Sunday with the Team

Yesterday (Sunday) began with a breakfast of cereal and yogurt in the "warehouse" area in the new part of the basement, which is where all our meals will be eaten. We then gathered in the house and Julie led us in worship. We were singing praises to the Lord in both English and Spanish at the same time. It was beautiful and many of us were in tears including me (Dave). Victor then shared his testimony of his rough past as a gang leader in Mexico City and of how God rescued him from certain death on several occasions and brought him to faith in Christ. Julie joined in toward the end of the testimony when their two lives merged, bringing the story up to the present.

Sunday Morning Worship at Refuge Ranch

We then packed a sack lunch and headed to the picturesque town of Tepoztlan nestled in a valley rimmed by high hills and sheer cliffs. Half of the group shopped in the many shops while the other half took a four hour hike (two hours each way) up to a small pyramid. It was a steep climb and we encountered rain part way up and it continued to rain part way back down. We were a group of thoroughly soaked hikers, often traversing rocky paths that had turned into waterfalls.

Some of those who went shopping. New shawls!

We stopped on the way home at a street-side restaurant where we enjoyed true Mexican tacos and other unique dishes that were tasty. It was a good time of fellowship and relaxing.

Enjoying our meal at a local outdoor cafe

As I write this the sun is up and we can see Popo the volcano clearly! Soon the team will be back from the hotel, then breakfast followed by our work assignments and a day of getting some things done at Refuge Ranch. I better go now, need to be ready to brew a second pot of coffee for the team when they arrive. And yes, we proudly brew Starbucks while I'm here!

Please keep us in your prayer for safety, efficiency, teamwork, and joy as we work. The team's having a great time!