc3AMTcUG9YP8Y8FXQt1KlG0kuEPJkJqRXd6fbUePH/s320/DSC_1249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255189668938294594" border="0" /></a>(Jocelyn, Serena and Holly model their new Panama hats, purchased in Cuenca!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4wYFz-_i0ybm6X08z5L4t0lzlDvpd2Gq4PqIExgYWCS6pllp1O54QlrnuNDLonzV4soZ3G-N6bRno_tM4vQ2psCd8gGxa0ugiEQ_SS_LLH6c9JMkE0R6nYizpZKbEnbxJkPmR0h6AR1y/s1600-h/DSC_1291.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4wYFz-_i0ybm6X08z5L4t0lzlDvpd2Gq4PqIExgYWCS6pllp1O54QlrnuNDLonzV4soZ3G-N6bRno_tM4vQ2psCd8gGxa0ugiEQ_SS_LLH6c9JMkE0R6nYizpZKbEnbxJkPmR0h6AR1y/s320/DSC_1291.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255193706908503586" border="0" /></a>(the team covers all the ground in Cajas National Park)<br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369273120576590584.post-51875801371317500232008-09-07T19:13:00.000-07:002008-09-07T19:54:17.120-07:00September 2008<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfTcdbPibGE_5in-OQY7_TcCASfVLr5EiJLC9FSLtPYXSJDi7Zxc5wWkqq0Z6mj4jrJsHm6vDIp4Nj6btchcCKAwKvCeMfMw7LzWYWoRPkZG4gvOKRszZKdxq9qEjDSqNCspDGh1HKcus/s1600-h/DSC_1208.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfTcdbPibGE_5in-OQY7_TcCASfVLr5EiJLC9FSLtPYXSJDi7Zxc5wWkqq0Z6mj4jrJsHm6vDIp4Nj6btchcCKAwKvCeMfMw7LzWYWoRPkZG4gvOKRszZKdxq9qEjDSqNCspDGh1HKcus/s320/DSC_1208.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243474789469847314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Incomparable Ecuadorian sunset-rainbow combination, as seen from our rooftop porch</span>)</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Greetings from Ecuador!</span><br /><br />When Mark asked me the other day when the Monthly Update for September would be ready to send out, I was in shock. Had it honestly been one month since we sent out the last update? Had time snuck by so quickly down here in Ecuador that I already had to start composing the next(my first!) update? Seeing as how it is now already September 7, the answer is clearly yes.<br /><br />As I've begun to sort through all that's happened since we last wrote, I'm amazed by the variety and richness of our experiences here so far. We've wandered our way through the markets in Sangolquí and biked through the Andes mountains. We've played pick-up soccer with a jumble of kids from San Francisco and stood with one foot each in both hemispheres. We've learned to identify fresh passion fruit and taught our first classes, immersed ourselves in community development literature and begun to re-mold our preconceived notions on creating change.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsmmp3vIq4A9fuZwggFWZjG4WEyF4u5Dun8G1cCicWxqUmZ2BpHD4Iz-_jnlHmHFuKssS-RNPsIxbzuPuKi0KR8T6vOaMR5eattDGbM5n7OViRioyfazmX9Xyo6zirgiwnBTIxxiebk83/s1600-h/DSC_1147.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsmmp3vIq4A9fuZwggFWZjG4WEyF4u5Dun8G1cCicWxqUmZ2BpHD4Iz-_jnlHmHFuKssS-RNPsIxbzuPuKi0KR8T6vOaMR5eattDGbM5n7OViRioyfazmX9Xyo6zirgiwnBTIxxiebk83/s320/DSC_1147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243474791584265138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(The whole crew on the equator at Mitad del Mundo)</span></div><br />Specifically, the trip to Mitad del Mundo, ("half of the world") encompasses how I've come to view our time down here so far. Straddling the equatorial line put us in the unique position of being a part of two hemispheres simultaneously. Emblematically this stands true as well. Attending some of the top universities in the States allowed us to engage with expert professors in fields ranging from Biological Anthropology to Native American Literature. We benefited greatly from the privileges that come hand in hand with university life; the rich atmosphere of intellectualism, a commitment to communal successes, and a seemingly endless supply of available resources. Now down here in the town of San Francisco, Ecuador, we're encountering a different kind of world, a world struggling to rise above economic uncertainty, insufficient access to health services and lacking educational resources.<br /><br />As Manna volunteers, we stand figuratively with a foot in each world, able to think and work, to plan and enact with both perspectives in mind. Instead of remaining on one side of the line and<br />picking out needs on the other, MPIE has been working to redefine our strategy of community development as one that identifies existing communal strengths and uses our abilities and connections to enhance them. We see our role here as three-fold: to empower individuals, strengthen institutions, and build networks. With a stake in each hemisphere, we stand poised to connect and reinforce our numerous worlds.<br /><br />With finance courses, the expansion of the local health clinic, English classes, women's exercise programs, a community garden/recycling initiative and teenage girls’ art classes in the works, there is plenty to keep updated on. To help our friends, family and donors do so, we're proud to announce the creation of the new "Daily Life" blog, found at http://openhandsdirtyfeet.blogspot.com. With tidbits about life in the house, program updates, random information about MPIE PDs, and a rating of our nightly family dinners, the daily blog is the best way to keep up to date on life at MPIE in real time.<br /><br />Also, to facilitate the ease with which I send out these monthly updates, we've created an MPIE google group. That way, instead of sending this email out to 500 people in 10 stages (and getting my gmail account shut down from overuse), once you accept the invitation I will be able to send the email one time and reach everyone in our network. Look for the invitation to the google group later tonight, and please accept!<br /><br />Here's to the next month,<br />Holly<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAllL-_AnjpDHpzilj2ZqoOwNJ6mXhI6tSwPLWJfwSCPmbWhi_XEFz6s5j3czwWHPn86fu4To18ojtHKfybU62wCOczNqQUixQSHU3oiB_RZrUuev3zgFA9EyKo9-SEQNLnmFESLF1gvB/s1600-h/n5401775_32203025_5831.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAllL-_AnjpDHpzilj2ZqoOwNJ6mXhI6tSwPLWJfwSCPmbWhi_XEFz6s5j3czwWHPn86fu4To18ojtHKfybU62wCOczNqQUixQSHU3oiB_RZrUuev3zgFA9EyKo9-SEQNLnmFESLF1gvB/s320/n5401775_32203025_5831.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243470585139820066" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">New PDs Eliah McCalla, Serena Zhou and Holly Ward climbing the Basilica</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMkbxZGSCi_uxQxFyRLE_30eATTMua95UkjQYTsdHiHcPNS_oQkmU-_aaf9Qu5w34OJWqbrxAcZwxENOBVei6VQ3_OcCOAmb4HA5m5s_-GrBM4Huym3H1LFuzzBI-GtdqGZ12PbaA8BjJ/s1600-h/DSC_1114_2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMkbxZGSCi_uxQxFyRLE_30eATTMua95UkjQYTsdHiHcPNS_oQkmU-_aaf9Qu5w34OJWqbrxAcZwxENOBVei6VQ3_OcCOAmb4HA5m5s_-GrBM4Huym3H1LFuzzBI-GtdqGZ12PbaA8BjJ/s320/DSC_1114_2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243470591139329906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Art class during our 2 week summer camp at local Aliñambi </span><br /><br /> <a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVQ_8CIN4cSomludV0PdqfP3v8v8-N1B2ICMR1pB1rM6U5D8fWNHu2zcpfGCWt4YtOhNvFNlfXVkbm1cNcr7oaDcrFVrw1Q7BVcfjC83k2ruVJl4NYXFq9IPhjy-jgK-yDLnUTQ1lksO_/s1600-h/DSC_1171.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVQ_8CIN4cSomludV0PdqfP3v8v8-N1B2ICMR1pB1rM6U5D8fWNHu2zcpfGCWt4YtOhNvFNlfXVkbm1cNcr7oaDcrFVrw1Q7BVcfjC83k2ruVJl4NYXFq9IPhjy-jgK-yDLnUTQ1lksO_/s320/DSC_1171.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243470617095712130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">New PD Dunc Fulton acting as soccer mom for his Aliñambi students at the Amusement Park</span><br /><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafXg2tNhByWqO5VnO74slIdXwW4VMgD4SkybC1X9_8p9fgLQxvdX4cF-VDHO0kF9yp9hFnDq7HVddDnlM_caWfhPQuh1E5HGCIZqMzw8Kxc176eEt-MGOxPj1LDTwkK6w71UiWmF2rXWQ/s1600-h/DSC_1132.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafXg2tNhByWqO5VnO74slIdXwW4VMgD4SkybC1X9_8p9fgLQxvdX4cF-VDHO0kF9yp9hFnDq7HVddDnlM_caWfhPQuh1E5HGCIZqMzw8Kxc176eEt-MGOxPj1LDTwkK6w71UiWmF2rXWQ/s320/DSC_1132.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243470594841692178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Celebrating like Ecuadorians on 9 de Augosto in downtown Quito</span><br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8gCkYCgkwJXLdhOAzpYpfwxuNHPev0I3_7f-DCc9ivcYVGIzKsOw8NX-pwwTl8-tqFNtvdcEyQAXxZPshM_Y0jkGBeeyL43JVKyEVsA8zmr6DZ2EK6_cOiywSVO6tNp0YNDnWx7sxlck/s1600-h/DSC_1115_2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8gCkYCgkwJXLdhOAzpYpfwxuNHPev0I3_7f-DCc9ivcYVGIzKsOw8NX-pwwTl8-tqFNtvdcEyQAXxZPshM_Y0jkGBeeyL43JVKyEVsA8zmr6DZ2EK6_cOiywSVO6tNp0YNDnWx7sxlck/s320/DSC_1115_2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243470602788162258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">New PDs Jocelyn Lancaster and Serena Zhou playing a memory game with the students in their English Class</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohYbHQQqbWW4zbQ4OEVr_hwt0CjTA_tyOhM4c-TlV2lQhNoLKmL6MmWDVeykE30HotvmiArsaNYOKxnF5gxs9bgm6vS6oDbVpxyv5aOBXBG9eykEmvcaXjF1q972sYa-DFInJvHlbmrdX/s1600-h/DSC_1158.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohYbHQQqbWW4zbQ4OEVr_hwt0CjTA_tyOhM4c-TlV2lQhNoLKmL6MmWDVeykE30HotvmiArsaNYOKxnF5gxs9bgm6vS6oDbVpxyv5aOBXBG9eykEmvcaXjF1q972sYa-DFInJvHlbmrdX/s320/DSC_1158.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243474799425894114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Serena giving Marjorie and Wendy (at Apoyo Escolar) their favorite ride of the day</span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369273120576590584.post-73297532656633498082008-08-01T17:38:00.000-07:002008-08-01T17:44:58.715-07:00August 2008Hello and, for those of you who are new to our monthly update, welcome! Starting next month, new Program Director (PD) Holly Ward will be sending out brief monthly updates with stories, pictures, and links to this blog, where we'll be posting even more.<br /><br />This Sunday marks exactly one year since I (<a href="http://markhand.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mark</a>) landed in Quito. I spoke basic Spanish, was unsure if the other volunteers would be able to get visas to meet me in September, and it took me three weeks to locate where I was on Google Maps. I had - at best - fragmented knowledge about community development and nonprofit management, and knew only that my immediate role would be helping with summer camps operated by another local organization.<br /><br />The other volunteers did in fact arrive in September, and since then our Spanish has improved quite a bit. We still struggle with Ecuador's kafkaesque visa system, however, and - to Craig's consternation - I still get lost in Sangolquí, the valley's biggest city. But our understanding of community development and management have grown in bounds, and we have begun more sharply <a href="http://craiginquito.blogspot.com/2008/06/connecting-community-assets.html" target="_blank">to define MPI's role</a> in the neighborhoods where we work. That is entirely due to the tireless, selfless work of this year's PDs - Annie, Abbie, Hilary, Seth, Luke, John, Craig and Zak. I can not imagine a stronger founding team, and they have set a high bar for subsequent volunteers.<br /><br />One year later, the stage is set for <a href="http://mannaproject.org/teamecuador08-09.asp" target="_blank">MPIE's next generation of PDs</a>, who are moving in to their rooms in the Manna house this evening. After three weeks of training and language school in Quito, they're itching to get to work. They'd better be - they've got their work cut out for them!