living it up

hey all,

i have a home now! James found me a great little Ecuadorian family to live with. we spent yesterday checking out two places, and after weighing my two options for about an hour, i decided to live with the Aguilar family...kinda like Christina Aguilera...but not quite :P

my host family consists of a Fabian (dad), Patricia (mum), Fabian Andres aka Fabby (25yr old son), Gabby (23yr old daughter), and Christian (20yr old son). what's really cool is that Fabian Andres is in graphics design and has his own company, Gabby just finished culinary school and Christian is in school for sound production/engineering! the guys jammed last nite with their guitars and spanish flute! ever heard a spanish flute?? it's beautiful...and the way they play guitar here is really melodic.... im embarassed to play my usual G, C, Em, D :)

im set up with my own room and bathroom...and i can see Cotopaxi mountain from the kitchen...Cotopaxi is Ecuador's highest active volcano...i think i read that the last time it erupted was 1904. here's a little bit more about it: Cotopaxi

after a trip to the grocery store, i had my very first spanish bible study. every thursday the Aguilars host a bible study, and while i didn't understand much of what was going on, i understood bible verses and was able to look them up :)

this morning was my first time on transit. Fabby accompanied me to the parada - bus stop, then on to the trolley. the trip took about half an hour...walking...bus, and trolley. as was expected...i have no personal bubble...i think i have to get use to that.

today will be my first offical day of work...and im going to be learning how to use this new framework program called "Mambo". im also going to be getting in contact with the head of Extreme Response to see how i can get involved with Pan de la Vida street ministry here...

apparently im going to a place called Tousoup(??) with Gabby and her friends this weekend. it takes about 5 hours to get there and we're leaving at 4am on saturday morning...ugh. we'll see what it has :)

once i get my laptop hooked up here at the office (Aguilars don't have internet) i'll try to post some pics.

hope things are well in Vancouver and where ever else you are. hey, it's CANADA DAY....if you're reading this...stop what you're doing and head down to Granville Island to enjoy an afternoon of free jazz...you won't be disappointed! haha i just told James it was Canada day...we both went "woo hoo..." in case i forgot to mention, he's from Calgary...so im working with a fellow Canadian.

oh yes, and i have to mention these girls. i met two nurses from the states yesterday while in the guesthouse. one is graduated while the other one is working thru her degree...but it was really cool to meet them and hear about the work that they are doing across the street at Hospital Vozandes. this is the medical ministry of HCJB, and it is a well respected hospital in Quito. they told me that there is this other hospital across town where, they will diagnose you, but you have to buy the equipment they need to operate on you...eek! so you have to go by your IV stuff, and scalpul, and bags of whatever liquid they hook you up too....that...is scary.

ok, im off!

con mucho amor,
dL