Conference Call

I just finished up the first conference call with the 2009-10 Manna program directors (PDs); Mark, the outgoing country director; Bibi, the incoming country director; and Dana, a 2008-09 PD who will be with us until October. It was nice to hear everybody's voice, as well as get some useful information about Ecuador. It sounds like we're going to have a good year.

Points of interest for family and friends:
1. Don't send anything valuable in the mail. The higher the value of the package, the lower the likelihood it will actually be delivered to its destination. In Mark's year-plus in Ecuador, he's had success with his mail 80-90% of the time. Also, writing No Value on a package can save me (or any other recipient) from paying customs fees for anything coming into the country.
2. Phones. Manna provides the PDs with cell phones so they can call one another or other Ecuadorian numbers; the phones do not dial out. Instead, we have a Skype account from which we can call the United States landlines, cell phones, or other Skype users.
3. Visitors. Visitors are welcome and encouraged! The policy for visitors staying at the house for the upcoming year will be determined by us, the PDs when we get to Ecuador, but hostels can be very cheap, in the $7-$9/night range. I will let you know more about visiting when a policy is determined.
4. Language. To help me out with my Spanish, all the PDs will be spending the first three weeks enrolled in language school and staying in Ecuadorian homes. These days will immerse us in the language; hopefully some of it will stick.

I want to take this time to thank those who have supported my by sending donations into Manna- Nick & Janine Stafani, Jane Routson, Butch & Lea Shefsky, Edgar Lowe, and Brian & Mary Morrow. This trip can't happen without the generous support from friends and family.

mike

Welcome

Welcome to my blog about my upcoming trip to Ecuador. If you've found this, you are probably a friend or a benefactor, so thank you!

I hope to use this blog to keep those at home updated about what I'm doing with Manna throughout the year. I hope to include stories and pictures from my time in Quito. Additionally, I'll be keeping everybody up to date on my fundraising efforts, with pleas and requests for help throughout the year.