Here is the most current video/photo. I hope you enjoy it. Please forgive the poor editing, i.e. spelling error(s). Little by little, my editing ability will get better.

This video contains our welcoming party as well as the anniversary of Bro. & Sis. James. About a day before this party, some friends gave me the 411 on what I needed to know. Here is a preview of what I was told. At the parties, the friends dance separately unless they are dancing the Pasa Doble. The brothers and sisters dance with married and unmarried friends without concern. I was told it would be an insult if a married brother asked me to dance and I said 'no'. When it was party time, I was somewhat uncomfortable about dancing with a married brother. I didn't make it a habit to do that in the states and it will take a moment for me to adjust to how things are done here. It worked out that no married brothers asked me to dance. On the dance floor, I am accustom to having the brothers push me around making me look as if I know what I am doing. Here, I am fully exposed... and have to dance in place. Well, I tried that for about one or two songs. I told the friends that it will take me a little bit longer to get use to dancing apart. When brother Freddie asked me to teach him salsa, I responded that I would but doing so arm in arm so that he could know how to spin the the sister. He agreed and we danced for the majority of the evening arm in arm and apart. He also taught me how to do one of their traditional dance steps of which I don't recall the name or even the steps. Oh well, there is another party that the congregation is having at the end of the month and maybe I will remember the dance steps when I hear the music playing.

In the congregation and in public, I am taller than practically everyone. No surprise there. I draw a lot of attention... mainly stares and even more so when I am with some of the English speaking friends. The staring, from the public, can be nerve racking but I still try to ignore them. In public, many respond when I greet them and many do not.

During the first week or two of arriving in Cuenca, I did not see many black folks around, but now that I have been here for almost a month, I am seeing more. Many are from Esmeralda or other cities. When I get a chance to speak to others informally, they automatically think that I am Ecuadorian and from Esmeralda.

The family that I am renting from are wonderful. However, they are destined to get me married. No matter how many times, I lovingly remind them that it's not my focus, the more the subject comes up. It seems that no matter where I go, many of the friends try to marry me off. I think that they must have a pact with my mom or something... I know they mean well. I just continue to focus on my service to Jehovah and being happy as a single person. I could not have asked for a better life!