Tuesday, February 20, 2007 Julianne Allman,Otto Allman, Charlie Conant, Melanie Hoover, Jordan Hayes, Rachel Hayes, Stuart Hayes, Andrew McTyre, Sarah McTyre, Joyce Packard and Tom Packard headed to Campeche for another project.
Wednesday, February 21
The cool ocean breezes are blowing at the end of the day, and our muscles are feeling the effects of our labor. Working alongside our Campechano friends, we hoisted dozens of concrete and rebar beams up the two story roof of the presbytery office. We lifted the first 100 of 850 concrete blocks. Our fearless leader, Otto, became the foreman with no Spanish. He fondly calls our work "Flinstone Roofing." We're not sure who Barney is, but Otto's looking a lot like Fred. The women of the Mount of Olive church restored our energy with their hospitality and their delicious beef and rice served with the obligatory tortilla and a sweet side of plantains.
Keep us in your prayers.
Thursday, February 22
The old roofing materials (see photo) are gone and the "vigas" are done!
That means that 35 concrete and rebar beams weighing at least 150 lbs each are now on the second floor roof. Whew!
400 "bobidillas" are done!
That means that 400 concrete blocks at about 35 lbs each are on the roof. You should have seen Rachel slinging those blocks! Not to mention all the youth and adults in the block brigade. Charlie looked especially cool in his new shades.
After another hard working morning alongside our Campechano friends, we were taken to a delightful park for a lunch including fresh pineapple and fresh watermelon juices. Some time to rest and we are off to visit the Prince of Peace Presbyterian Church in Imi. We will be sporting the new polo shirts with the Campechano Presbytery emblem embroidered on the front.
All continue to be well, albeit with some sore muscles. Keep us in your prayers.
Friday, February 23
Charlie works hard to launch the photos and text for our website. That is in between hauling beams and blocks from one pile - handing them up the human staircase from the ground to the second floor. Many thanks to Jordan who made this whole endeavor possible when the rest of us were stumped by limited techonological expertise. Many hands make the work complete!
Charlie is now known as "Cool Carlito..."
How many Presbyterians does it take to pass up 500 thirty pound blocks?
As many as you've got! Julianne and Rachel became known as "las chicas fuertes," loosely translated as the "tough chicks." They spent the day on the roof receiving the "bobedillas" in the hot sun - moving them from the back to the front of the building where they went up onto the beams that have now been put into place.
Otto and Stuart worked so hard lifting beams and blocks that they almost fell asleep over their heaping plates of food served by loving hands at the Messiah Presbyterian Church in Campeche. Messiah is the church of Aracely who has visited CNY twice and worked in Gautier, Mississippi with Presbyterian Southern Comfort. (See the February 2006 archive for photos and stories of that project).
This morning we had a brief tour of the oldest church in the Americas. This was the site of the first communion celebrated in the New World in 1517.
Here is a view of the Gulf from up on the roof top of the St. Francis Church.
We are off to Becal tonight to join in the worship and celebration of the organization of the newest church in the Americas, the Presbyterian Church in Becal. We are delighted to be able to present them with the gift of a communion set sent with us from our presbytery in CNY.
Later that day...
We had the humble experience of
visiting the Puerta del Cielo (Gate of Heaven) Presbyterian Church in
the town of Becal, about 1 1/2 north of Campeche on the border with the
state of Yucatan. We arrived in time for worship to start.
Pastor Francisco gave a blessing and preached on the importance of the
"body of Christ" as a metaphor for the life of the church, referencing
the biblical passage from I Corintians 12 on spiritual gifts.
As the service progressed, the electricity went out,
just as the blessing of the new church was to begin. By candle and
flashlights, Pastor Francisco declared the congregation a newly formed
full church, adn presented its deacons and elders the certificate from the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico. It was as if the church was reborn as the lights
came on just as Andrew ended the blessing and well-wishes from the
Syracuse group to finish the ceremony. It was a beautiful night!
Saturday, February 24
It has been an amazing 24 hours as we completed a mountaneous job of moving 900 concete blocks and 35 beams. The roof begins to take shape as the fruits of our labor can be seen. Beams are in place and blocks are being set into the guides. After we leave they will mix and pour the concrete to finish the job.
One Bobedilla at a time...
Up the side of the building, across the roof and pile to pile.
After a morning of prepping for the concrete ceiling
and roof in the front of the presbytery offices, we leave for the town
of Hopechen. This is where Pastor Francisco ministers with the Sinai
Presbyterian Church.
We hope to write more, but the internet
access becomes more limited as we head inland to Hopelchen, the
"village of five wells", deep into Mayan territory where Stuart Hayes
will preach on Sunday morning.
Keep us in your prayers.
Wednesday, February 28
It was a wonderful and frutiful trip. We returned safely and on time yesterday evening after a good day of sharing worship and another wonderful meal with our partners in Hopelchen. Monday was our day of rest as we visited the ruins of Chichen Itza and the cenote (a.k.a. meteor hole) of Il-Kil. Tuesday was our travel home.
Thanks for your prayers. Continue to remember the partnership as we seek to share the light of God's Good News.
The cool ocean breezes are blowing at the end of the day, and our muscles are feeling the effects of our labor. Working alongside our Campechano friends, we hoisted dozens of concrete and rebar beams up the two story roof of the presbytery office. We lifted the first 100 of 850 concrete blocks. Our fearless leader, Otto, became the foreman with no Spanish. He fondly calls our work "Flinstone Roofing." We're not sure who Barney is, but Otto's looking a lot like Fred. The women of the Mount of Olive church restored our energy with their hospitality and their delicious beef and rice served with the obligatory tortilla and a sweet side of plantains.
The old roofing materials (see photo) are gone and the "vigas" are done!
Charlie works hard to launch the photos and text for our website. That is in between hauling beams and blocks from one pile - handing them up the human staircase from the ground to the second floor. Many thanks to Jordan who made this whole endeavor possible when the rest of us were stumped by limited techonological expertise. Many hands make the work complete! 
How many Presbyterians does it take to pass up 500 thirty pound blocks? 
Otto and Stuart worked so hard lifting beams and blocks that they almost fell asleep over their heaping plates of food served by loving hands at the Messiah Presbyterian Church in Campeche. Messiah is the church of Aracely who has visited CNY twice and worked in Gautier, Mississippi with Presbyterian Southern Comfort. (See the February 2006 archive for photos and stories of that project).
This morning we had a brief tour of the oldest church in the Americas. This was the site of the first communion celebrated in the New World in 1517.
We are off to Becal tonight to join in the worship and celebration of the organization of the newest church in the Americas, the Presbyterian Church in Becal. We are delighted to be able to present them with the gift of a communion set sent with us from our presbytery in CNY.
It has been an amazing 24 hours as we completed a mountaneous job of moving 900 concete blocks and 35 beams. The roof begins to take shape as the fruits of our labor can be seen. Beams are in place and blocks are being set into the guides. After we leave they will mix and pour the concrete to finish the job.
One Bobedilla at a time...