Tuesday, February 16
•   A 3:30 AM alarm isn't pleasurable; just ask the 21 of us who heard just that at the beginning of one of the longest days we'll ever have; airport by 4:30, checked in by 5:30, 21 sleepy-eyed travelers anticipated the coming day. Fast forward through plane de-icing, a freezing Atlanta terminal, complementary blankets and crappy in-flight movies. We arrived in Cancun, Mexico. Sun streamed in as we waited in customs. When we first took that step out the door, smiles overtook sleepy faces. Thus began our 7 1/2 hour drive to Campeche, stopping along the way to grab a bite to eat, bathroom breaks and stretch legs. Crammed inside 10 & 11 passenger-filled white vans (the color of choice, we noticed for vehicles in Mexico). Arriving at La Hotel Americana gave us all an instant boost and after group meeting time with us all, and discovering musical abilities among us are limited, some set off for a quick 8 PM bite to eat, ordering our first meal in Spanish! Cut to a quick walk through a nearby park where many, myself very much included, have walked for another hour, taking in the spectacle of a new city. But unfortunately this 17 hour day finally crashed on us and beds were calling as we wished "Buenas noches" to everyone.
- Danielle Kawrynga  

•   After a 3:30 am start we have finally arrived in Mexico. Our first flight left at 6:03. We landed in Atlanta for our connecting flight around 8:30. We then made our way to Cancun arriving at 11:oo. After a 6 hour car ride we were all happy to see the hotel. We took a short walk and headed in for the night. Elizabeth and I won the Tortuga Award for conquering our first flight.
- Alex Levi 

Wednesday, February 17
•   Today was a great start to the trip. It couldn't have gone any better I don't think. In the morning when we went to Imi we couldn't get out of the vans fast enough to hug Paco, Samuel and Sarah. They're Pastor Francisco's kids that we had met on previous trips. After that the day only got better as we saw more and more familiar faces and rekindled old friendships. Work was extremely successful and the day kept getting better. We went back to the hotel to clean up and rest a little. Some people took naps, while others walked along the ocean. The wind was strong and the breeze was very refreshing after the hard day's work. After that we were invited back to the church in Imi for a baptism. It was a wonderful service and I think we all felt privileged for being able to attend. We were able to meet new people from the church in Imi who we know we'll be able to grow friendships with this week. All in all it was a great start to what I know will be a great week.
- Mackenzie Smith  

•   Day one with not much sun
Brought troubles few and so much fun
To lift beams heavy with strong
And ready friends from here
And friends from there accomplished
Something very rare. The walk along
The sea was everything we hoped
It'd be, these people make pleasurable
Company. The one thing I have left to say
Is that they really made my day.
- Stefan Merchant  

Thursday, February 18
•  This trip never ceases to amaze me. The teamwork and cooperation exemplified during the day was extraordinary. There was such determination to complete the task of hoisting the block up to the second floor that NO ONE wanted to go to lunch before it was done; plus, as most soon learned, if you ended the rhythm/groove, it was hard to begin again. Everyone encouraged everyone else. We kept each other going through song and talking in a way that made holding 40 lbs. of cement fun. There was soo much community. There was no arguing and everybody looked out for everyone else. If a person was tired or needed a break, there was always a person ready to take their place. There wasn't anyone who didn't want to work hard.

Furthermore, I am fascinated by the work ethic of the people of Mexico. A man, of whom I don't know where he came from, started helping carry blocks in really nice white clothes, yet, he didn't care about getting his clothes dirty. He just wanted to help. He saw that we were having trouble and immediately jumped in.

Finally what really boggles my mind is the amount of communication that occurs without a single word being spoken. When I was playing with the kids, they knew I can't speak Spanish well and I knew that they can't speak English well, but we communicated through laughter (usually at each other's inability to understand the language) and hand gestures. My favorite example of this involves Margo. Margo speaks no Spanish at all (she takes French). Yet, the children love her because she makes sunny faces at them.

