WONDERFUL!!! first work day.

MANNN, today was SO great. All 24 of us that are now a part of the First Pres. mission to Quito, Ecuador made our way over to Argelia Alta, a church within the community of Argelia, which is freaking AWESOME! There is so much going through my head, so I am going to try to do my best to get my thoughts out as shortly and clearly as possible. Numbers work well for me...

1. I was SOOO impressed by the youth on this trip! They have all just graduated from high school, and they aren't all best best friends with each other... Still, I am continually impressed by their ability to open up to the whole group and their lack of complaining (as in I have heard little to no complaints on this mission... ummm, that is highly unusual of people that travel in groups doing work they may not want to do. Thus, I am blown away by these folks.) And, these great people are so much fun to be around. I laugh all the time... which is normal for me, but I think I laugh even more and even harder... especially tonight.
2. Ramiro: the pastor at Argelia Alta... he is GREAT, so GREAT! He is so freaking modest, but he has every right not be because he is probably the most accomplished person I know. He is very very generous, very welcoming, and well, these are the things that I have been informed that he has under his belt: he has 5 degrees... 3 masters degrees and 2 doctorate degrees; he played pro fútbol at one point in his life; he started Argelia Alta, which is a church that started out as one story, but now has 5 or 6 floors (RIDICULOUS), and not to mention that the whole Argelia community lives around the church... it is beautiful to see that done. I'm convinced he knows everyone. He has been asked to be an ambassador of many countries multiple times, but he turns the positions down every time because he wants to be at his church with the people that he loves. And, well the government calls on him for problems, questions, etc. There is probably more that I don't know about him because he is too modest to tell anyone. He didn't tell me this stuff... his friends did. SO, this guy is a HUGE lesson to me of a great great wonderful, humble, talented person.
3. These great upcoming freshmen in high school are making me think a lot, and I like it. And they said some of the greatest things at debrief tonight. It was ahhh!! SO great!
4. And, I hope you enjoy the pictures. This is what I've got: 1. a group of some of us tonight before bedtime. I like those folks a lot. 2. A picture of the Ecuador vs. Argentina soccer game at a University where we watched it with a whole bunch of enthusiastic, passionate Ecuadorians. Please put watching an Ecuador soccer game around Ecuadorians on your list of things to do. It is WONDERFUL! And, Ecuador won, 2-0!!! 3. and 4. WORKING on the SIDEWALK! Hard workers. 5. Linda and Mark wearing weed apparel that we pulled out of the ground.

I want to do better at remembering specific stories.

good night! 

-emily