Hey peeps!! Sorry it's been so long since I've written, but I finally pulled up blogger!! First of all, let me say a huge HAPPY 15th BIRTHDAY TO MY BROTHER LOGAN!!! Hope you have a fantabulous day!! Well, lots has happened since I last wrote. I now know where I'll be living and working, and also visited the site this last week...it's great for me. I'll be in the department Usulutan, in the municipality of Nueva Granada, in the canton of Potrero de Joco. It's not necessarily a pretty site, but it's beautiful in it's own way. It's flat, hot, and dusty. :) But, there's a lake and a river in the distance that I can see from the soccer field, and it's only a 30 min. walk to get there. It's actually the way most people gain money, other than remesas from the U.S. They fish. The house I'll be living in is small with a living room and 2 bedrooms. I have 1 bedroom as my own. A 14 yr. old girl, Ana, has the other, and the grandma, Ester, just has the living room. I'm going to paint the room green and buy a mattress, a closet thingy, and probably a rug because the floor is just dirt. The family is especially kind and welcoming. They're Christians, which is cool. Evangelicals here are considered kind of crazy, I think, and over the top, but these folks are really calm and real. They have beautiful hearts and aren't judgemental, or so it seems. The politics I don't think will be an issue because both parties work well together there. There are many organizations working in my canton because it's considered one of the poorest areas in the country. So, the gov.'s program, Red Solidaria is there, as well as a non-profit from Spain, Intervida, and the United Nations' agency, FAO. They're my main counter-part, and the representative from there is super great and will be easy to work with. I already have many ideas for work, and will share more once those projects come into play. Right now, I'm just visiting with the people and finding out the needs of the community and where to begin. It's a bit overwhelming, but I feel like God has placed me there for a reason, and it feels like a perfect fit. I'm already passionate about the community and the work to be done.

Ester, my landlord, is the mom of many many people, and they all live around me. There are several children, and they have become my fan club! It's hilarious...I couldn't get a moment to myself. But, I liked it. It feels like home and I'm anxious to get back. I really don't think I could feel any more at ease. It's good. The men in Potrero de Joco are also amazing. I haven't witnessed the machismo there, and I feel like many of them will be like uncles to me. It's so hard to explain everything, but I love where my new home is. The only thing that's uncomfy and bad is that I don't have a latrine at my house. I have to walk four houses up to use their latrine. Also, there are scorpions!! Yikes!! I already saw 2 while I was there for 4 days. I'm gonna be hanging sheets from the ceiling to keep them from falling into my bedroom.

Right now I"m back in San Vicente for a few days of Orientation, and then the swearing in ceremony in San Salvador and the party. Next Friday I move in for good to Potrero de Joco. Today we're actually throwing a party for our host families here at the center. It should be lots of fun. Oh! Bit of good news...my camera's working again, so will upload more pics soon. God Bless and thanks for reading!!! Please keep in touch!