When I came here, I didn't know what to expect of the children in Mexico. I didn't know how cultural difference affected the actions of the children. But, I found no differences; they are like any other child. They love to laugh and tease (yes, teasing is universal) and try to impress the teenagers, especially Samuel. In the end there is no difference between people throughout the world. We all cry when we are hurt; we all smile when we are happy; we all want to be loved and love others. The only difference one could possibly find is the words that we speak. But, if there is one thing this trip has taught me, is that communication is not one person conversing with another; communication is simply loving each other and playing games with one another and laughing together and crying with each other and encouraging one another and helping one another and simply being together.

That is the one thing people need to remember, the simplest of gestures can open a world of effects.
– Elizabeth Hayes  

•  Today we were very efficient. We got all of the blocks up on the roof of the pastor's house in Imi (well, the ones that we had). There is still one more room left that needs blocks. Then we went to the seminary and made block stairs. Then we made Chinese lines up the stairs and handed them off to the people on the second story. Then we made another Chinese line there to make the blocks to the last room. We got all of the blocks up there on the second floor, but didn't get them all on the roof and set into place. After that we went to lunch, which was delicious. Then the kids played soccer and "volleyball" with the guys which was cute. We came back to the hotel to shower and rest. Then we had dinner at the Imi church which was yummy. Then we went to bed.
- Alex Mooney  

Friday, February 19
•  Eyes wake with tired lids to understand
there can be no rid of these aches,
the pain remains. It's cold and it
burns, it's heavy, it is no one's
friend, bucket by bucket, it's lifted
until the end. Then on to the fort
of ancient stone, to dethrone leaves
on an ancient throne. As if to say
it's here to stay, the clouds gave
way to a radiance of rays from
the sun, but wait, there is still
more fun. A walk to the ends
of the city within the walls
to view a spectacle of lights
and awes. And as we sit here
again, it seems as if this
will never end.
– Stefan Merchant  

•  Today we poured cement on the roof of the house at Imi. After an hour and a half of hard labor, we took a break for some snacks. We then finished up with the roof. We got cleaned up and went to the fort on the hill. Then, we had some dinner and watched a light show while learning some history about the state of Campeche. By the end of the day, we were all ready to rest up for tomorrow's work.
- Alex Levi  

Saturday, February 20
•  Today was a day of much work and travel, but it was also a day for rejoicing. We rejoiced that we were able to complete the roof on our second project this trip and we rejoiced to be able to return to Hopelchen. Many of us had been to Hopelchen before on previous trips and it really felt like being home. We arrived at the church in Hopelchen and saw many friends we hadn't seen for a year. We had a wonderful dinner at Rafa and Maria's, and attended a beautiful service back at the church. It was a day of homecoming, saddened only by the knowledge that we are leaving tomorrow.
– Mackenzie Smith  

•  Waking up at 7:30 AM is getting old but we've toughed through it. It was the last time we'd eat toast in the hotel, the last time we'd walk out to the open courtyard, the last time we'd leave our key at the desk. Off to the seminary we went, packed in the vans luggage and all. Arriving at the seminary we were greeted by many Mexican helpers, a big relief because all of us have been losing strength each night. Pulley and bucket system already set up, we piled onto the second story roof and started what would be a 5 hour day sparing the details. Bucket after bucket, with a handful of breaks in between, when the final bucket was poured we all cheered. Sunburned and beat we ate lunch quickly, then into the vans to go to shower, if you call ice-cold drizzle from a faucet a shower. Back in the vans for a 2 hour road trip to Hopelchen to meet our host family, church and eat dinner. The change of scenery -from city-life to country-life was nice and everyone breathed a sigh of relief when we were told we could sleep in. Achy muscles definitely will sleep well tonight in our hammocks or sofa beds as we await our departure back to Chichen-Itza tomorrow.
- Danielle Kawrynga    