<br /><br />Atentamente,<br /><br />Mark Hand<br />Ecuador Country Director<br />Manna Project International<br /><br /><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">-----------------------</b><br /><br /><b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Donate:</b> As always, we're grateful for your support. To donate online, please visit <a href="http://mannaproject.org/DonateNow.asp" target="_blank">here</a> - or see our <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuadorwishlist.asp" target="_blank">online wishlist</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNs0npaOjm3Vk42pNc44D8s_Ztygbc9lToVPOWYhwGE1KbnZJ7pBnsFzCpL9RbKQaocEmgZSu4JNTj1MjAOBjZ3ej8C8AVJXRA9zd0Vhcbmk8-5TdFVNR4T4J-hfu1qO3c-Xpj4fQlMic/s1600-h/DSC_1157.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 407px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNs0npaOjm3Vk42pNc44D8s_Ztygbc9lToVPOWYhwGE1KbnZJ7pBnsFzCpL9RbKQaocEmgZSu4JNTj1MjAOBjZ3ej8C8AVJXRA9zd0Vhcbmk8-5TdFVNR4T4J-hfu1qO3c-Xpj4fQlMic/s320/DSC_1157.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229713755147549170" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369273120576590584.post-38447372586329070532008-07-02T07:14:00.000-07:002008-07-02T07:44:34.318-07:00July UPDATE 2008<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2aXyEh5z1oJB_vngPmD3S3JgSWZwSNKuKjaTmJp4STyRF_unMzGRnNOXJxJoHSepMs83bt6rZ1t89a-Tnyz7vtYzoVvKSDt3HaJWYQRNf-IDC6JIjpkM2htjmRMUOOlSHF1rL_Fgfpdc/s1600-h/painting+program+space.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2aXyEh5z1oJB_vngPmD3S3JgSWZwSNKuKjaTmJp4STyRF_unMzGRnNOXJxJoHSepMs83bt6rZ1t89a-Tnyz7vtYzoVvKSDt3HaJWYQRNf-IDC6JIjpkM2htjmRMUOOlSHF1rL_Fgfpdc/s320/painting+program+space.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218421737447439986" /></a><br /><br />It’s summertime in Ecuador. Kids are finishing up school for summer vacation, days are becoming a little less rainy and MPI is in full gear. We are currently hosting our second group of month-long summer volunteers, who are doing fantastic jobs running various programs:<br /><br />1. Summer day camp. Now that school is over for summer, our volunteers have started a two-week summer day camp for kids in San Francisco. Incorporating arts, science and sports, kids spend days doing activities that range from making baking soda volcanoes to cooking class, to playing fun games outside. <br /><br />2. Intensive English course. MPI summer volunteers are in charge of planning and teaching a month-long, intensive English class for children in the sixth and seventh grades in a given community. The class, consisting of about 20 students, meets for three hours every day and is a great extracurricular opportunity for children to advance their English skills. Two weeks ago we finished the first English course in San Juan with great success and are now teaching class in Conocoto, about two blocks from where we live.<br /><br />3. Surveys and Data Entry. This week we finish conducting the <a href="http://mpiecuador.blogspot.com/2008_06_01_archive.html">Community Asset Surveys</a> that we’ve been working on for months. Summer volunteers have not only been helping conduct the surveys, they’ve also worked incredibly hard putting together a data base and entering surveys into the software to be analyzed this month.<br /><br />4. Maternal-child health research in the community. Carmen Wolfe, first year Vanderbilt medical student, is conducting maternal-child health research in San Francisco for the Aliñambi clinic.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, I am enjoying my last seven days in Ecuador before I return to Denver to start medical school at the University of Colorado. The goodbye will be incredibly bittersweet, as I know I will miss so many things about this beautiful country. I have seven more days to wake up to the snow-covered tip of Cotopaxi standing proudly outside our window; seven more days to enjoy the freshly baked bread from the local panaderías; seven more days with the kids we work with in San Francisco and seven more days to cherish time with my roommates/ co-workers/ friends who have also become my family during the past 11 months.<br /> Thanks to everyone who has supported and encouraged me throughout the year. It’s been amazing!<br /><br />Hasta pronto,<br /><br />Abbie<br /><br /><br />Also, we’re in need of community development books! Please check out our <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuadorwishlist.asp">Manna Project Ecuador Wishlist</a> if you’re interested in donating.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_el0zabAcJ9sCyK5oSLL21QL-Yrl76sm93JT0_uLzifCvOQzIsw67og3ueyGu26Q9CGUILIQZo86j5YIJquZ1cZXcpSR3LJSUGOxh4e6skewC2trMT1UUJsgGC-nLyzlUdCLhe9tdY2U/s1600-h/EnglishClass.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_el0zabAcJ9sCyK5oSLL21QL-Yrl76sm93JT0_uLzifCvOQzIsw67og3ueyGu26Q9CGUILIQZo86j5YIJquZ1cZXcpSR3LJSUGOxh4e6skewC2trMT1UUJsgGC-nLyzlUdCLhe9tdY2U/s320/EnglishClass.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218420851409318050" /></a><br />Registering for English Class.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouLUPdd_xoJxjHkAR8i89n5VET_JYhmo6HuEKPc5hcxFanfpjlT3E8DsC07lV3wQO3D0LIG5CFoS3726LI7E5eWIkNcBH3Qej7vjQKVqyAU0-0TB3DnvCN6nJAVAWGRRn9Zmd31R8Q4w/s1600-h/kids+in+english+class.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouLUPdd_xoJxjHkAR8i89n5VET_JYhmo6HuEKPc5hcxFanfpjlT3E8DsC07lV3wQO3D0LIG5CFoS3726LI7E5eWIkNcBH3Qej7vjQKVqyAU0-0TB3DnvCN6nJAVAWGRRn9Zmd31R8Q4w/s320/kids+in+english+class.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218421116320799890" /></a><br />Kids in English Class in San Juan.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTGkvVGyzTA2KVr87xG5FWcP8oloM_FZNuQXm4TV3How5Sq21ezgPSzGXO68HI4XuxTxY6sjEx7eOmt-EDVYt1a2x-9jx5K2JzsDG7sMG0jeBf8LIlBKlTAACV8Tow5ANZ7kpMK0Ud_0/s1600-h/Minga.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTGkvVGyzTA2KVr87xG5FWcP8oloM_FZNuQXm4TV3How5Sq21ezgPSzGXO68HI4XuxTxY6sjEx7eOmt-EDVYt1a2x-9jx5K2JzsDG7sMG0jeBf8LIlBKlTAACV8Tow5ANZ7kpMK0Ud_0/s320/Minga.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218421412992654818" /></a><br />Painting and cleaning the community house in San Juan.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KwOWXgCjgS64O6mQrn1ukQm67nfvSZIZkYuoQ6ZUB40pPYgeqRZka92ElGSdjmDAk-VwFw64TdyrGxOdFGosgbCxw1dRA7hIAoaYHvPiYqOSoCfhOwTnLOdXC-RI13ye3EicmNMlhzI/s1600-h/n23704765_31289917_8327.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KwOWXgCjgS64O6mQrn1ukQm67nfvSZIZkYuoQ6ZUB40pPYgeqRZka92ElGSdjmDAk-VwFw64TdyrGxOdFGosgbCxw1dRA7hIAoaYHvPiYqOSoCfhOwTnLOdXC-RI13ye3EicmNMlhzI/s320/n23704765_31289917_8327.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218422208822005378" /></a><br />Art project in San Francisco.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGFVueP31EstIR9O6d727sOVM_H6u_2K6laoHLR-1ygHql5u6-8RajbHm_TbIz8UAR-VQJXsKnwIdlTkw-JXuI4YcBb29UPyIBtSFco8eMukk2j9N18P-zdHOJhY4vuCsGAXZOusXbs4/s1600-h/surveying.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGFVueP31EstIR9O6d727sOVM_H6u_2K6laoHLR-1ygHql5u6-8RajbHm_TbIz8UAR-VQJXsKnwIdlTkw-JXuI4YcBb29UPyIBtSFco8eMukk2j9N18P-zdHOJhY4vuCsGAXZOusXbs4/s320/surveying.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218422732176611346" /></a><br />Diana surveying in Rumiloma.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZo4mMMeNmgK8gdqsdpdSkPH_v1SF1PF1v0ubnCBRAuJV_0oDFiNJIxtmQ8d0itXOkmopL21ygR8EdatVe2gN5sZTDG5bnkQQc1SzWRojr-JJnHbi6aQkjpjiTtiOH2qEUPSdyTvgg2Qs/s1600-h/n23704765_31289954_6034.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZo4mMMeNmgK8gdqsdpdSkPH_v1SF1PF1v0ubnCBRAuJV_0oDFiNJIxtmQ8d0itXOkmopL21ygR8EdatVe2gN5sZTDG5bnkQQc1SzWRojr-JJnHbi6aQkjpjiTtiOH2qEUPSdyTvgg2Qs/s320/n23704765_31289954_6034.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218423277205525554" /></a><br />Kayla and Kristen, summer volunteers, at Apoyo Escolar in San Francisco.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmKNvZFm0Byus9U8gN_tg1bM399hJwOsoWXzm9J0DbLeDJU-_GEuooZu-gQetrTP5uT5wyLhqWnll-KzEsDglKYxuyWWI2hJKKLwDMoJkbHIzN_lrGtzk7TDr1DOZS75iWNPht1K7hCs/s1600-h/summer+awards.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmKNvZFm0Byus9U8gN_tg1bM399hJwOsoWXzm9J0DbLeDJU-_GEuooZu-gQetrTP5uT5wyLhqWnll-KzEsDglKYxuyWWI2hJKKLwDMoJkbHIzN_lrGtzk7TDr1DOZS75iWNPht1K7hCs/s320/summer+awards.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218423962052019650" /></a><br />Annie and Seth with their paper plate awards from the first group of summer volunteers.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369273120576590584.post-68580687557222144072008-06-09T19:12:00.000-07:002008-07-02T07:49:53.360-07:00June 2008 UPDATE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mHflW0zy2jeLcTOsx9YBWHGgvtoaD872PVq0I3bjIlyg7X1X7Mzn9CEOwMTRqBTgIwSKx5odTt2c9zJDaVttT60j4M9fKGGMZABhZ8i-DPT-oweOVomCul7qBD_Xu9BaXojnUPdwacU/s1600-h/Diana+Interviewing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mHflW0zy2jeLcTOsx9YBWHGgvtoaD872PVq0I3bjIlyg7X1X7Mzn9CEOwMTRqBTgIwSKx5odTt2c9zJDaVttT60j4M9fKGGMZABhZ8i-DPT-oweOVomCul7qBD_Xu9BaXojnUPdwacU/s320/Diana+Interviewing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210075449362998194" /></a><br /><br /> <br />Dear friends and family,<br /><br /> For almost ten days now Mark, Craig and I have been conducting community assets surveys with the help of ten seventh graders from Aliñambi school, a school/clinic/ home-for-children-in-difficult-family-situations. We've also partnered with <a href="healtheclinic.org">HealtheClinic</a>, a US-based health non-profit. So far we’ve completed 190 surveys, and have hopes of interviewing over 1,000 households before the end of the summer- a number that is both daunting and exciting. We’re happy finally to be conducting interviews with the seventh graders. Getting to this point has taken months of planning, including a 2-week capacitación, or training session, for the kids on how to survey a household in a professional and mature manner. <br /><br /> The idea of the survey is four-fold: 1) to collect information about existing assets and services in the community, 2) to better understand the social/ cultural make-up of the community, 3) to learn about individual skills and talents of people in the community, and 4) to teach the Aliñambi students self-respect, the value of completing a task, and a little bit of self-confidence. Ultimately, our goal is to be able to strengthen the assets that already exist (local clinics, businesses, etc.) by connecting individuals with each other and with local institutions. <br /><br /> We continue to build friendships with the seventh graders conducting the surveys, whose story in itself is inspiring: 7 of the 10 students live at Aliñambi and have most of their lives. Ana, Jazmín and Diana are on my team, and it has been a joy to get to know them. Just the other day, after 2 hours of doing door to door interviews, they mustered up the courage to ask me, in between giggles, “Tía Abbie, (they call all teachers and authority figures at the school tío or tía, uncle or aunt), have you ever had a boyfriend?” Their endearing, adolescent comment made me smile, especially since they looked so professional in their uniforms and interviewing identification cards. <br /><br /> For Mark, Craig and me, these asset surveys pretty much take up our lives in Ecuador- if we’re not conducting surveys, we’re discussing the surveys with Aliñambi’s Dr. Julia, examining maps of the community to figure out our next step, checking for mistakes in already completed surveys, figuring out software for data entry, writing about the surveys in the MPI monthly update… you get the idea. <br /><br /> We are committed to working as hard as we can to ensure useful, comprehensive survey results that will greatly benefit the community we work in, and are asking for your financial help. <br /> Attached is the formal survey proposal, if you are interested in viewing it. If you’d like to donate, please email me back and I’ll send you the details.