Arriving in Cuenca (some of you have read this my email)

Thursday we left Sanitago - we are not sad as we are ready to get going. We arrived in Guayaquil at around 7.30 pm - the immigration was easy to get thru and before we knew it we were on the outside. The heat just assulted us - it was 29 degrees! Holding the mags in our
hands the brothers potted us. 2 Nixce oung men. I had been worried that there would not be room for our bags but they had brought 2 vehicles so off to good start. No english spoken but we managed ok. We were pretty tired so didn{t take too much in on the drive except the
roads are bad so even though you are only travelling at 60 or 70 ks -it feels like you are going 120 ks and hour.
We were only booked in at the branch one night (due to them not getting our letter in time) so I was getting a little apprehensive as 2 where we would sleep however at our meeting with sister Betty she arranged for a witness family to have us to stay. They run a B & B at a cost of $10 per person per night. They also will pick us up and take us there so that is all good. We
disclused withBetty the disire we have to go the Cuenca as it is going to be cooler than here. It is scorching - way too hot for me. We thought it better that we get there as soon as possiblew so that we can get settled Our passports have to go to Quito for registration but they do that for us and return them to us. Of concern is the fact that there are landslides on the highway 2 Cuenca - it is taking hours to get there by bus. Betty helped us to arrange air tickets for 7.30 tomorrow mornign for $50 each and we are waiting here at Bethel until the tickets arrive the Familia Mena will collect us at 5pm. I am a little scared what the plane will be like but it is only 30 mins
flight - so is ok I guess.
AFTER LUNCH
I am totally shattered. Trying to speak in Spanish and to work out our next move is doing my head in. Mark has gone on the tour of Bethel and I am sitting in the foyer trying to make sense of everything (it has helped to write it all down) Betty has been very helpful and because
we had to wat here all day - let us into their personal room to rest and phone the hotel in Cuenca.
There were some other peoiple here going on the tour and although I only talked to them for a few minutes was given a name of their fiends in Cuenca also serving where the need is great. It is amazing how these things have a way of working themselves out. Jehovah provides eh?
Lunch here was very tasty althought the brother said the influence is mexican here in Guayquil and Cuenca is more tradional.
We had a fried stuffe (with chicken) tortilla, salad (yay) and fried rice (double yay) Black beans (surprisingly yummy ) and Guacamole So alot different from the bread diet of Chile.
It has only been one week since we left home - it feels like a lot longer- can{t wait to get our own place and start doing what we came here to do.
Mark is now back from theltour and we were able to talk some more with the Dyes (who have come here from America with their 2 boys to serve) They gave us the phone num of their friends and will email us the COs number asap. They also gave us much encourgagemnt and it has put our minds at rest. It brings tears to both our eyes when we see the evidence that Jehova IS looking after us. What an awesom organization we belong to - you wouldn't get it anywher else.
On the tour Mark learned why the need is so great here. The last service year increase was 8% but so far this year it is already 7%. We are really looking forward to helping out and making some contribution-
AT THE B & B
The familia Mena house is very nice - they have so many people coming and going that they leave you alone and after the warmth of the other brothers and sisters it feels strange to be in their home but not bothered with (that doesn't quite sound right - they have been very
kind but they run this as a business and have their own lives to lead)
ARRIVAL IN CUENCA
The plane was a 737 so was very big - no worries. It was a 25 minute flight and they served a snack on the plane - very nice it was too. We arrived and are drinking in all the sights. It is a a fascinating place. we are about to go and find some food so will update you soon on our thoughts. Only 12 degrees so much better. fresher cleaner air.

Funny Boo Boo

On Wednesday when Ruben took us to Gabriella and Jorge (pronouched Hore-Hay) house, Rubens landlady had given me a gift of some soaps. I typically had forgotten her name so mouthed to Ruben - he mouthed back and I repeated what I thought he said. Thankfully I did reat back to him cause he was cracking up laughing - I had said PeePee. Imagine saying to the sister -Muchos Gracias PeePee!

Adios Video

Thought you all might like to see the video Lynne made of Beth and Mark's farewell at Tauranga Airport.

If the playback is a bit jumpy, just pause it for a minute or so to let it download a bit, then press play again.

(Posted by Marisa)

Pisco Sours

Mark has fallen in love

Some photos from the first day

House to House has new meaning

The Famous Corn dish

Observations

3 million people use the subway every day - wear a good deodorant! At peek times its a real squash - and so hot!
Go with the flow of people in the subway - don´t even think about changing direction!
Don´t worry about having holey socks - you never take your shoes off in the house!
Don´t wear shorts - you will be the only one and stand like a sore thumb! Chilean people are generally dress very nicely!
Come here if you are a carb addict - sandwiches are the standard diet!
Accept the hospitality - they love to spoil you! (hard for me)
Buy earplugs for sleeping - noise constantly wherever you are! The population of NZ in one city - gotta be hard to find a really peaceful place! (Maybe Bethel is the only place).
Don´t try and learn spanish from Chilean people-they talk way too fast and they acknowledge it is a problem. The bookstudy conductor hardly took a breath! (Told him he had to go on the ministry school to learn to slow down)
It feels quite safe here - but we are told hold on tight to your bags! Don´t wear jewelley in public either.
Don´t go with the flow when you want to cross the road- chileans take their lives in their hands every day at pedestrian crossings-the cars just whizz past them.

Another interesting day

Today we went with Ruben to Bethel or Betel as it is pronouced here. It was a trip and a holf to get there by subway and very busy because lots of people use the subway in the week. The Bethel is under construction and so in a bit of a state but still nice and peaceful compared to the busy streets. We left Ruben at 4p.m because we had a date with a family from his congregation at 4.30 however when they still had not arrived by 5.30 we went back to our room planning an early night. Not to be. They arrived at about 6 and then we had a trip to get their daughter at the university she attends. She is the only one that speaks any english so we muddled along for about an hour. It was fine though - our electronic translater came in very handy. We were supposed to be going to a market where they sell gorgeous stuff but as we were then late and the traffic was horrendous we didn´t get there but headed for another suburb - where we stopped at a resurante and had some of Chile´s favorite dish - sandwiches. The dad was going to travel to his parents house 6 hours by bus that night but was not in any hurry and seemed to enjoy our company. They are hospitable. Mark just said he has never hugged so many guys! They learned we are leaving on Thursday so said they we must not expect to sleep on Wednesday night. Big Party time.
Ruben will be here soon to take us to the market so we must away.
Adios!