The concept is great in theory but poor in practice. It is difficult to get others to break away from what they are doing to write up a summary of the day. So you have to put up with my point of view again.

The day started out with great expectation. After the great day of work we had yesterday we were look forward to a very productive day today. So we started with another great teaching time lead by Saul after breakfast. Saul is walking us through Matthew and the ministry of Jesus. We discussed the Sermon on the Mount and specificially the Beattitudes today. When we finished with that we loaded up on the bus for the 15 minute trip to the construction site. However, we made a stop at a Bodega (grocery story, more like a Walmart) for some items and fruit for lunch. This turned in to an extended stay as Felix the great bus driver had to spend time under the bus trying to repair a break line. he attempted the repair and we continued on for one or two miles before we had to stop again for him to release the air pressure on the brakes and release the brake. He was more upset over holding us up than the failure of bus. We continued to reasure him that we were ok and we were not upset. After a couple more stops we made to within walking distance from the site where the bus could go no more. So sat for awhile while the driver and some of the Armonia folks discussed what to do. It was decided we would walk to the site and get the truck and go get the necessary part and come back to fix the bus while we worked at the sight. So we walked roughly a mile to the site and enjoyed the walk. Everyone, the Americans and the Mexicans were not worried or anxious at any point and were happy to walk. There was not one complaint about the change in plans.

While at the site, the main goal was to finish the remaining 6 columns to support the walls and the second floor. Unfortunately, this could only utilize a few folks while the forms were being set and plumbed. So the others went about straighting up the site and smoothing piles of sand and stones. But once it was annouced that the bucket burgaide was needed everyone came running to help out. The concrete was mixed by hand, actually shovel, not by machine. Then it is shovelled into 5 gallon buckets and passed up the line to the scaffolding and passed up to be poured into the form. It would take 12 - 13 half filled buckets to fill each column and there were 6 done today.

After lunch most of the work not involving the columns was done or they were tired of doing the work so students were able to interact more. We brought along a soccer ball today so he kids had fun kicking it around but mostly had fun interacting with each other.

By 5 o'clock we had finished the 6 columns even after getting a late start. We ran out of work with an hour yet to go. So we got to load up in the repaired bus and head home early. The evening was the usual, showers and hanging out until dinner and then more of the same until small group time.

Tomorrow is an off day for us. We get to see more of the area. Some old paramids, market, chocolate factory and dinner. There should be more stories tomorrow.
Thanks for the notes and commments. We know you have been praying for us. Please keep it up.

Chuck