<br /><br />Sending our best from Ecuador and thank you!<br /><br />Abbie<br /><br />p.s. click <a href="www.mpiecuador.blogspot.com">here</a> for pictures, videos and past updates.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLG3psFOgv3g0mM-3CBwK2CsIK1qEYMbQAhqotNwE8FHk0nNkLKmhuG0wlpnabmnTHf0BQFULgv0GaC9uaw2vrXw9ORfg_lzaZRcPShOKiZHn-XMqnZ-_PgWRwdQUa138yho1uRxl-TQ/s1600-h/Jazmin+and+Anna+Interviewing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLG3psFOgv3g0mM-3CBwK2CsIK1qEYMbQAhqotNwE8FHk0nNkLKmhuG0wlpnabmnTHf0BQFULgv0GaC9uaw2vrXw9ORfg_lzaZRcPShOKiZHn-XMqnZ-_PgWRwdQUa138yho1uRxl-TQ/s320/Jazmin+and+Anna+Interviewing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210077534726779154" /></a><br />Jazmin and Ana waiting at the door to conduct a survey.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJQqKZTCXimmf1lGEB-IpZhyphenhyphenBPeekU_MYH_RKXNOBRRMaZiX0gZG91_Tc0SQI5SjFK4BNvMU5yytsUiS-a1pssJQ8W1SZG7SeCFOZ5mOxBvDi7P-m_POadBWu3str_pCNWsu5Ysy3sVs/s1600-h/Ana+y+Diana.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJQqKZTCXimmf1lGEB-IpZhyphenhyphenBPeekU_MYH_RKXNOBRRMaZiX0gZG91_Tc0SQI5SjFK4BNvMU5yytsUiS-a1pssJQ8W1SZG7SeCFOZ5mOxBvDi7P-m_POadBWu3str_pCNWsu5Ysy3sVs/s320/Ana+y+Diana.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210075761503058882" /></a><br />Ana and Diana interviewing<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZpkBSgYa-V-FXXSrjsfVlTXJCyrOw3i75QZh4RMOlDD62KnZYWRsVarOiIkFubsLNRpqGFAVSDoDZKHuiLZgLyP4CypwlEzQLxNsf_KN802vQHbeieCkIACCkkhZB0YC4kWZkInf6Rw/s1600-h/Diana+interviewing+a+family.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZpkBSgYa-V-FXXSrjsfVlTXJCyrOw3i75QZh4RMOlDD62KnZYWRsVarOiIkFubsLNRpqGFAVSDoDZKHuiLZgLyP4CypwlEzQLxNsf_KN802vQHbeieCkIACCkkhZB0YC4kWZkInf6Rw/s320/Diana+interviewing+a+family.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210077170802217554" /></a><br />Diana interviewing a family. See the rainbow on the right?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369273120576590584.post-82669286051846476682008-05-14T14:35:00.000-07:002008-05-14T15:18:58.968-07:00May 2008 UPDATE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYi87BffnXOtfSuO4D8M7IgpbLMDAtNe10m-LKyYJ9rJr8MW2akkkAX4SZfGKrN1zHF1GlIPU-eqGVvmBcCwLsuOdXbTSlLOSQyS3OBTrmsSsIbCThgjncI90BA9aBZrpMQd8xd1egvs/s1600-h/Annie+and+Wendy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYi87BffnXOtfSuO4D8M7IgpbLMDAtNe10m-LKyYJ9rJr8MW2akkkAX4SZfGKrN1zHF1GlIPU-eqGVvmBcCwLsuOdXbTSlLOSQyS3OBTrmsSsIbCThgjncI90BA9aBZrpMQd8xd1egvs/s320/Annie+and+Wendy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200351668943867890" /></a><br />(courtesy of Tom Kumpf)<br /><br />It was one of those gorgeous Ecuadorian days. The sky was a deep, rich blue and the sun shone high, illuminating the majestic green mountains surrounding us. Everyone was loving the weather- even the stray dogs sprawled out on the dirt roads leading to our schoolhouse were sunbathing. Unfortunately, the last thing any kid wants to do when it’s so beautiful outside is sit in a classroom and work on homework, which created a difficult situation for us MPIers trying to lead an after-school program. It was as if the nicer the weather got, the crazier our kids became. <br /><br />The scenario was especially interesting for Annie, who is in charge of teaching our 4-6 year olds how to write and recognize letters. Jumping and laughing and screaming and wanting to run around outside in the sunshine, the little ones’ energy and urge to play was almost impossible to contain. So, in an act of pure teaching genius, Annie rounded up the kids, along with some sidewalk chalk and flash cards she’d made with the various letters of the alphabet, and headed outside to the playground. The next thing I knew, the kids (still full of energy) were busy drawing letters on the concrete basketball court- a remarkable task considering they didn’t know what the letter “A” was about 3 months ago. <br /><br />In addition to forging ahead with our after-school educational programs, this past month has seen some exciting developments in our microfinance efforts.<br /><br />From MPI Microfinance Program Director, Zak Schwarzman, “At the request of the local savings and loan cooperative, we are trying to find them technical assistance to professionalize their microfinance operation and additional funding to expand this operation. Toward these ends we have succeeded in registering them as a member of The MIX Market, and international organization which provides microfinance institutions with a venue to connect with foundations and other institutions with financial and other relevant resources (you can view the cooperative's profile <a href="http://www.mixmarket.org/en/demand/demand.show.profile.asp?token=&ett=2702">here</a>). Through this connection we have also facilitated the cooperative's membership in Red Financial Rural. RFR is the largest Ecuadorian association of microfinance institutions and performs many of the same functions as those described above however as a strictly Ecuadorian network they operate with greater local knowledge than their international counterpart. Through these and other efforts the cooperativa is engaging in two separate benchmarking exercises to identify its strengths and deficiencies in relation to the industry as a whole. We are energetically pursuing these new relationships and are excited about the results these efforts will yield for the cooperative and our community as a whole.”<br /><br />Other updates:<br />- We moved into a new program space and love it! See attached pictures.<br />- We’ve begun a large Community Assets Assessment, anticipating to interview over 1,000 families in the areas where we work<br />- Manna Project was featured in the Vanderbilt View, Vanderbilt University’s monthly alumni and faculty periodical. To see the article, click <a href="http://sitemason.vanderbilt.edu/vanderbiltview/articles/2008/05/01/helping-hands.53784">here</a>.<br />- Our updated wish list can be found <a href="http://www.mannaproject.org/ecuadorwishlist.asp">here</a>.<br />- For more pictures, please visit our <a href="www.mpiecuador.blogspot.com">monthly updates website</a> <br /><br /><br />Sending our best from Ecuador,<br /><br /><br />Abbie<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4p7E9fT-V5Tp2altmjL1zK-Wa5gStTt63zK_g8Dq3DkuK9czHMDC6st0mkA3JngiArR7fuzjAAZEohD51PgcKC9h3KgsB9av3pbOJE0A5kXcTVyoQEWs6QQOZNVc_f_-yW2et3JSviak/s1600-h/Casa+Barrial.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4p7E9fT-V5Tp2altmjL1zK-Wa5gStTt63zK_g8Dq3DkuK9czHMDC6st0mkA3JngiArR7fuzjAAZEohD51PgcKC9h3KgsB9av3pbOJE0A5kXcTVyoQEWs6QQOZNVc_f_-yW2et3JSviak/s320/Casa+Barrial.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200352648196411410" /></a><br />Our new program space, the Casa Barrial.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSCcvHt53BO5SAklkZ4e8YDpKVTy8ASQbIf1fuOW5vfpGdYZUmVVCjGLIUbBlm8imZoqaz76Uibzhc1jUPuIm2hY3gj4WO9xhq0CSzv4VqOhkcdZdpoCbDpwsGaOslxWexzMo-nDdT9U/s1600-h/New+Schoolhouse.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSCcvHt53BO5SAklkZ4e8YDpKVTy8ASQbIf1fuOW5vfpGdYZUmVVCjGLIUbBlm8imZoqaz76Uibzhc1jUPuIm2hY3gj4WO9xhq0CSzv4VqOhkcdZdpoCbDpwsGaOslxWexzMo-nDdT9U/s320/New+Schoolhouse.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200355298191233106" /></a><br />Seth in the Casa Barrial.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ45Frp-vEDhHLdBAcb2j8x3wE9DeqbN7YxGfP5Rqs4iVyjVWxbxa83qRfX3eZqjKid8d-wIBxNHp8l355F4BzQDlpzSL__9FnMYHyzUT6lXOUJjZnIp4aqzg8MsKbsXGBd-Vh0u2DNmI/s1600-h/Little+Kids%27+Area.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ45Frp-vEDhHLdBAcb2j8x3wE9DeqbN7YxGfP5Rqs4iVyjVWxbxa83qRfX3eZqjKid8d-wIBxNHp8l355F4BzQDlpzSL__9FnMYHyzUT6lXOUJjZnIp4aqzg8MsKbsXGBd-Vh0u2DNmI/s320/Little+Kids%27+Area.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200354744140451906" /></a><br />Little kids' section.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikpIa4t_EINUYdPnCIh-rnLhfrTAOV786UEhh-Vl385Gy40nlsjh4helgJorAubkX1ZLl3lCkfLNFFWj1b8Yvk5fyWZk6-evuSvxMfUxDXCVTCBe24_3r5SrNgota_3w5UYPodlhTJs2Y/s1600-h/Recycling+Center.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikpIa4t_EINUYdPnCIh-rnLhfrTAOV786UEhh-Vl385Gy40nlsjh4helgJorAubkX1ZLl3lCkfLNFFWj1b8Yvk5fyWZk6-evuSvxMfUxDXCVTCBe24_3r5SrNgota_3w5UYPodlhTJs2Y/s320/Recycling+Center.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200356810019721346" /></a><br />Recycling Center.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviwAzUdc48wdxeu9ng89nqV2oUZkGJbuaOgh3iR8jKL9lLwZ7b-sIDdBeaKbVHp7eXSB2zlHD02PEQQrl2tHCliGPfQ_2qY_qwXdeBxor9gBcvZD9qQIvl6iMA-JiFfB8T2FKyG7q1O4/s1600-h/Hands+Art+Project.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviwAzUdc48wdxeu9ng89nqV2oUZkGJbuaOgh3iR8jKL9lLwZ7b-sIDdBeaKbVHp7eXSB2zlHD02PEQQrl2tHCliGPfQ_2qY_qwXdeBxor9gBcvZD9qQIvl6iMA-JiFfB8T2FKyG7q1O4/s320/Hands+Art+Project.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200354005406076978" /></a><br />Art project decorating the walls of our new program space.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbwYyGUOUPSexrruaTSwrNg92ocSsGSvwShyNu9ouB41HKDmp151wq9qIRfMvp6mVwu9Is_na2t66dX4FuF4SHg3egs163LEcexsKzzAPAVfaP-guj6Xqjh2EEnTcGQBFU86gTIg-G4A/s1600-h/Reading+Corner.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbwYyGUOUPSexrruaTSwrNg92ocSsGSvwShyNu9ouB41HKDmp151wq9qIRfMvp6mVwu9Is_na2t66dX4FuF4SHg3egs163LEcexsKzzAPAVfaP-guj6Xqjh2EEnTcGQBFU86gTIg-G4A/s320/Reading+Corner.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200356453537435762" /></a><br />Reading Corner- in need of more books!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrREHdzBx1t-S3LGYj1ZNuR_n1NX_LtPmY-IcFIKvR2Akn3xfwl8F0gdjbDwsCWqOeNvQaI3BJr73hmx1-GbFsOWHw0mSdbdkI2H6CIZBoSqJlnj_IbJZ3K0wAgeUznrJDfr72npWRDk/s1600-h/Beach+Trip.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrREHdzBx1t-S3LGYj1ZNuR_n1NX_LtPmY-IcFIKvR2Akn3xfwl8F0gdjbDwsCWqOeNvQaI3BJr73hmx1-GbFsOWHw0mSdbdkI2H6CIZBoSqJlnj_IbJZ3K0wAgeUznrJDfr72npWRDk/s320/Beach+Trip.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200352308893995010" /></a><br />Annie, Luke and I at Monañita beach.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZ1DjHRU7zSJOguFMmdm3IXorFburl-hs708kW0Snzn2BW5UzuIMg0ndL20ZcFIiSJV9KBRPBaEPdf4t1xPem62n4cv6BrOHwIBvAcugks0DgMCpNCll_N8hz4Qffnxj8ZEFEXcL81t0/s1600-h/Surfing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZ1DjHRU7zSJOguFMmdm3IXorFburl-hs708kW0Snzn2BW5UzuIMg0ndL20ZcFIiSJV9KBRPBaEPdf4t1xPem62n4cv6BrOHwIBvAcugks0DgMCpNCll_N8hz4Qffnxj8ZEFEXcL81t0/s320/Surfing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200355667558420578" /></a><br />Mark and Craig surfing in Monañita.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4MlZh0gwMZ3cc6AWZxUEGZd7nxKMW3VJm9Pf1_eMll6b9PRbj9w5NqGjNfYHZjdLyK3PCMWAMONKy0NGvruPJTOW88N0hNYGDo62FKahY28HYGvmAyWVjLaNrqagO-Kan_FRPKwJOEM/s1600-h/Donated+Medical+Supplies.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4MlZh0gwMZ3cc6AWZxUEGZd7nxKMW3VJm9Pf1_eMll6b9PRbj9w5NqGjNfYHZjdLyK3PCMWAMONKy0NGvruPJTOW88N0hNYGDo62FKahY28HYGvmAyWVjLaNrqagO-Kan_FRPKwJOEM/s320/Donated+Medical+Supplies.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200353309621375010" /></a><br />Truck full of medical supplies donated to Aliñambi Clinic by medical students from Iowa.