JUNE 2007 UPDATE

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

Abbie



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