Day Four: 1 pm Tuesday

(Ben Trawick writes)

We have wrapped up construction work for today and not a moment too soon. I told Lew Wilson (Our construction supervisor) that I had been progressively demoted from building tables to shoveling sand to shoveling a pile of rocks--I didn't want to know what the next step in the process was! (He was kind enough not to say "Preaching comes next")

I'd like to say a few words about what the mission experience has been like from a pastor's perspective. First of all, as with any mission trip there has been a tremendous sense of community that has built among the team members, aided by the forced sharing that resulted from the delay in getting luggage here. There is a constant process of everyone checking up on everyone else: "How are you doing?" "Are you drinking enough water?" "Are you feeling better?" It is a joy to see how the group instinctively offers care to each other.

Secondly, I want to thank everyone for reading the Blog and responding with your comments and emails. It truly does feel as though the entire congregation is here with us, and offering encouragement. Amazing how you can feel community building across thousands of miles!

Penny Musson and Margi Turner (along with Ginny Mills, a missionary from Salem Presbytery) have REALLY stepped up to the plate. Before coming down here, they were told that they might be asked to do a presentation on health care for the wives of some of the Mayan pastors here--they envisioned a 1-2 hour program on one day. As it turns out they have been asked to provide programming for THREE days, three hours a day, for the Mayan pastors AND their wives. Mission travel truly teaches one to go with the flow!

To sum up for now, we are all well, well-fed, and happy, getting many stories to tell and experiencing enjoyable and unseen sides of our fellow travellers. Our love to all back at home.