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369273120576590584.post-29537978085400404432008-04-03T19:48:00.000-07:002008-04-04T10:33:23.075-07:00April 2008 UPDATE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEr7fwcI7ZpNUsocTouhtvrsZnyG0Cgs7rc6i5iHym60Oum8FBakxSG3QilDimqk7xaaX2McAoo00ho6ad4BZTy9fHIBEeLG0lopomCrIO5q6_aYn4AGCncrfN3J54aXs7ImUH82ELgcE/s1600-h/Iowa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEr7fwcI7ZpNUsocTouhtvrsZnyG0Cgs7rc6i5iHym60Oum8FBakxSG3QilDimqk7xaaX2McAoo00ho6ad4BZTy9fHIBEeLG0lopomCrIO5q6_aYn4AGCncrfN3J54aXs7ImUH82ELgcE/s320/Iowa.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185439280361810274" /></a><br />(Iowa medical students spring break group)<br /><br />It is a little quiet around the Manna house these days. After getting used to having twenty college students falling all over each other, we’re back to seven, and back to our normal schedules. It’s a little sad – we got used to the action-packed schedule that hosting a spring break groups brings. Our Ecuadorian friends seem to miss our spring breakers too and still ask about them: “Ya se fueron? Que pena..” (They’ve all left? What a shame…)<br /><br />Since our last update, we at MPIE have blown through three spring break groups, from Vanderbilt, Duke/UNC and Iowa Medical School. The Vanderbilt group spent their week completely transforming the neighborhood center and playground. They cleaned, scraped, painted, edged, dug and sod with alongside members of the San Francisco community. They called the renovations the <span style="font-style:italic;">minga</span>, which stems from an ancient Andean tradition in which an entire community would come together to help one member harvest what he couldn’t harvest alone. <br /><br />Thanks to the dogged efforts of Abbie, we were able to host two spring break groups from Iowa Medical School. Like the first Iowa group in February, they shadowed local doctors and physical therapists, getting a glimpse of developing-world medicine. Both Iowa and Duke/UNC spent time with the kids from our <span style="font-style:italic;">Apoyo Escolar</span> homework-help program, planning and leading classes on nutrition and oral health. <br /><br />The joint trip from Duke and UNC also gave us a jump-start on the project that will dominate much of our time for the next few months, a series of community assets/social capital surveys we will complete alongside a local school/children’s home called Aliñambi (for more about why we aren’t doing traditional needs assessments, check Mark’s blog [http://www.markhand.blogspot.com/]). If all goes well, the surveys will allow us not only to have a clearer picture of the area in which we operate, but also of the assets that we can help mobilize inside of those communities. <br /><br />We won’t have long until our house is full of college students again – our summer volunteers begin to arrive mid-May. Between now and then our spring break groups have set a high bar for us to reach for as we go about taking advantage of the jump-starts they have provided for us. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNVTASiPJ5hhQwLcU6uOjPSdUjS1HC_5cI12Lrzj63KFw_xTdixaC-hFTUu0S4jmKHTqGm9NHCJpQO9IrGwM-Di3sye11JBuuqQJ8xBixr2PhU1tSDuK3vh_hFN2D56s58J170VdE5eA/s1600-h/Duke:UNC.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNVTASiPJ5hhQwLcU6uOjPSdUjS1HC_5cI12Lrzj63KFw_xTdixaC-hFTUu0S4jmKHTqGm9NHCJpQO9IrGwM-Di3sye11JBuuqQJ8xBixr2PhU1tSDuK3vh_hFN2D56s58J170VdE5eA/s320/Duke:UNC.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185439426390698354" /></a><br />Duke/UNC Spring Break Group<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpGHDKNlsWG1WKHTuKNcMLvpRb-n129T2vST6JCcvDJ_1ZedvI9fa9V2yBvT1FkP-mRxKTQvjw1USJHlE9s3TO5JcmI92R_E3wWpq_sJRh-WnTdLICoUO9x3PrBm_8liZcDggjz0VDGQ/s1600-h/Duke:UNChealthclass.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpGHDKNlsWG1WKHTuKNcMLvpRb-n129T2vST6JCcvDJ_1ZedvI9fa9V2yBvT1FkP-mRxKTQvjw1USJHlE9s3TO5JcmI92R_E3wWpq_sJRh-WnTdLICoUO9x3PrBm_8liZcDggjz0VDGQ/s320/Duke:UNChealthclass.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185439589599455618" /></a><br />Duke/UNC teaching health class.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5WUlbopXbZy6Mk_I6Cg7PApw515V7Gr8LS6ewJ8BdDOjXNSbvwRfzpa-cV0NXu6gvhGnylPqprTAqYAkkwPUe_bQlwhgM2natJrU7Qu8hlxPIWrDrPoRvdGZlKCZKNOfjH7tem4TB0Q/s1600-h/Scrubs_picture.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5WUlbopXbZy6Mk_I6Cg7PApw515V7Gr8LS6ewJ8BdDOjXNSbvwRfzpa-cV0NXu6gvhGnylPqprTAqYAkkwPUe_bQlwhgM2natJrU7Qu8hlxPIWrDrPoRvdGZlKCZKNOfjH7tem4TB0Q/s320/Scrubs_picture.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185439838707558802" /></a><br />Part of the Iowa Spring Break Group shadowing at Tierra Nueva Hospital.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4EBJ2FexHtJoxKoxdlnxOBrTzsN6yBQ0l0N8aqhyh_Gb_NRXatZ0AR8LA9IYMSpXbukrgQs70DbJ5TNpmxbvAwKrN-IHdz4XJLEyA0Tmhyphenhyphen_Z2lhFfqTIhu9262iqDIMffFoeLpMzW_t8/s1600-h/No_smoking_Class.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4EBJ2FexHtJoxKoxdlnxOBrTzsN6yBQ0l0N8aqhyh_Gb_NRXatZ0AR8LA9IYMSpXbukrgQs70DbJ5TNpmxbvAwKrN-IHdz4XJLEyA0Tmhyphenhyphen_Z2lhFfqTIhu9262iqDIMffFoeLpMzW_t8/s320/No_smoking_Class.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185440117880433058" /></a><br />Iowa Group teaching a "Why Not to Smoke" health class.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheV-6j55Shx298EZ5GPp4Xzo_tXCWyuQvxSt10AwRdlxGWDq1U0LbJvRaV_4rpIpOnpvK21bt7CR1Se5QTpUizDw2BVwp9q7YyViL0VHXqZNRR8b7j0Xhyf6HDop7JiZI5N5HSeV0iPco/s1600-h/listening_to_lungs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheV-6j55Shx298EZ5GPp4Xzo_tXCWyuQvxSt10AwRdlxGWDq1U0LbJvRaV_4rpIpOnpvK21bt7CR1Se5QTpUizDw2BVwp9q7YyViL0VHXqZNRR8b7j0Xhyf6HDop7JiZI5N5HSeV0iPco/s320/listening_to_lungs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185440620391606706" /></a><br />Cara, 2nd year med student, letting Wendy and Marjorie listen to their hearts and lungs for the first time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKoXXJBxY0Ruy_a-xyXc616fpBMU50YjPJWiHuH_BnfO7gUaW1j-D9Slx1a8kyQvHtSWfUudQJBhNJn53e8d-v831Ns9o4GzlBwzYNQfPNzJDWAw4fXv7V5sJkBksRovVhVrpNvyly6Iw/s1600-h/Physical_Therapy_shadowing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKoXXJBxY0Ruy_a-xyXc616fpBMU50YjPJWiHuH_BnfO7gUaW1j-D9Slx1a8kyQvHtSWfUudQJBhNJn53e8d-v831Ns9o4GzlBwzYNQfPNzJDWAw4fXv7V5sJkBksRovVhVrpNvyly6Iw/s320/Physical_Therapy_shadowing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185441183032322498" /></a><br />Iowa med students shadowing Physical Therapists.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0GjXiVCV-ubqpTQ9qoY95eYWKM6I0c8fHSZ1y2JHKSweEKAmYnTD2tV29o-Se4RXeoPcKq2QZyOUu5U8Lmy1kjnK4xU-HX93v0TbrzperoZcnPFqqZLOfISNrldEIO9HmMAym0uev0A/s1600-h/Iowa_nutrition_class.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0GjXiVCV-ubqpTQ9qoY95eYWKM6I0c8fHSZ1y2JHKSweEKAmYnTD2tV29o-Se4RXeoPcKq2QZyOUu5U8Lmy1kjnK4xU-HX93v0TbrzperoZcnPFqqZLOfISNrldEIO9HmMAym0uev0A/s320/Iowa_nutrition_class.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185441397780687314" /></a><br />Learning the food pyramid during nutrition class taught by Iowa.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kUgQM-cWWP1gPY_43UU-4BUcw28Qixfd3jsmxKTqgein58R4vhy2JnH8x0HJCyKinVy3oHRl2_AC0pjw80Usq8RFYdWC2asMQwKBVsfhsWnnXBRtbCKMJGhUGtlTcxhsBsX5DzR5i58/s1600-h/basketballBEFORE.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kUgQM-cWWP1gPY_43UU-4BUcw28Qixfd3jsmxKTqgein58R4vhy2JnH8x0HJCyKinVy3oHRl2_AC0pjw80Usq8RFYdWC2asMQwKBVsfhsWnnXBRtbCKMJGhUGtlTcxhsBsX5DzR5i58/s320/basketballBEFORE.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185441681248528866" /></a><br />Basketball court BEFORE Vanderbilt Spring Break group restored the playground.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qoEm2PPCGBrvh9PmaEiPBj0c7Z48M1S_nWNFtd4idbmW2YFDlNHKbA2t-_VHfw1zLcxzZsXkQ9BmeJZd2WkRhMqjddjFF_5rRXxSIhdJvTnfKndtU01AAqiLaz2ffij5bgwInxssfgE/s1600-h/basketballAFTER.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qoEm2PPCGBrvh9PmaEiPBj0c7Z48M1S_nWNFtd4idbmW2YFDlNHKbA2t-_VHfw1zLcxzZsXkQ9BmeJZd2WkRhMqjddjFF_5rRXxSIhdJvTnfKndtU01AAqiLaz2ffij5bgwInxssfgE/s320/basketballAFTER.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185441913176762866" /></a><br />AFTER restoration.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4gHxTKwqdw4ys5rwEyFw7bVvyI-QHDg6o8JvmBTKMKEl8Hsz674xD9-eV5oAHefejJGxgCSYwFTLFJ0lM5Rep4MyKUywlvO1FOrBuWC68_dIhn9gCFdbhAxVtTgEw01a8jkh121Jluo/s1600-h/restoring_playground.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4gHxTKwqdw4ys5rwEyFw7bVvyI-QHDg6o8JvmBTKMKEl8Hsz674xD9-eV5oAHefejJGxgCSYwFTLFJ0lM5Rep4MyKUywlvO1FOrBuWC68_dIhn9gCFdbhAxVtTgEw01a8jkh121Jluo/s320/restoring_playground.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185442084975454722" /></a><br />Vanderbilt working with San Francisco locals to restore the playground during the <span style="font-style:italic;">minga</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRUgKf7s6kJtdt-1QJWtOZ4tZQhSBDOT-24gmlAYTfxhQkMB1WANqANxsWYIXFwhnQ8U2OujF76XjztJ1IA-OxGlLg26WKcN5O0tdyU3LY7_bACdFWQl0KT6mtMb8Im3o9KB_Vp3TlGw/s1600-h/seesawBEFORE.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRUgKf7s6kJtdt-1QJWtOZ4tZQhSBDOT-24gmlAYTfxhQkMB1WANqANxsWYIXFwhnQ8U2OujF76XjztJ1IA-OxGlLg26WKcN5O0tdyU3LY7_bACdFWQl0KT6mtMb8Im3o9KB_Vp3TlGw/s320/seesawBEFORE.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185442492997347858" /></a><br />Seesaw BEFORE restoration<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6ROhVn8-ExbqIbcAXoeABgTXE3rMiE2Cpso3krZXSuEppfWA_xlfIt9sCNjg2e0mvcfQ7PxzjRoAJGjaMVrgBH_v-Un3XTbBVCZqHCCRwB7hDk8n1EwvsyKClMvIrpCUEMi-n744Kls/s1600-h/seesawAFTER.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6ROhVn8-ExbqIbcAXoeABgTXE3rMiE2Cpso3krZXSuEppfWA_xlfIt9sCNjg2e0mvcfQ7PxzjRoAJGjaMVrgBH_v-Un3XTbBVCZqHCCRwB7hDk8n1EwvsyKClMvIrpCUEMi-n744Kls/s320/seesawAFTER.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185442686270876194" /></a><br />Seesaw AFTER restoration<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9UEZsZsvvGQSohiOz0UxdA8X4Doj7GCijx5s-jmhAL6l-gd6kjH4zdZVX23n8aTnQzP6zl5HRkUUDeMzhsb5ulKYpr_BVSZKSzJ78xr_Ihh4ZoKDUList4XAkmNtX-6k8uN92k9GLlc/s1600-h/Painting_Casa_Barrial.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9UEZsZsvvGQSohiOz0UxdA8X4Doj7GCijx5s-jmhAL6l-gd6kjH4zdZVX23n8aTnQzP6zl5HRkUUDeMzhsb5ulKYpr_BVSZKSzJ78xr_Ihh4ZoKDUList4XAkmNtX-6k8uN92k9GLlc/s320/Painting_Casa_Barrial.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185443906041588274" /></a><br />Painting bathrooms of the Casa Barrial (where MPI will soon be teaching class).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-JBfgNIy1QAa-iyiJm0ih0Jf2m9vKI1vlO4Gr1b0fR1KD012lAAFfYa-qR35eI_bJnF7QHpDBejWoqT-PswyZyYirJV6sJpINF_qUYsvdP5_2z1ysFw_aXBh9obM6VqOlWP-3Y8O53o/s1600-h/Casa_Barrial_AFTER.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-JBfgNIy1QAa-iyiJm0ih0Jf2m9vKI1vlO4Gr1b0fR1KD012lAAFfYa-qR35eI_bJnF7QHpDBejWoqT-PswyZyYirJV6sJpINF_qUYsvdP5_2z1ysFw_aXBh9obM6VqOlWP-3Y8O53o/s320/Casa_Barrial_AFTER.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185444472977271362" /></a><br />Casa Barrial AFTER restoration.