im here

hello all!!! well, i arrived in quito ecuador on monday, july 18th..about one hour late...to find that my bags were somewhere in the states, but not in quito..so i waited in line for another half hour...and it wasnt bad..i just felt bad bc people were waiting for me to pick me up :) but everything was ok...right now, my bags are at the hcjb headquarters in quito, so i should get my bags on sunday (good thing i packed a little clothes and one pair of extra undies :))

its good to be back in shell..i feel as if i am at home, and feel really comfortable...my apartment is right on the compound with the other missionaries, so im not secluded...which is nice...last night i had dinner with the johnson family...who also led our trip here when i came for spring break! i found out that their son, caleb will be in my classroom starting in january :) which will be interesting, challenging, and fun!

i saw my classroom today! wow...its small...and will seem cramped with only 7 students, really...i will have 6 boys and 1 girl :) it will be a challenge...there are 4 teachers at nate saint and about 25 or less students!! can you believe it?? there isnt much there...but its ok! im really glad i brought some of my favorite things from the states to put in my classroom!

today i had lunch with the hcjb women at the tea planation restaurant (taylor peeps...we went there...its the place with the really pretty gardens) and had cheese fondue! it was really good! i also went to the fruit and veggie market today in shell and bought cilantro, spinach, 2 green peppers, 2 red onions, 1/2 lb strawberries, and 1/2 lb green beans for $1.90!!! in the states, it wouldve cost about 10-20 dollars!
i just had dinner with a couple here, frances and arthur...it was really nice! i wont have to fix any meals for myself for awhile :)

its just a different life here...and im looking forward to having some time to myself and getting to know the community better...as well as getting my classroom in order...
thank you for all of your prayers!! ill post pictures as soon as i figure out how to :)