Sunday, February 21
•  The feeling that I have while I am in Hopelchen is one that I can't get anywhere else. After staying there for only one night this year, I felt at home as if I had a second family waiting for me and as excited to see me as I was to see them. This morning we all met at church around 10 AM after eating breakfast with our host families. I was able to be one of the readers during the service, reading the passage in English after Enganim read it in Spanish. The combination of loud singing, Sam's sermon and babies everywhere, made the whole trip come together for me. It was also nice to see the congregation stay after church to share a meal and each other's company. I was sad leaving everyone, but I know I will eventually see them again. The 3 1/2 hour car ride was surprisingly quiet in the teen car except for Abi's oldies playing. Both pools at the hotel were kind of cold but we couldn't resist. We had time for a quick dinner, then off to the light show that we attempted to listen to in Spanish. Devotionals were at 8:30 where we awarded Sarah and Karen the Tortuga, followed by rest for the cenote tomorrow.
– Kaylin Parent  

•  Today was harder than all the building days put together. After a brief visit to Hopelchen (my favorite place in the whole world), we had to once again say goodbye. The night in Hopelchen brought some interesting encounters. After dinner at Raffa's (my former host rather the current president of the whole municipality), Kaylin, Margo and I ventured to our new home. It was concrete and we saw about 10 different people in it. We couldn't even count all the babies/kids on this piece of property. After we were shown our room, we asked our host sister where her brother's room was. She looked a little surprised and pointed to the uncountable amount of hooks in what looked like the living room. It wasn't until I woke up to go to the bathroom, that I found that tiny little concrete room to be littered with hanging cocoons full of sleeping people. In the morning, our arms were filled with babies and cameras were flashing. After our photo-op, we piled in the back of the truck (with 6 other people) and headed to the church.
- Kelsey Kiefer  

Monday, February 22
•  Today was our last day in Mexico. Technically we will be here tomorrow but it's just traveling. We leave the Dolores Alba for the airport at 6 tomorrow. We went to Chichen Itza today. It was a lot of fun. I went to the ruins last year, but it was different this trip. One of our bus drivers is an official tour guide and so we got the history of the Mayans. It was very interesting, but it was also really, really hot. We shopped and had fun haggling with the local vendors. After the long hot day at the ruins, the cold cenote was exactly what we needed. We were able to coax a reluctant Margo to jump in and everyone had a great time. I think that our group devotional was the highlight of my day. We talked about all our favorite memories of the trip, and it was very moving. I hope I can speak for everyone when I say that I feel like we're one big family. I love everyone on this trip and I will miss each and every person. This trip has changed my life for the better.
– Mackenzie Smith  

•  The rare event of rain brings with it a burning pain that says you want to stay in each an every way. To travel once again among so distant friends to a place that for so long had been so nearly gone, buried in memory, re-awakened by the things we see creates a sense of amity and brings us closer to what we aspire to be. I wish I had the words to say, or to maybe even find a way to explain the things that happen here the saddest part is in fact the fear of someday never returning here. Our bodies may in turn depart but this is only just the start of a communal felt by all humanity. This is what we hoped it'd be.
– Stefan Merchant  

•  This trip has opened my eyes to so many things. But the thing that I'm going to take home with me is the sense of friendship I've experienced during my days here. Back in the states, I was living my life on auto-pilot; not really enjoying each moment. Whether it was school or sport, I felt as though I was doing the same thing, feeling the same feelings, experiencing the same people. And worst of all, I was doing it alone. I mean, I have many friends and family and love them dearly, but I still never felt a sense of community. In Mexico it is different. At the beginning of the trip, I felt so welcomed by Francisco and his family, especially the kids with whom I immediately fell in love. Rafaela made me feel like one of her children and the entire church welcomed us with open arms. And then when we worked together, talking with friends made it all go fast and made it so much fun. I've really found life long friends on this trip.

Today the cenote was amazing. I've never seen anything so beautiful and had so much fun. We all encouraged each other and further molded our bonds of friendship. Everyone was open to each other during this trip and got along wonderfully.
- Elizabeth Hayes