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369273120576590584.post-11644283917420793892008-03-03T08:44:00.000-08:002008-03-03T09:12:25.769-08:00MARCH 2008 UPDATEManna Project’s own version of March Madness has officially begun- except it has nothing to do with basketball (well, except for the basketball court our volunteers are painting). Our March Madness refers to the flurry of activity during Manna Project spring break, where in the course of one month, 47 volunteers from four Universities will spend their spring breaks implementing several service projects in San Francisco, the community where MPI focuses. <br /> <br />Medical students from Iowa taught a dental hygiene class to our students, brought down several suitcases full of donated medical supplies for the MPI Health Program and shadowed physicians in various public hospitals around Quito. Vanderbilt’s spring break team is restoring San Francisco’s playground and basketball court. A group from UNC will be performing Assets Based Research in order to identify and eventually connect the services that already exist in both individuals and institutions in the community. University students from Duke and a second group of medical students from the University of Iowa will be focusing on health education for our students, teaching nutrition classes. In addition, the spring break volunteers all have the opportunity to visit our programs, meet our students and learn about what MPI does in Ecuador. March is the culmination of hundreds of hours planning, fundraising and preparing for the spring break service trips. It’s an exciting and eventful time of year for both MPI and the communities where we serve.<br /><br />In the midst of the spring break rush, our programs continue to thrive. Last Friday Zak and I took a group of 11 students to the Vivarium in Quito (a reptile and amphibian zoo) as a prize for nearly perfect attendance. The students got to see (most for the first time) snakes, frogs and lizards from all over Ecuador. A few lucky ones even got to hold a Boa, including 6-year-old Marjorie who showed absolutely no fear!<br /><br />I attached a few pictures from spring break and the Zoo but if you’d like to see more (and a few videos), please visit www.mpiecuador.blogspot.com<br /><br />¡Saludos desde Ecuador!<br /><br />Abbie<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSztlYUDos3cFXsuIrAMtNlb_B_VwNWinxnkWC13wTQ_0UkdWSwNAH8FAgJJPPh5syxV6RPdLJp7eeg-pEmpb91Qyiq_Cw_VTv4oTrOTQxyjwEgBzHGBMGaS1Aoovtorkc8JtIiAuSHvM/s1600-h/MarjorieWithBoa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSztlYUDos3cFXsuIrAMtNlb_B_VwNWinxnkWC13wTQ_0UkdWSwNAH8FAgJJPPh5syxV6RPdLJp7eeg-pEmpb91Qyiq_Cw_VTv4oTrOTQxyjwEgBzHGBMGaS1Aoovtorkc8JtIiAuSHvM/s320/MarjorieWithBoa.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173557958232955682" /></a><br />Brave Marjorie with the Boa at the Reptile and Amphibian Zoo.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW92E1IQBlmktva_cqXiaRPwZjWS4jtdSiXHmrzCuwUx1tNk1rmaMgd0_oQJerK4XbJm-2EJ7PXCofn0_dI0F6zGAn8zK0zuyHjiR7H6oKIXRvZSO8EdVaWmoHDrjM10T6NvYjte9B0Xs/s1600-h/n4703347_33107994_3160.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW92E1IQBlmktva_cqXiaRPwZjWS4jtdSiXHmrzCuwUx1tNk1rmaMgd0_oQJerK4XbJm-2EJ7PXCofn0_dI0F6zGAn8zK0zuyHjiR7H6oKIXRvZSO8EdVaWmoHDrjM10T6NvYjte9B0Xs/s320/n4703347_33107994_3160.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173559182298635106" /></a><br />Nick, Paul and Heather (medical students from Iowa) after watching a surgery at Tierra Nueva Hospital in Quito.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jMZtMHrifdmiFytukxA7EbQl_0EUuljr6t9IcQokCfnGaScgHPMT7qMK-06rVB3WU6WXCUKBZenMTekmBtV4ATIFO5LHDUTt71esPjQH7TxekC7QVF5-YrUKYSZp_R26cuDry-5MGJU/s1600-h/KidsAtZoo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jMZtMHrifdmiFytukxA7EbQl_0EUuljr6t9IcQokCfnGaScgHPMT7qMK-06rVB3WU6WXCUKBZenMTekmBtV4ATIFO5LHDUTt71esPjQH7TxekC7QVF5-YrUKYSZp_R26cuDry-5MGJU/s320/KidsAtZoo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173557760664460050" /></a><br />Zak and I at the Reptile and Amphibian Zoo with the kids who won the attendance prize.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuu8dyF2em4KaVyVlGh_rZjszcIyyUMgG4JoOATTS2lTVYViYVyB3WLxguVYrWRazasP7ZZ_YarwuzXRzO7zJVPdva6RxUBVh4dnoDAJ2LhgTTXIQ-_bv9fsRYZvWla9d0bE88jmQj8g/s1600-h/IowaMedicalStudents.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuu8dyF2em4KaVyVlGh_rZjszcIyyUMgG4JoOATTS2lTVYViYVyB3WLxguVYrWRazasP7ZZ_YarwuzXRzO7zJVPdva6RxUBVh4dnoDAJ2LhgTTXIQ-_bv9fsRYZvWla9d0bE88jmQj8g/s320/IowaMedicalStudents.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173557679060081410" /></a><br />Medical students from Iowa during spring break, about to head off to shadow in a hospital.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fze8bTdRJt9bSs-LB2XfyCeR1UjVDtECWiIQtL8kO8rhgSjxevr9neUA29xcWUuU1B3res5RiwYch5RyRY7s2bLwhfvSotQ4ZN_BLreE7QWIbgV7Lj6Vx6w2sVsA0Hk6KrwR1UqTZec/s1600-h/GroupShot.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fze8bTdRJt9bSs-LB2XfyCeR1UjVDtECWiIQtL8kO8rhgSjxevr9neUA29xcWUuU1B3res5RiwYch5RyRY7s2bLwhfvSotQ4ZN_BLreE7QWIbgV7Lj6Vx6w2sVsA0Hk6KrwR1UqTZec/s320/GroupShot.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173558812931447618" /></a><br />Spring Break with Iowa Medical College and our neighbors who helped us cook for the group.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL75ad0OEsetPrQ-X3dR6SPsvjwT3YE3-hftaiDc091Jc2QgqTyZ-2kxvoUaBJIauqb2VN0bhzsLPR9EADFWD-1SUV4iIcNwV32Pp6aOkfjj5Bbt5Z0LVSnWy4IiPNXCvodMoxbCwdD9k/s1600-h/DentalClass.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL75ad0OEsetPrQ-X3dR6SPsvjwT3YE3-hftaiDc091Jc2QgqTyZ-2kxvoUaBJIauqb2VN0bhzsLPR9EADFWD-1SUV4iIcNwV32Pp6aOkfjj5Bbt5Z0LVSnWy4IiPNXCvodMoxbCwdD9k/s320/DentalClass.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173558709852232498" /></a><br />Iowa medical students teaching our kids about dental hygiene. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcbTGN2r7frUrcc_eh1LZxIZHVZiBXeaHD8WOFQJhc8buuRJBuRS1vcRq0Ffbl3NgfIB2wxvUdDBC4l4rRkKfgAUmU8J4N_LTlPSuJRA_LE5AVuu6YBAWKCkbR2bI7_T4Gc4QXpiMOE8/s1600-h/DentalClass.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcbTGN2r7frUrcc_eh1LZxIZHVZiBXeaHD8WOFQJhc8buuRJBuRS1vcRq0Ffbl3NgfIB2wxvUdDBC4l4rRkKfgAUmU8J4N_LTlPSuJRA_LE5AVuu6YBAWKCkbR2bI7_T4Gc4QXpiMOE8/s320/DentalClass.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173557580275833586" /></a><br />Dental Class!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzqXLd5DVyFIsjSzFeLGmtuC_Jvw0lh5e_c_S9TS_cO_pLjHIF-RtvQwdeBUbyMRXyogHz_ATF5_8KoOmuou_TSSE6S0CmsqmV3o06pAdmDopGi90MpFb24xAGx0vxg7jDXB2md5WYQk/s1600-h/n4703347_33107998_5552.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzqXLd5DVyFIsjSzFeLGmtuC_Jvw0lh5e_c_S9TS_cO_pLjHIF-RtvQwdeBUbyMRXyogHz_ATF5_8KoOmuou_TSSE6S0CmsqmV3o06pAdmDopGi90MpFb24xAGx0vxg7jDXB2md5WYQk/s320/n4703347_33107998_5552.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173559306852686706" /></a><br />Shandhini and Daniel, Iowa med students during their spring break, shadowing at Tierra Nueva Hospital.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqaWxYvPpx0YoaLOjZZEydff1o-Pkgn6YcwYVfVmQdPOxdnI_9KEKvoAJf4zJGVEut_QwsxElEUwhDGu6H18Mlpgty3iFRbUNviKlY7RsrfWuOsekoRkWtNT7zmrqHjrr-2wmJwzMVoxA/s1600-h/MarkEmilio.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqaWxYvPpx0YoaLOjZZEydff1o-Pkgn6YcwYVfVmQdPOxdnI_9KEKvoAJf4zJGVEut_QwsxElEUwhDGu6H18Mlpgty3iFRbUNviKlY7RsrfWuOsekoRkWtNT7zmrqHjrr-2wmJwzMVoxA/s320/MarkEmilio.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173559001910008658" /></a><br />Mark and Emilio during programs.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369273120576590584.post-31174369356432867022008-02-01T07:52:00.001-08:002008-02-01T07:52:41.923-08:00Video of Birthday Party during programs<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/_lK1Rxyzm0Y' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/_lK1Rxyzm0Y'/></object></p><p>Singing Happy Birthday (Cumpleaños Feliz) to some of the kids in our programs.</p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369273120576590584.post-66174725752219784772008-02-01T07:49:00.001-08:002008-02-01T07:49:42.234-08:00Video of our After School Program<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/OdG_lGJV1QM' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/OdG_lGJV1QM'/></object></p><p>During the "homework-help" part of our after-school program. Seth is helping one of our favorite students while she colors, and she's giving him a little sass in return (she's 4 years old). We love this one.</p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369273120576590584.post-20529484944270482772008-02-01T07:45:00.001-08:002008-02-01T07:45:37.595-08:00Video of Mark Teaching Music Class <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/CEFkWHvKPl4' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/CEFkWHvKPl4'/></object></p><p>The kids were learning various rhythms during this music class. If you listen carefully, you can hear the rain in the background!</p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369273120576590584.post-79366940495145578682008-02-01T07:38:00.001-08:002008-02-01T07:38:36.081-08:00Video of Musical Chairs <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/CknIRl5xgKc' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/CknIRl5xgKc'/></object></p><p>Every month, we throw a big birthday party for all the kids who were born in that month. The party includes cake, ice cream, a piñata and lots of games. Musical Chairs (or "El Juego de Las Sillas") is one of their favorites.</p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369273120576590584.post-53619493303378634912008-01-31T12:46:00.000-08:002008-01-31T13:02:22.656-08:00FEBRUARY 2008 UPDATE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGySO557BHKEJzpJKdEX1pn2SJvoNfnc3tLxhbttW7wpYEDH84Acp-INZUxe5htwPtCZVH24YeI49trZQMLQ2kTjos_nQkTXyXLA9G6vcu29Llqm36K_8HB8wchJNjneZ1ZddbjBvC1Q/s1600-h/GroupLeavingHouse.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGySO557BHKEJzpJKdEX1pn2SJvoNfnc3tLxhbttW7wpYEDH84Acp-INZUxe5htwPtCZVH24YeI49trZQMLQ2kTjos_nQkTXyXLA9G6vcu29Llqm36K_8HB8wchJNjneZ1ZddbjBvC1Q/s320/GroupLeavingHouse.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161747008274973858" /></a><br /><br />It’s another typical night at the Manna house in Ecuador. The air outside is cool and damp, having just rained. The group, both content and tired from a full day’s work, is eager to unwind. As I type this, mouth-watering smells of homemade jambalaya are wafting from the kitchen (it’s Luke and Marks’ cooking night). Since the beginning of the New Year and the start of a new structure to our classes, we’ve been incredibly busy. Our programs are better than ever and we’re building more and more friendships in the community, but at the end of fulfilling (and exhausting) days, it’s nice to just relax.<br /> <br />Programs are going great. We continue to have two hours of homework help every day, which are now followed by an hour of enrichment courses. Mondays and Fridays are for art: crafts, music, and drama. Tuesdays and Thursdays are literacy (currently the kids are reading Harry Potter in Spanish and writing in journals they made in crafts). Wednesdays we teach English class. Saturdays, we’ve started a three-hour sports camp during the morning, followed by a three-hour adult English class. Zak continues to work with a local cooperative to enhance microfinance operations in the community. This Friday we are taking a group of our students (the ones with nearly perfect attendance at our program) on a field trip to Quito to see the Guayasamín Art Museum, a breathtaking art collection of a famous Ecuadorian painter. Next week, a group of medical students from Iowa will be teaching a dental hygiene class to the kids. We are also in the process of planning health and nutrition classes for the children in our programs and their families. <br /><br />Again, things in Ecuador are busy and exciting. Ferris Bueller said, “Life goes by pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. “ So as we take a moment to breathe and reflect- and before we go eat some delicious jambalaya- we’d again like to thank everyone for your continued encouragement. <br /><br />Until next month,<br /><br />Abbie<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDtPa4YVGn728YHDeIuhHtsXDQne6nZMTLKP-18FuhAIu67aYERWLnwjZVlGGOP3nHjwak6pCMJIp3FmQRVM-4J-WfPTLYK_YqOUNN5s2AdZ6uBwxA80Hp-6OipuOFwJ9e2SpNEd1nbU/s1600-h/MakingTortugas.