things here are good, we had changes this week. well, i didnt. but i had to say goodbye to hna cordobas and hello to a new comp, hna fajardo from honduras. she seems pretty cool, we will see. its nice to have a change once in a while, even though i will miss the other one. always cruising in chacos together, and her testimony was a powerful one to have in lessons. but i think the nueva will be just fine as well. so one more change at least in el estor. that will make almost 6 months in the same area! wowsers!! but, the work is still progessing here, we had a few set backs with our baptisms and weddings, but i would ratehr that people make those committments when THEY are ready, not when we are. either way, i am loving the people of el elstor more and mroe every day. their problems are my problems, and their happiness is mine as well. strange, how just seeing a family at church can make your day! an inactive family that we have been working with for a long time finally came to chruch yesterday and said they are giong to return. i was so excited! we had some fun activities this week, a primary activity and a giant noche de hogar with teh ward. we want to have more regualr activites, and so you guys should REALLY think of some games and application ideas for me. my creativity with that is gone. i feel so bad, a rec major who cant think of games and applications...what exactly did i do up there at school?! hehe but really, help me.....i love how the people are so hardcore here. we went to visit emma, one of our investigators, and she was just finishing us killing a chicken. she was getting all the feathers off and what not. then she invited us over for dinner. and yes, we most definitely ate chicken. heheh i am so glad i dont have to kill my own food. anyhoo, things are good here. not a whole lot of news. hna cordobas was so sad to leave here, because she had 7 months in el elstor and so she was like cryng and saying goodbye for about 3 days. it was a little rediculous. i am pertty much ready to get back to work and normal life. this week i have nine months in the mission!!!! getting used to things, speaking spanish, mas o menos, and loving the people. mail flow is down to a trickle, which is to be expected at this time of my mish, and i have a feeling the last half will kind of fly by! seeing as how the last 5 months went by so fast. lets see.... wow, well i guess thats about all the news form here. be thankful for the church up there. its really a blessing to have enough people to fill callings, to bless the sacrament, and to support the members...its so frustrating down here sometimes. but poco a poco i think things will build. one day polochic will have stakes and wards, i know it. pray for it. anyhoo, i love you all. glad things are going well, good luck with that volcano up in AK that is so nuts!!!mary