Day 2 - By Shawn

I got my photo transfer capabilities working here, so we can have a little visual illustration to accompany the text today. Eventually I will go back and add photos to the previous posts, but tonight is enough of a challenge with our spotty Internet, so please enjoy and be patient for more.

Friday 8/13

We arose at 7:30 and met at the restaurant attached to the hotel for breakfast. We were served delicious sandwiches piled high with turkey, ham, avocado, lettuce and more. This was not familiar breakfast fare for many of us, but most agreed it was exceedingly delicious.

After breakfast we headed back to Pencuyut, and seemed to arrive quickly. Maybe we know our way now, or perhaps the conversations in the three cars helped pass the time. When we arrived, we had the unsettling realization that this day might turn out to be hotter than yesterday, which had seemed like an unlikely possibility at that time.

The installation team got to work and before long the sound of flowing water was heard. It wasn’t going through the whole system yet, but the first tank was being filled, and the network of pipes, filter elements and electronic devices grew continually more complex. These are some hard workin’ fellas. Check out Tod's pants in this shot. He did not lose control of his bladder; these are sweaty Presbyterians.




Over in the church sanctuary, Cheryl led the education team in preparation for the day's events, which were expected to be exciting as we were trying to make up for missed time yesterday, and the afternoon session was intended to be led by our students who would in turn begin educating the local children. We were told perhaps 20-50 children might arrive. If the thought of teaching 50 kids who speak a language you don’t understand doesn’t strike fear into your heart, then you have a stronger heart than me.

Our primary message of the day was about the process and value of hand-washing. Clean water doesn’t do a lot of good if your hands are covered with germs all the time. Among our lessons, we did a fun one demonstrating how germs are spread from person to person using hand lotion and glitter, and this was quite successful. Our ‘germs’ that started on the first girl’s hands made it all the way down the line to the last person. We also looked at the girls’ hands with a special “black light” that makes dirt sparkle and shine. Even after washing their hands, there was still plenty of dirt hidden in the creases and cuticles of these women. It all helped to reinforce that there is good reason to wash hands, and that it isn’t as easy as many of us think.

I got to do one of my favorite lessons that we missed yesterday which involves pouring two glasses of water for each student, one clear and clean looking and the other brown and lumpy with some white foamy stuff floating on top. The girls looked closely and smelled the clear water and agreed that it appeared to be pretty clean. When they sipped it, however, they discovered it was salty and gross.



Then we had them look at the dirty water. No one wanted to drink that, so I got to freak them out by guzzling several cups of it. They were convinced it wasn’t poison, and took some sips, some even finishing their entire cups. It turned out to be Oreos crushed in the water. What we learned from this was that you can’t tell by looking whether something is safe to drink.

Soon it was time for lunch (!) and the teams and locals all convened at the meal area to dine on handmade tortillas (some of which were made by our own Donna, who got lessons on proper tortilla production), rice, black bean soup, lettuce, peppers, onions, and fried chicken.



This was simply delicious, and I for one thought this meal was even better than yesterday’s. Jim and I were sitting on the side of the table closest to the courtyard, and we both agreed that it felt like there was an oven door open directly behind us.

It was amazingly hot.

The educators had a long break before the late-afternoon session, so Amy and Cheryl and some of the girls who didn’t leave during the break worked preparing for the arrival of the children. They had to make costumes and props for the big production number of Moses leading the Israelites through the Red Sea and Pharaoh having less success in his pursuit.

I went off to take pictures of the installation team and the local area. As I walked around, I found a yard with a mother turkey and several chicks looking for food, a yard with a skinny horse in it, and a fairly well equipped playgound that didn’t look it got much use, despite the number of children in the neighborhood.

The girls who were going to lead the afternoon session were taking the job quite seriously, and one of the girls, Eva, told us she hadn’t slept much the night before thinking about what she was going to say and do. We told her that Cheryl could totally relate to that!

When it finally happened, the afternoon session was great. The three leaders were enthusiastic, well-prepared, and confident. They held the children’s attention for over two hours straight! Amazing considering they only learned this stuff yesterday. Here they are teaching about the power of soap.



We think close to 60 people were in the room for the parting of the Red Sea, and the kids seemed to love it. Many kudos go to our awesome interpreter Delaney for her efforts orchestrating and gently directing this part of the program from behind the scenes. The sanctuary was full of the cutest kids ever!




As the evening was winding down and we prepared to leave, I noticed Ismeal the pastor lying under a truck, working on the engine. This is truly a full-service church! We are ready for Joel to begin offering this service when we get back.



We were about ready to get in the cars when were told there was a surprise gift for us. Each of us was handed a plate of “Yucatan spaghetti,” which consisted of thick spaghetti and sliced hot dogs in tomato sauce. The men especially gobbled up the carbs after a hard day’s labor. Surely several pounds of sweat were shed today.

We soon said goodbye to everyone, which is becoming a fairly lengthy process now that we know so many people, and we made the trip back to our hotel in Oxkutzcab.

A quick jump in the hotel pool for many of us sufficed for an evening shower (though a few of us were more civilized) and we then headed out to look for dinner. Tonight, we decided to ask the locals where they like to eat and a male elder suggested two options. Delaney became the de facto leader for a moment and took us to one of these, which turned out to be a large open-roofed room with a huge projection TV playing a Black-Eyed Peas concert and other assorted music videos on it while we ate. The food we had was traditional Mexican, though the menu had hamburgers and fries, and Italian options on it as well.



Back at the hotel, we got Jerry hooked up to the blog as you can see below, and it was time for bed once again. These are full, busy days, but they are very fulfilling and fun.