Cristina Ashley M. is American-born, but has never really lived in the United States. Her Honduran birth mother died of cancer when Cristi was two. Cristi's dad was a missionary in Honduras and when Cristi turned four, her family moved to Ecuador. Her dad then remarried a young Canadian schoolteacher. Three years ago, her step-mom gave birth to Cristi’s half-brother, Ryan. Cristi and her family now live in Shell, Ecuador.

     None of Cristi's friends call her by her full name, Cristina. She is now 13 and turning 14 this year on August 21. Cristi enjoys playing piano, basketball, rollerblading, and swimming in a nearby river.

     This is typical day for Cristi. At 8:00, she walks to the school just across the base and at 12:15 comes home for an hour lunch break. Then, at 3:30, school lets out and Cristi swims at the river, or hangs out with her friends. Right now, Cristi hasn’t made any plans about what she wants to do when she grows up.