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDtPa4YVGn728YHDeIuhHtsXDQne6nZMTLKP-18FuhAIu67aYERWLnwjZVlGGOP3nHjwak6pCMJIp3FmQRVM-4J-WfPTLYK_YqOUNN5s2AdZ6uBwxA80Hp-6OipuOFwJ9e2SpNEd1nbU/s320/MakingTortugas.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161747605275428018" /></a><br />Making turtles during arts and crafts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirikBGZPcv7sloVTMyfaLapOKnPhIybFqYRGu2cyMNkseOGoFdgN6HNfw-WLU0TgbmuN6xUrg4eeC4bZDTEpKhwjSZNHjNLMIBbic-jbLEXDnQqjFRoDAuaVqeY8fupKOOvSidzdVuBGg/s1600-h/Marjorie.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirikBGZPcv7sloVTMyfaLapOKnPhIybFqYRGu2cyMNkseOGoFdgN6HNfw-WLU0TgbmuN6xUrg4eeC4bZDTEpKhwjSZNHjNLMIBbic-jbLEXDnQqjFRoDAuaVqeY8fupKOOvSidzdVuBGg/s320/Marjorie.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161748369779606722" /></a><br />Working on some homework during our apoyo escolar program.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369273120576590584.post-41276727335636766122008-01-05T15:31:00.000-08:002008-03-03T08:59:44.221-08:00JANUARY 2008 UPDATEHow fast a year can disappear is pretty standard conversational fare around the holidays. Where did the time go? Did we spend this year really investing in the people we care about? Did we accomplish all we could have? <br /><br />Never have I felt that as strongly as this year. I have spent five months - five months! – in South America working, learning, planning, meeting, talking, listening, living. Yet the feeling of having only scratched the surface both of Ecuador and of the community of San Francisco persists, at once humbling me and reminding me that community development is a lengthy, rather than quick, process. “If you want to go fast,” says one African proverb, “walk alone. If you want to go far, walk together.” <br /><br />Our parents’ meeting, just before we left Ecuador to wander South America for the holidays, capped five months of work in Ecuador and three (for me) in San Francisco. We thanked our parents again for trusting us with their children and described the potential changes in our programming. We then split the parents into small groups to hear their thoughts on our current work and their ideas for how to use our time and energy in the future. <br /><br />As in our first two meetings, the parents responded positively and honestly: Our students’ grades are up across the board, but we will have to learn how to teach Ecuadorian, rather than American, math. The young adult English classes are good and needed, but we ought to offer them on the weekends instead. Rewarding regular attendance with field trips to universities and museums would be great – and the parents want to come, too. <br /><br />In addition to discussing the after-school help and English programs, we batted around ideas for potential sports programs, outdoors clubs, women’s exercise classes, computer training, and more. In addition, we have begun to map out a strategy for raising the level of preventive health care in the neighborhood along with a nearby clinic. We have spoken with both private organizations and government ministries about bringing in developed microfinance programs. And we are furiously preparing for the arrival of spring break groups and summer volunteers, in addition to recruiting yearlong volunteers for 2008-2009. <br /><br />2008 holds bright prospects for MPI Ecuador, as we hope it does for you. We thank you for walking together with us this far! <br /><br />Feliz Año Nuevo,<br /><br />Mark Clayton Hand <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoXjSwCwF8oDvQHvfjkm6CnPpbuZTkpdNLGa4lnjRgDw9ZTXnDqQKbKmhwNp5SlIiiI0i-OrfmmtPkuZax_pTkAFNE16ageXbB9G-mXrxoDG9UrUyS0K1uBa5FoLPbNpmQhJTr1jtWkk/s1600-h/parentsmeeting.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoXjSwCwF8oDvQHvfjkm6CnPpbuZTkpdNLGa4lnjRgDw9ZTXnDqQKbKmhwNp5SlIiiI0i-OrfmmtPkuZax_pTkAFNE16ageXbB9G-mXrxoDG9UrUyS0K1uBa5FoLPbNpmQhJTr1jtWkk/s320/parentsmeeting.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152139990059875362" /></a><br />The MPI group with some of the parents and kids from our program.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOSR2YLxRmM03sq4Yt-Nc_AKK1P2dOu1XjCgmRzHfkmQFRggstjBswOmtdVFr-D47OfvQRkR8FWMnLlRm2rQKt2pHzglVjkdVKGRq8bPuRPLe71QAWCyi2PBTyK1fweSM4hKYkwtXOJk/s1600-h/meeting.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOSR2YLxRmM03sq4Yt-Nc_AKK1P2dOu1XjCgmRzHfkmQFRggstjBswOmtdVFr-D47OfvQRkR8FWMnLlRm2rQKt2pHzglVjkdVKGRq8bPuRPLe71QAWCyi2PBTyK1fweSM4hKYkwtXOJk/s320/meeting.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152139655052426258" /></a><br />Parents and kids meeting to discuss MPI programs.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369273120576590584.post-57463528397054744702007-12-04T17:15:00.000-08:002007-12-04T17:24:45.533-08:00NOVEMBER 2007 UPDATE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGui8mmzz-Ymsm808ZbIpd9-mgwl20r__pnOBmythAXewxWCKZh6l177aSbfhNuQWJxjfHJXj17ZYT8yVU7O64h43zSPZM12sDdZsk2iQp2snVB5Qbe2BUk3ofOE9USxDt4WCK_oak0HE/s1600-h/Bullfight.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGui8mmzz-Ymsm808ZbIpd9-mgwl20r__pnOBmythAXewxWCKZh6l177aSbfhNuQWJxjfHJXj17ZYT8yVU7O64h43zSPZM12sDdZsk2iQp2snVB5Qbe2BUk3ofOE9USxDt4WCK_oak0HE/s320/Bullfight.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140291799262019506" /></a><br /><br /> November in Ecuador doesn’t bring cool weather. The leaves on the trees aren’t changing and there is no Thanksgiving holiday commotion. In fact, the Andean sun shines bright and intense each morning, followed by heavy showers every afternoon. Día de los Difuntos (Day of the Dead) is past, when families honor their deceased loved ones, and the week-long fiesta of Quito’s founding (which happens to be this week) has filled the streets with parades, music and celebration. <br /><br /> As we approach December, rounding MPI’s third month in South America, life -although busy- has settled somewhat and we have developed a steady and solid routine with our programs. The younger kids (“little ones,” as we call them) have worked their way through the alphabet, each day practicing writing and recognizing a different letter (today we’re focusing on “R”). The older children are working hard to earn MPI dollars, awarded for good behavior and noteworthy effort, which they save in the Manna bank and exchange for pencils, pens, erasers, or if they save for enough time, a soccer ball, backpack, etc. We have now enrolled over 40 children in our after-school program and started an evening adult English class that meets twice a week. Plans are in the making to re-vamp our programs, which will soon include more focused literacy, art, math and English time. Thanks to a recent donation, we have begun a collection of children’s books in Spanish. The younger children absolutely love reading time and their fast favorites include Caperucita Roja (Little Red Riding Hood), Ricitos de Oro (Goldylocks) and Cenicienta (Cinderella).<br /><br /> We are also excited to welcome Luke Lockwood, our ninth and final member, to Ecuador. Luke arrived just in time to attend a bullfight with the group, an important tradition of the Festival de Quito. Although a little queasy at first, we soon became enthralled in the art and skill of bullfighting. The bright colors, the showmanship of the matadors, the crowd filled with people in white hats yelling, “¡Olé!” and the overall excitement of the event were absolutely breathtaking. Plus, we looked pretty awesome in the free straw cowboy hats they passed out before the event (see attached picture).<br /><br /> On behalf of MPI Ecuador, have a wonderful holiday season, and thank you again to all of you for your continued support.<br /> <br />Abbie Foust <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOEwawozPchxk8Aaae7AdVzsvQ0mhagPfJsnkT60RibwG5Psx1UQgvsJR70D_NjYEq2rQ3hOsYdFteKUD3AAEzhq1AY9gbF-o9HMEbsbiSV1IE4AzUP3TmWSGWpvNsSrSBwLZzXKbqlY/s1600-h/LittleOnes.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOEwawozPchxk8Aaae7AdVzsvQ0mhagPfJsnkT60RibwG5Psx1UQgvsJR70D_NjYEq2rQ3hOsYdFteKUD3AAEzhq1AY9gbF-o9HMEbsbiSV1IE4AzUP3TmWSGWpvNsSrSBwLZzXKbqlY/s320/LittleOnes.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140291979650645954" /></a><br />Annie and I with our little ones.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EJh5jBGmERHoMprVEZxLCs9WTl8SMUDFHzZazKyt-t-JhbSjFxN_-lT-Hcg5hVlVDisKdLOeVCgD3u-vZzvUZ9yZR84hlq_-ZU16eJTF_O00qdvjjqiCve9f4EONeo9kbbWaoAQPzCE/s1600-h/Parade.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EJh5jBGmERHoMprVEZxLCs9WTl8SMUDFHzZazKyt-t-JhbSjFxN_-lT-Hcg5hVlVDisKdLOeVCgD3u-vZzvUZ9yZR84hlq_-ZU16eJTF_O00qdvjjqiCve9f4EONeo9kbbWaoAQPzCE/s320/Parade.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140292314658095058" /></a><br />Parade during Fiestas de Quito.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLdsjW_hgwiVC2iysUyGbpa7Tc-i3w3MrnyZiNwtGka42c7qixGhwZxcnSs6bvlFb3QtSDLZGK6VyYZ7pg9pglN-Jrobk6KUNp05GUXOv36bKiiI1m-Tw62CYBpcdzXrZOYZ_DKD5zYg/s1600-h/Post-meeting.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLdsjW_hgwiVC2iysUyGbpa7Tc-i3w3MrnyZiNwtGka42c7qixGhwZxcnSs6bvlFb3QtSDLZGK6VyYZ7pg9pglN-Jrobk6KUNp05GUXOv36bKiiI1m-Tw62CYBpcdzXrZOYZ_DKD5zYg/s320/Post-meeting.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140292598125936610" /></a><br />All nine of the MPI Ecuador group, feeling really hardcore after a long meeting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5hDbhdcm0tTaL7ka1FRt2-cU1GtUs7vP86Qrqw56NDi4G56FOnguecks4S4W4hj-XoLMmhPGh1yqgoT3tXd90ADUAgABB4wOPqXWC1lDBvhTASNVWE2krtU-hEifZwz-8HMdA_EKWzw/s1600-h/Reading.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5hDbhdcm0tTaL7ka1FRt2-cU1GtUs7vP86Qrqw56NDi4G56FOnguecks4S4W4hj-XoLMmhPGh1yqgoT3tXd90ADUAgABB4wOPqXWC1lDBvhTASNVWE2krtU-hEifZwz-8HMdA_EKWzw/s320/Reading.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140292963198156786" /></a><br />Me, reading with the little kids with some of our newly donated books.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369273120576590584.post-48454136434084974432007-11-07T06:18:00.000-08:002007-11-07T06:51:18.443-08:00OCTOBER 2007 UPDATEQuestion: What do you get when you cross a chicken with a pirate, two super-heroes, Che Guevara, Batman, a matador and Justin Timberlake? Answer: The MPI Ecuador group on Halloween (see photo).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEjPWnEtLlLr9d0Q4LHar0QouLoybXiAEuNbj2tYTVWOFl43YoOCms52gk-N1wyyx6G1iiXQLyHhyphenhyphenIN_RlId5oPyX7C3R6EWagby5E-3mufa-ERg8-PScGL0FqAfB-W5jEhhmhy_FyDQ/s1600-h/halloween.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEjPWnEtLlLr9d0Q4LHar0QouLoybXiAEuNbj2tYTVWOFl43YoOCms52gk-N1wyyx6G1iiXQLyHhyphenhyphenIN_RlId5oPyX7C3R6EWagby5E-3mufa-ERg8-PScGL0FqAfB-W5jEhhmhy_FyDQ/s320/halloween.