Hello from Oaxaca. Day 2 was Sunday and the Lord’s Day. We woke up to a glorious day in the 60s. The sky was clear and the humidity very low. I just wish to share that so maybe some more folks will join the trip next time with the thought of getting out of the hot and sticky weather of Florida. But it was a beautiful day. We gathered for breakfast. Saul, a few other students and three early 20s girls from the England joined us for breakfast. The fare was usual breakfast food, eggs, pancakes, fruit (watermelon) and what I think was oatmeal. It was very watery. I only took a little and ate it because the students here don’t understand throwing away food. They also take it as not appreciating their effort in preparing the food.

After breakfast, Saul gathered everyone together to share a bit and to say goodbye to a couple of students who were leaving Sunday to go to Mexico City to start at the University. They had finished High School and spent a year working at the house. Every student that wishes to pursue studies at the university level are required to spend a year serving the younger students as tutors, and housekeepers. They have the tasks of coordinating and policing the chores and the students. Saul also introduced the new house leaders. After the presentation, Saul gathered the St. Paul’s team and explained the sermon his was to give at church that morning. There was not going to be an interpreter at the service so he wanted us to understand the concepts he was presenting.

Afterwards, we loaded up on the bus and in vans and headed to the central part of the city to the church we went to two years ago. Saul had been asked to preach and he is preaching once every couple of months and has a series he is sharing about trying to open our view of helping. He holds that culture and personal preferences and fears tend to narrow our view serving and loving. He used Proverbs 31 and the Virtuous Women.

After church we were given the chance to enjoy Oaxaca. We walked to a square, or park,

wondered around and talking with the students while we waited for Saul and some others to arrive with 140 hamburgers from McDonalds. We ate and enjoyed. In Mexico you are given jalapeño verde sauce as a condiment. We gathered all of us for a group shot.

After eating we went to a pedestrian mall area to wander around, there are museums, shops and two main Catholic churches to wander through and observe how the locals observe their religion. There were a large number of people there due to a weekend fiesta in the square. We did not do much shopping at this point as we will be going back on Wednesday.

The day closed with dinner and a bible study.