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Lunch at the Terrells’
Mmmmm … we just finished a fabulous lunch of macaroni salad on lettuce, Chipotle tuna and crackers, and pina colada punch! Every meal has been fabulous, and Mrs. Terrell, Leah, and Julie have been wonderful to include some “normal” foods in the menu as well as the traditional Mexican dishes.
On Sunday we had a late breakfast, visited the city of Chamula, and then had a breaking bread church service at 5:30 in the Terrells’ home. In Chamula we visited the main Catholic church, whose doctrine includes some animism. We saw many people burning candles in front of cases containing wooden “saints.” The people chanted and offered precious possessions such as Coca-Cola, alcohol, and eggs. We even saw live chickens, which they waved around to take away evil spirits. It was very sad to see the deception of the enemy in the lives of these people.
Indian bridal garments
After we left the church, we walked about a block to a museum where we saw many Indian objects and clothes that are traditional to the lives of the Mexicans here. From the museum we came out in the middle of the craft market, where we shopped for a little while before returning to the Terrells’ home for church.
The laundrymeister
On Monday we began several work projects around the Terrell “plantation.” Vangie, Jenna, Laura, and Beth have helped Julie Terrell with curtains for the home. Our Mexican translators have been working on some Character First!® translation projects. Vangie and Sarah have been keeping the laundry going, and several others have been taking turns helping in the kitchen and around the house. Jeff, Noah, and Jordan have been helping Nathan Terrell weld, bend, and cut metal to make the curtain rods and brackets for the new sheers and the curtains.
Seamstress extraordinaire
Everyone else has had a paintbrush glued to his or her hand! We made great progress on the painting—finishing Nathan and Julie’s home and the bunkhouse beneath it, moving to the second bunkhouse, and then to the front gate. Yesterday, Jolene, Beth, Anna, and I cleaned the hallway outside of the office, packing up all kinds of electrical equipment for storage. Several others of our team began clearing a section of the gravel driveway behind Nathan’s house.
This morning, the guys hiked up the side of the mountain to watch the sunrise. Unfortunately, they couldn’t see the sun for the trees, but they still enjoyed seeing the city wake up. We gals slept in, and then we all gathered for devotions and breakfast.
Morning devotions
Tomorrow we plan to leave around 5:30 A.M. for the “real jungle!” We have a three-hour drive to the Agua Azul waterfalls, where we will take a break and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. From the waterfalls, we have another four-hour drive to the Lacandon village, where we will be staying Thursday, Friday, and maybe Saturday. We will show some Gospel videos in their native language and probably do some Children’s Institute-style activities with the children on Saturday. The Lacandones are shunned and rejected by most people here. We hope to be an encouragement to them of God’s love and salvation!
Friday we plan to take boats to see the Yaxchilan ruins. Resurrection Sunday we may have a service with the Palenque brothers and then visit the Mayan ruins at Palenque before driving home Sunday evening.
Please pray for continued health and strength for our team! In the past few days several members of the team have come down with a flu-like bug that lasts anywhere from 24 to 72 hours. Please pray for their healing and that no one else becomes sick. Please pray for the Lord’s protection as we travel, and that we would hear His voice and allow His agape love to shine through us!
Translation project
Laundry—Chiapas style
Curtain rod musketeers
Acrobatic painters
One of the paint crews