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130103367271425602" /></a><br /><br /><br />Just like our assortment of costumes on Halloween, the responsibilities we’ve shared during October in Ecuador have been varied and wide-ranging. Not only did we start leading classes in San Francisco (currently we run an after school program for children ranging from 3 years- 12 years), we also began teaching English to adults in Quito. By morning we prepare classes and attend meetings with UBECI. By afternoon we teach kids and lead programs. At night we can be found cooking, typing monthly updates on our laptops, hanging out on the roof, playing “Quarenta” (an Ecuadorian card game), and working on spring break volunteer schedules and logistics. We make attendance posters and incentive programs for our classes, and interact one-on-one with kids as tutors while they work on their homework. Mark finished building lots of shelves for the house. John, Craig and Seth summited Iliniza Norte, an 17,000 ft. mountain in Ecuador. Also, we managed to place 5th out of 36 teams in a rafting competition held in the Napo River (in the Amazon) last weekend. <br /><br />Our programs, currently the heart and soul of our time here, are getting better and better with each day. We’ve become fast friends with our students, learning their various strengths and weaknesses. For example, Andrea, the six-year-old spitfire of the younger group, is an excellent writer but struggles with reading comprehension. She is quite a talented artist, loves the color “celeste” (light blue) and is about as spunky and determined as a little a six-year-old can be. Also, she really likes dogs. <br /><br />Along with a growing understanding of our students comes a greater appreciation for the needs we aim to address during our time here. In order to address those needs effectively, we need resources, which is why we came up with the 2007 Manna Project Ecuador Wish List:<br /><br />1. Educational books in Spanish (To name a few: Viaje Por El País del Sol- $6, Interactive ESL, K-5 English/Spanish- $30, Easy & Interactive ESL Activities and Mini-Books for Every Classroom- $11, Matematicas Para Niños -$30)<br />2. Projector -$1,000<br />3. Pipe cleaners - $5<br />4. Felt- $5<br />5. Tempura paint- $8<br />6. Puzzles for young kids -$10<br />7. Stickers -$10<br />8. 15 passenger van- $23,000<br />9. Construction paper -$10<br />10. Glue- $3<br />11. Poster board- $20<br />12. Spanish Children’s Dictionaries -$40<br />13. Pens, pencils -$5<br />14. Children´s story books in Spanish -$2 each one (there are 20 that we´d like) <br /><br /><br />If you’d like to donate for any of these materials, please send me an email or go to http://www.mannaproject.org/DonateNow.asp and designate your donation to ´MPI Ecuador.¨<br /><br />Also, THANK YOU to everyone who donated school supplies at the MPI Benefit Dinner in Denver in July. Those markers, crayons, rulers, bottles of glue, pencils, packets of construction paper, etc. are what we are using right now in our programs- we couldn’t have started so strongly without you! <br /><br /> <br />(For more pictures and stories, go to www.mpiecuador.blogspot.com and click on the links to our personal blogs- they’re on the right side of the page).<br /><br />Gracias otra vez y hasta pronto!<br /><br />Abbie<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1iZFSpOpsstO0WdkIO0qqm6cgP3hmA6VlK60nanbY4ERi1_RN8nVl_qmHg3OggXuD_Mttwq9NU0eV8QzCPzolDyTfbzOaBUa8LI1TNuK5RyDWzIw0M8FT2_PyO5cez-HnSFg8xF5WT0/s1600-h/opening+ceremony2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1iZFSpOpsstO0WdkIO0qqm6cgP3hmA6VlK60nanbY4ERi1_RN8nVl_qmHg3OggXuD_Mttwq9NU0eV8QzCPzolDyTfbzOaBUa8LI1TNuK5RyDWzIw0M8FT2_PyO5cez-HnSFg8xF5WT0/s320/opening+ceremony2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130105201222461106" /></a><br />The group on opening day of classes. Since then, we´ve gone from 20 kids to over 30 in our programs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3L6qNd_I3q7OJoSCtsmfzNT4TV9HjxHoVBIc-xusPRctwqjMwjYhUMQN3cicmTt4oRe-SkDdWzaeYmdBX05Lfts5d4Cdqkj-TUQwPJJA4yNwmVRtOxJVj__w0EVMjIEZrvEEmYDTzN8/s1600-h/Andrea.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3L6qNd_I3q7OJoSCtsmfzNT4TV9HjxHoVBIc-xusPRctwqjMwjYhUMQN3cicmTt4oRe-SkDdWzaeYmdBX05Lfts5d4Cdqkj-TUQwPJJA4yNwmVRtOxJVj__w0EVMjIEZrvEEmYDTzN8/s320/Andrea.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130103534775150162" /></a><br />Andrea, the 6-year-old spitfire of the group.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_SU3IH8NK8LkuHq63i13NheYVySgnUUotJeUmoZ1XTvnbVZkNV2rqTPPTZZiAMENTCmMSOTjTHACda02ep44QdBn_Qm5ygHTadwnzycb98GeRmOHabfLolZ0v5Mv3LXLh35YwDZSNa8/s1600-h/story+time.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_SU3IH8NK8LkuHq63i13NheYVySgnUUotJeUmoZ1XTvnbVZkNV2rqTPPTZZiAMENTCmMSOTjTHACda02ep44QdBn_Qm5ygHTadwnzycb98GeRmOHabfLolZ0v5Mv3LXLh35YwDZSNa8/s320/story+time.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130105888417228482" /></a><br />Me reading to the little ones with one of our two children´s books (it´s their favorite, El Lobo y Los Siete Cabritos).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDS0Ngok6SWCrfkYsOWJHhD0JLtsb94jxVPVt1H-cmQU3YnWhEYHiwxcZgn3whjL-Q4el-XqYx75fVgLuCI_eIa0S2jwOPz0ItiRlblDeYqKXKUV8-YBcgG3VbeXOx6QGSA1s6X7uKl60/s1600-h/craig.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDS0Ngok6SWCrfkYsOWJHhD0JLtsb94jxVPVt1H-cmQU3YnWhEYHiwxcZgn3whjL-Q4el-XqYx75fVgLuCI_eIa0S2jwOPz0ItiRlblDeYqKXKUV8-YBcgG3VbeXOx6QGSA1s6X7uKl60/s320/craig.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130103779588286050" /></a><br />Craig in front of some alpacas in Quilotoa (with alpacas on his sweater!).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4s0uv3sW0dyrkcXTapvA-L1VCE_YnqHRUM11oRcknz9ENUnvMDBUB6dmqhAx_-p-LC6ePQiOZuovEJGDo6VNKBLxNpiZMn0Xk378R_IFgF8wrc0YADJPXtADo6K4pK_pn-lsp9Sikbs/s1600-h/inaguracion.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4s0uv3sW0dyrkcXTapvA-L1VCE_YnqHRUM11oRcknz9ENUnvMDBUB6dmqhAx_-p-LC6ePQiOZuovEJGDo6VNKBLxNpiZMn0Xk378R_IFgF8wrc0YADJPXtADo6K4pK_pn-lsp9Sikbs/s320/inaguracion.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130104075941029490" /></a><br />Introducing ourselves at the opening ceremony for our programs on October 15th. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqoJrNiRptG-d5HQ4hzbxBKXRocINTqYtA4kfu-VcZnCOMhF2cy9mEk2arzBrQnt2r4f9kqx-EviO7qPXaLlLdorDNCENNOZKdaLYILEEQMqChci-h4kJsowyetUKT7jx0ey0ZwSegyI/s1600-h/annieandmelani.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqoJrNiRptG-d5HQ4hzbxBKXRocINTqYtA4kfu-VcZnCOMhF2cy9mEk2arzBrQnt2r4f9kqx-EviO7qPXaLlLdorDNCENNOZKdaLYILEEQMqChci-h4kJsowyetUKT7jx0ey0ZwSegyI/s320/annieandmelani.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130104372293772930" /></a><br />Annie and Melani working on an art project.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZf4GC9zsF-Rbn4sNlF6zeHY0r0LVlGY4Et3GBwy7DU2fQw_agt3MHMukgKjJvtrLBlIrKW2huTmc_1LwQrrYksziZtv8EvZ48BaagXpdUyakcVsvsQm_mlw4aXKY6qHYmKMX48URx1X8/s1600-h/john.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZf4GC9zsF-Rbn4sNlF6zeHY0r0LVlGY4Et3GBwy7DU2fQw_agt3MHMukgKjJvtrLBlIrKW2huTmc_1LwQrrYksziZtv8EvZ48BaagXpdUyakcVsvsQm_mlw4aXKY6qHYmKMX48URx1X8/s320/john.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130104638581745298" /></a><br />John on Iliniza mountain.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-S8XKHmAAVZbxpcELorZEoDy6iMZQrXDZPjvM8l85djieNn_syP6FrEpTLbQcXFfSMCOKLVJsqZdDKv6s79YUcfDcuGqzfg8pqmf5zWAieyKdQbPY5NmCNHiNVWcKwb2Pufjp-6sMpOI/s1600-h/teaching.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-S8XKHmAAVZbxpcELorZEoDy6iMZQrXDZPjvM8l85djieNn_syP6FrEpTLbQcXFfSMCOKLVJsqZdDKv6s79YUcfDcuGqzfg8pqmf5zWAieyKdQbPY5NmCNHiNVWcKwb2Pufjp-6sMpOI/s320/teaching.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130107000813758194" /></a><br />Seth and Craig in front of the class putting on a skit about respect- part of the ¨values¨program.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNojUARVO-upCXX0FdU_c_9-b-whmklTKrGADo6mNqNG0k6NgOk1djh6xAimKE_AyKFqfXYhZ2_TEommqeBngbVJNTWvZwoFKzV1cFaF7X8ZIe5udvMVey-TmGpktigtponuINskA1mg/s1600-h/mewithgirls.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNojUARVO-upCXX0FdU_c_9-b-whmklTKrGADo6mNqNG0k6NgOk1djh6xAimKE_AyKFqfXYhZ2_TEommqeBngbVJNTWvZwoFKzV1cFaF7X8ZIe5udvMVey-TmGpktigtponuINskA1mg/s320/mewithgirls.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130105003653965474" /></a><br />Andrea, me and Marjorie at programs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tM9fYtjGC_poFogAYiGu5zg-wfn_O8Q5T8UZG6dvOKN7aN7l6rjwzJ1bEb0Xuyo3vcvI_tTTRrbqC9hGuxuUnnaG2ecx7OCC6wN3wukqKhXKJEIB-7qL6k6uxx_wMZYKN3-0YNuWHAg/s1600-h/mountain+boys.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tM9fYtjGC_poFogAYiGu5zg-wfn_O8Q5T8UZG6dvOKN7aN7l6rjwzJ1bEb0Xuyo3vcvI_tTTRrbqC9hGuxuUnnaG2ecx7OCC6wN3wukqKhXKJEIB-7qL6k6uxx_wMZYKN3-0YNuWHAg/s320/mountain+boys.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130106223424677586" /></a><br />Craig and Seth on top of Iliniza Norte- 17,000 ft high.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDrKUuau2UcYdaFYUrR_F6K0wfiZYL3mFh93kCf3EciVPfA5jgSbCgnmn_SDLKrVY6erYIZhckXP1Qho9PGyVFB4LQED6CH0C26hBtYm8Mcl1NHUmKy2WI4CiiFL8S5PJSCCik88bDHY/s1600-h/values.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDrKUuau2UcYdaFYUrR_F6K0wfiZYL3mFh93kCf3EciVPfA5jgSbCgnmn_SDLKrVY6erYIZhckXP1Qho9PGyVFB4LQED6CH0C26hBtYm8Mcl1NHUmKy2WI4CiiFL8S5PJSCCik88bDHY/s320/values.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130106511187486434" /></a><br />The boys teaching the older kids.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIo40PE42MOOTRxFHGOh0PMKux7sUMVZIBXegPLlpUelUXVe_Kco2FmZEBvQSu2ArG7bGJ9QcoPpNHEpetMdLdZ3OAWT_C7-ali8aMyakbNlTJSu403pXAu-aY-LiJyWCNJalyYofCMXE/s1600-h/rafting.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIo40PE42MOOTRxFHGOh0PMKux7sUMVZIBXegPLlpUelUXVe_Kco2FmZEBvQSu2ArG7bGJ9QcoPpNHEpetMdLdZ3OAWT_C7-ali8aMyakbNlTJSu403pXAu-aY-LiJyWCNJalyYofCMXE/s320/rafting.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130107610699114242" /></a><br />Rafting at the 2007 Competition in Chaco, Ecuador (Mark is on the front right hand side, Hilary is in the middle on the left side).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8Vf74cksAcjTKKUW0MEnjykVbaJyoEdCtrp4CDItNToAlwjlhPsuc6GY5ufD70wSw_78feHyrxsi9-am7dD18i1oQBGkMEV8T_Hy5OofXrmSUFOBIUeYMI1jpz15l8xwVTH67NScGOs/s1600-h/raftinggroup.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8Vf74cksAcjTKKUW0MEnjykVbaJyoEdCtrp4CDItNToAlwjlhPsuc6GY5ufD70wSw_78feHyrxsi9-am7dD18i1oQBGkMEV8T_Hy5OofXrmSUFOBIUeYMI1jpz15l8xwVTH67NScGOs/s320/raftinggroup.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130107988656236306" /></a><br />The group rafting in Chaco.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9AnWthNkeYvrP02gzaOz1pRq3qYu9VeGMW-SpIgy9VHWmo0ZmcjDOcUI1xWDYLyY8NGIUatkrjn4BoAkERTQXo5nyZmub9Srg1QQwokyokcqvD1cs8AiRhTS4duObaK_9evMdJcibjRA/s1600-h/Ramrod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9AnWthNkeYvrP02gzaOz1pRq3qYu9VeGMW-SpIgy9VHWmo0ZmcjDOcUI1xWDYLyY8NGIUatkrjn4BoAkERTQXo5nyZmub9Srg1QQwokyokcqvD1cs8AiRhTS4duObaK_9evMdJcibjRA/s320/Ramrod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130108465397606178" /></a><br />Team Ramrod at the rafting competition.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369273120576590584.post-49219991815319806292007-10-05T12:29:00.000-07:002007-10-05T12:49:54.469-07:00SEPTEMBER 2007 UPDATE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUa9X-31UUGx4efXdl1_hMNXOCVP_x2FyI-laUAuJqUL96nZ9Tq56Ws-G8p5rvJYIvC3CqL2X-YpS-D1tDZAW5DdPucnJ_9brOzUnrsvfcVMp86qK63VXXNF_eis6By92b-f54FB33Go/s1600-h/Group+on+Volcan+Pichincha.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUa9X-31UUGx4efXdl1_hMNXOCVP_x2FyI-laUAuJqUL96nZ9Tq56Ws-G8p5rvJYIvC3CqL2X-YpS-D1tDZAW5DdPucnJ_9brOzUnrsvfcVMp86qK63VXXNF_eis6By92b-f54FB33Go/s320/Group+on+Volcan+Pichincha.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117937859665349698" /></a><br />Group after hiking Volcan Pichincha<br /><br /><br />My mom always used to ask me, “If all your friends jumped off a bridge, would you do it too?” Sorry mom, but apparently the answer to that question with the Manna group in Ecuador is… yes (but for the record, we did wear helmets). Yesterday, Zak, Craig, Seth, Annie and I jumped off a bridge in Baños, Ecuador. One hundred meters over a gorgeous river that is nestled between two lush, green cordilleras covered with waterfalls, each of us took a turn to literally dive off a bridge. The ropes attached to our harnesses caught us after about two seconds of freefall and gently swung us to the opposite side - like a giant swing. I might have cried at the top of the bridge I was so afraid (as did Annie), but valió la pena (it was well worth it).