We got up today and headed down to our usual breakfast restaurant attached to the hotel, and were given a traditional Sunday breakfast of delicious shredded pork. The cooks had asked us yesterday if we wanted to try this, and we said “Sure!” We’ll eat anything. As it turned out, this was an excellent choice. Many of us thought this was the best thing yet. The pork was cooked underground overnight for 12 hours and soaked in special spices. Yet another reason to love this place.
We had also agreed yesterday to spend part of today visiting the ancient Mayan ruin of Uxmal (pronounced Oosh-mall), and then we were going to attend the Sunday evening service in Pencuyut.
We squeezed into our cars and took the scenic drive there, about an hour and a half. It was cool to see some more of the geology and topography of the region. Most of the peninsula is quite flat, but we got to go over a few hills on this drive. A few of us talked about how we had visions of Mexico that were more brown and gray, a little dusty, maybe a tumbleweed here and there...we assume these conceptions come from movies. It was not like that anywhere we went. This is out the front window of the car on the way to the pyramid. It was just gorgeous everywhere we looked.
We arrived, paid our entrance fee (except for Freddie and Delany who get in free since they are Mexicans) and started to explore.
Delany took this picture, so she's missing.
Jerry brought the thermometer, so we could finally document what was happening here. It was a gorgeous day to wander amongst the structures and photograph this place, but it was...you guessed it...hot.
We had an amazing tour of the ancient ruin, much of which appears to be barely ruined, or at a minimum excellently restored. The grounds are beautiful and park-like, with lots of healthy grass, lush greenery, and freedom to climb in, on and through the buildings.
We all took many beautiful pictures of the structures and grounds (at least we thought so). Being able to climb up one of the major pyramids was a treat and hard to imagine in America. No safety railings or officials telling us to stay away from the edges or yelling at us for violating the sacred history of the space. You could imagine how someone could easily fall down the entire towering stairway (just like the good old days), yet no one did!
That ability to really experience the site made it a wonderful cultural and archeological attraction and a memorable day for us. What a stunning place.
We headed back to the hotel to get ready for the church service. Once cleaned up, we headed over to Pencuyut.
We got there a little early so Donna, with Freddie, could deal with important matters of business with the church leaders, and I must leave it for Donna to describe what transpired there. The rest of the team milled around doing such things as taking pictures of the incoming storm and practicing our harmonizing in case we were asked to sing. Luckily for the congregation, we were not.
Here comes the rain again...
In a little while, we attended the church service which traditionally begins in the evening, presumably to prevent heat stroke. The service began with a bunch of lively music backed by guitar and keyboard, and who was tickling the ivories but Pastor Ismael, whose capabilities continue to be revealed impressively with each passing day.
We were warmly greeted during the moving sermon by Ismael in which he likened the hidden pathogens that can be found in water or on our hands to a lack of faith that may be in our hearts, using the story of the Centurion in Matthew as an example. You can’t see faith by looking but it might be there, even in places where you might not expect it. He did an admirable job of tying it all together.
During the singing of a song that appeared to be the equivalent of our passing of the peace, we shook many hands. It seemed like the entire congregation came to greet each one of us. Near the end of the service, Ismael had us stand up front and, with Freddie translating, thanked us for all we have done, and had some of the men and women who have been helping us this week present us with gifts. We each received a beautiful shirt and a hug or two. Donna responded by reading part of our mission covenant, and Cheryl read them a very appropriate Bible verse from Thessalonians.
After a discussion right there in the sanctuary about how they were going to swing the celebration tomorrow, and who was going to make what kinds of food, we tried to make our way to the cars. This wasn’t as easy as it might be, because lots of people wanted to say things to us and shake our hands again and take our pictures in groups and with individuals. Thank goodness for Freddie and Delany, as they have become good friends and integral parts of our team. They always seem to be there when we need them, even when we are all running around independently.
We came back to the hotel, most of us went out for a quick dinner, and we were all ready for bed before we were done eating.
It is the end of another great day here.