<br /><br />The bridge-jumping was a nice celebration of our completion of month one in Ecuador. Since we arrived 30 days ago, we’ve finished four weeks of language school in Quito, lived with Ecuadorian families, found a house, bought furniture, appliances, etc. for the house, started volunteering with UBECI, learned the basic steps for both salsa and merengue, planned our opening ceremony in San Francisco (scheduled for Monday October 15th when we start leading classes), learned how to cook several traditional Ecuadorian meals, and have (almost) figured out the complicated bus system in Quito. Oh yeah, and Hilary even got her appendix removed in a nice Ecuadorian hospital about a week ago (she’s recovering quickly from surgery and is feeling much better now). <br /><br />Our house, now with pretty brick-red paint in the dining room on the first floor, is about 35 minutes outside of Quito in a quiet, charming little town called Conocoto. Complete with a central plaza, a beautiful Latin-style church, and several small bakeries and produce stores, Conocoto is about 15 minutes away from San Francisco and Santa Isabel, where we will be teaching classes. Our house has an incredible roof-top terrace with a 360 degree view of the Andes mountains (including snow-topped Cotopaxi, the second highest peak in Ecuador standing at 20,000 ft!). We buy our food at local open-air markets and are currently in the process of building shelves and planning a house-warming party for our Ecuadorian friends and new neighbors (it’s tomorrow!). <br /><br />For more stories and photos, check out our personal blogs (links can be found at http://mpiecuador.blogspot.com. <br /><br />Thanks for reading! Abrazos y besos all around.<br /><br />Chao,<br /> Abbie<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKl9SMfE0tljXxwVIs_WbU5jJKgVrUVC8YcXJZe4iKs36_wZgVOmJysRfaxb2CCewRvCPyade5WtsuzYUjRy-Rr8dx9dqww70gB7vrRUbagbVaHBR09F0JDaV-vdNaZ4I4iwaLw87d48M/s1600-h/Craig+and+John+at+UBECI.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKl9SMfE0tljXxwVIs_WbU5jJKgVrUVC8YcXJZe4iKs36_wZgVOmJysRfaxb2CCewRvCPyade5WtsuzYUjRy-Rr8dx9dqww70gB7vrRUbagbVaHBR09F0JDaV-vdNaZ4I4iwaLw87d48M/s320/Craig+and+John+at+UBECI.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117937601967311922" /></a><br />Craig and John playing musical chairs with kiddos at UBECI<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRRDTy5yzBiiNd48ywK_P5HIDWuYB2pt_lyzxmN2CKpiEHaQVeJKYhtLX7Hakt_S0ROCeGVcM88Ha4mXWqjfIUYYZo8TW2DK6vRJx3f1WQ3mGiDF18AVuoaHv1muhweCyXNhD7AiVyew/s1600-h/John+overlooking+Old+Quito.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRRDTy5yzBiiNd48ywK_P5HIDWuYB2pt_lyzxmN2CKpiEHaQVeJKYhtLX7Hakt_S0ROCeGVcM88Ha4mXWqjfIUYYZo8TW2DK6vRJx3f1WQ3mGiDF18AVuoaHv1muhweCyXNhD7AiVyew/s320/John+overlooking+Old+Quito.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117937979924434002" /></a><br />John on top of La Basilica, overlooking Quito<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwu_qwj22s04UJ8kFF-b3k4mcoBnwJ9pXrClYgu5CfKuUKCVFu7IJC86vab7BYuq0uXpMC5bcIttYDE1JFp9_QIB_GQgofxNvElpOi6K1k1hALo7PwJX1LT3JEJHt2xiKI-9Bq0enJ_mk/s1600-h/Zak+at+los+mercados.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwu_qwj22s04UJ8kFF-b3k4mcoBnwJ9pXrClYgu5CfKuUKCVFu7IJC86vab7BYuq0uXpMC5bcIttYDE1JFp9_QIB_GQgofxNvElpOi6K1k1hALo7PwJX1LT3JEJHt2xiKI-9Bq0enJ_mk/s320/Zak+at+los+mercados.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117938302046981218" /></a><br />Zak painting with kids at UBECI's market program<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJDCT4qhYHP5CmvykEb_LBmSX1bQUJ7Mk9j5VpaIR6BS53RJGwlPxVaEMa37wtprcDjYtfjcv7aYtuxPAWnMYuOcrCXq274RUrLkbjq4ZLK2OWtz4MhJEiQpKxnvwtMTjsBqNj5Ak5NQ/s1600-h/Girls+before+zip-lining+in+Mindo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJDCT4qhYHP5CmvykEb_LBmSX1bQUJ7Mk9j5VpaIR6BS53RJGwlPxVaEMa37wtprcDjYtfjcv7aYtuxPAWnMYuOcrCXq274RUrLkbjq4ZLK2OWtz4MhJEiQpKxnvwtMTjsBqNj5Ak5NQ/s320/Girls+before+zip-lining+in+Mindo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117939062256192626" /></a><br />Me, Annie and Hilary before zip-lining over the jungle in Mindo<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8j6KjuZ42XwiVMoxRrDV4t2RQRiJfN-BbzddI3p5BuMfaLd6OzR1DvyywGhdv4cWlKq9IJeTrEJobQXP0VMNqJ-VgvZMASMVY5yqr2Ae7b8UN1zwawfYL0kH65UTPpGKClWsJ7xK9mc/s1600-h/market.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8j6KjuZ42XwiVMoxRrDV4t2RQRiJfN-BbzddI3p5BuMfaLd6OzR1DvyywGhdv4cWlKq9IJeTrEJobQXP0VMNqJ-VgvZMASMVY5yqr2Ae7b8UN1zwawfYL0kH65UTPpGKClWsJ7xK9mc/s320/market.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117939431623380098" /></a><br />At one of the markets where we buy food<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXVM7JtrHj0B797fFD9EM9tk98DO4IWi0a-tZNB8RM4RTk0gprTEU4rnKCtUUjynX6f4avE8Zi0dW_lpbU17MA2QXsI6giznOMWpINig3f8iUrlLO3BaV8iR9jP4SNRn_vUbKRt3FWJfw/s1600-h/Mindo+group.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXVM7JtrHj0B797fFD9EM9tk98DO4IWi0a-tZNB8RM4RTk0gprTEU4rnKCtUUjynX6f4avE8Zi0dW_lpbU17MA2QXsI6giznOMWpINig3f8iUrlLO3BaV8iR9jP4SNRn_vUbKRt3FWJfw/s320/Mindo+group.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117940054393638050" /></a><br />Group shot in Mindo<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwjHiguJSz1Ai2zFq64s3qtJDFIx1OM2xZfD9t1ba2u6RTxV8BtbqZGvl9lYX88oLx7CVHhJ6UK3mETkCy3enl_KWNKvDu_fGeIf0Pr88IelOlZ3BqDprgZ1NCn06v2m6So9_ZzXAtHI/s1600-h/waterfall+jump.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwjHiguJSz1Ai2zFq64s3qtJDFIx1OM2xZfD9t1ba2u6RTxV8BtbqZGvl9lYX88oLx7CVHhJ6UK3mETkCy3enl_KWNKvDu_fGeIf0Pr88IelOlZ3BqDprgZ1NCn06v2m6So9_ZzXAtHI/s320/waterfall+jump.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117940548314877106" /></a><br />Craig jumping off the waterfall and me cheering him on!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZJ62hHz_ksyEGnTmbaPAp4NxGLBbwYEyHQzYZCI3_6m_Pw8V5MfvDa6QiY4BsW0p2cPD01_2P0Rq0xdQwwXgqOyyzrvtOhc6DtwtpO_b0xbJJV8DwkMq3S6ZRITJwAre8IdwGvYrtrs/s1600-h/annie+and+kids.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZJ62hHz_ksyEGnTmbaPAp4NxGLBbwYEyHQzYZCI3_6m_Pw8V5MfvDa6QiY4BsW0p2cPD01_2P0Rq0xdQwwXgqOyyzrvtOhc6DtwtpO_b0xbJJV8DwkMq3S6ZRITJwAre8IdwGvYrtrs/s320/annie+and+kids.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117941231214677186" /></a><br />Annie dominating at keep-away <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBD5sk8IMykmKf1Leod3uWqBRgVhicpdfxFZzKxx2BhastnX3oYiH4veYf0Ck5AzbgYHTznuHxpxOejjQa8O5E-3A16eOAb7mGKtbIJU967ey_XPTf1qjlBD-t2hhx07eIMh2DMug1pU/s1600-h/celebrate!.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBD5sk8IMykmKf1Leod3uWqBRgVhicpdfxFZzKxx2BhastnX3oYiH4veYf0Ck5AzbgYHTznuHxpxOejjQa8O5E-3A16eOAb7mGKtbIJU967ey_XPTf1qjlBD-t2hhx07eIMh2DMug1pU/s320/celebrate!.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117941875459771602" /></a><br />Mark and Craig with the wine and cheese we bought to celebrate our first purchased furniture for the house (plastic table and chairs for the rooftop).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369273120576590584.post-3848946045657903812007-09-02T19:46:00.000-07:002007-09-02T20:21:24.217-07:00AUGUST 2007 UPDATEECUADOR OR BUST!<br /><br />To my right there’s a pile of jeans, toiletries, shoes and fleece jackets all waiting to be packed. To my left, there’s an empty REI backpack (it’s new, I love it), my recently acquired Ecuador Visa, my passport and (thanks to mom) a trusty money belt. I leave for Ecuador in about 33 hours and wow, I’m excited. This is really happening!<br /><br />I imagine the rest of the Ecuador team feels the same way. The month of August has been spent scrambling to get Visas (quite a difficult process, as it turns out), finalizing flights, tying up things State-side, and being jealous of Mark (since he’s already been there for a month now). It’s okay though, because in less than a week we’ll all be together in Quito.<br /><br />Speaking of Mark, his month in Quito has been pretty incredible. Working with UBECI (the non-profit we’re partnering with), he’s been teaching various classes (English, math, etc.) twice a day, playing baseball (Ecuadorian style), laying in hammocks, playing the “requínto” (a small guitar) and eating lots of home-cooked Ecuadorian food. And, true to Mark style, he’s (verbatim) been “thinking too hard and too much about Ecuador’s macroeconomic growth.” <br /><br />This next month we’ll all be staying with host families in Quito and taking Spanish lessons (and dancing and cooking classes!) at Guayasamin Language School (www.guayasaminschool.com/), in addition to familiarizing ourselves with Santa Isabel and San Francisco, the communities where we plan on working. <br /><br />Some fun links you might want to check out:<br /><br />1. Photos -<br /><br />http://mannaproject.smugmug.com/Ecuador<br /><br />2. Videos -<br /><br />http://youtube.com/user/MannaEcuador<br /><br />3. Mark’s location on Google Earth –<br /><br />http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&t=k&hl=es&msa=0&ll=-0.34294,-78.482981&spn=0.00243,0.003616&z=18&om=1&msid=103233291434980264922.000437fd3133e1961e863<br /><br />4. Our monthly updates blog –<br /><br />http://mpiecuador.blogspot.com/<br /><br /><br /><br />And on that note, I’m going to go pack now.<br /><br />Cheers!<br /><br />Abbie <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUeLtiWK0-TA2GRzAyAlQ-Kghj58-u-MRpWOcvsNxf8GHFhyDVL-4zrbLYcBT5-tMBn22rBtKoK1nQFDA63pz3k0U7jNlkdCZs5Au7-5VRGtODjTTUDTDN3j6j3qOZojK3jWg9YJl0OI/s1600-h/Mark+and+kids+in+Ecuador.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUeLtiWK0-TA2GRzAyAlQ-Kghj58-u-MRpWOcvsNxf8GHFhyDVL-4zrbLYcBT5-tMBn22rBtKoK1nQFDA63pz3k0U7jNlkdCZs5Au7-5VRGtODjTTUDTDN3j6j3qOZojK3jWg9YJl0OI/s320/Mark+and+kids+in+Ecuador.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105804020164364050" /></a><br />Mark and kids in Ecuador<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXy6NnIBRsP6Pi-bbhTpcHuicWhi_tzZq-qrHtNbGacjkBagl_9wOXpsJHZdEcxcKI8c1uFpLbJuUDoQi13kOXgQ3YHs81DM7NV1MD-5eogehHnwH_hbP4HTNb2hUMu8rqhKcH3iLwpM/s1600-h/painting+faces.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXy6NnIBRsP6Pi-bbhTpcHuicWhi_tzZq-qrHtNbGacjkBagl_9wOXpsJHZdEcxcKI8c1uFpLbJuUDoQi13kOXgQ3YHs81DM7NV1MD-5eogehHnwH_hbP4HTNb2hUMu8rqhKcH3iLwpM/s320/painting+faces.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105804174783186722" /></a><br />painting faces!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369273120576590584.post-38496859088265634282007-08-01T22:01:00.000-07:002007-08-03T19:37:40.889-07:00JULY 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.<br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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!<br /><br />Take care and until next month,<br /><br />Abbie Foust<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQcN56DFYVIWaTsOmHsoI-roYERbrS7mKDcv-rKN_Wfipu0sX_yp_qbyESW3wMhmSdukC2xW3rA5pMyU5IWIZ3h7WsOKZ8KsQBoafy1-rFYFrTPgpodawAmmgbZaI_Ni7iMJNPdCRs4o/s1600-h/Annie,+John,+Abbie,+Zak+at+Denver+benefit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQcN56DFYVIWaTsOmHsoI-roYERbrS7mKDcv-rKN_Wfipu0sX_yp_qbyESW3wMhmSdukC2xW3rA5pMyU5IWIZ3h7WsOKZ8KsQBoafy1-rFYFrTPgpodawAmmgbZaI_Ni7iMJNPdCRs4o/s320/Annie,+John,+Abbie,+Zak+at+Denver+benefit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093964222485291554" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Annie, John, me and Zak at MPI Benefit Dinner in Denver.</span><br /><br />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.<br /> <br />If you'd like to find out more about that organization, check out www.studentmovementusa.org.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0