Assuming a picture is worth a thousand words, I will let these photos from the first day be my post number 3. We were welcomed by the church in Uman with songs and worship, then we set to work installing the roof beams. Today, Friday, we put the blocks on the roof. Tomorrow is the hardest day, as we mix concrete and carry it to the roof to complete the process. I may not blog Saturday or Sunday, we´´ll see. All is going well.






This last photo is from the cathedral downtown. We had great cultural experiences yesterday, ending with a concert of local music and dancers at Plaza Santa Lucia.

Tourists and Water Purification

This blog is written in reverse chronological order. This is the 2nd post. The picture above is a typical street scene. I found the pic on yahoo. I hope i´m not breaking copyright law or blogger manners by linking to someone else´s pictures.

The trip continues to be good. The weather is pleasant. I am sure no one will believe me, but the weather is cooler than pensacola and mobile. There is a nice breeze.

The teens, Betty and I took a bus tour of the city this morning, saw the Govornor´s palace museum, the Cathedral, and main plaza. All of those are together. We ate a good lunch of authentic food. The girls have bought a few pieces of jewelry or dresses. Anne Louise has a black and white one she will use as a cover-up to go to the beach. Otherwise it is probably too short. All the kids are doing well and contributing to the trip.

Most of the adults are in a town south of here repairing a water system. I think I gave a link for the Living Waters project yesterday.

Last night we ate at the hotel and enjoyed lime soup, a speciality of the Yucatan. It is chicken soup with lime juice and other local spices.

Tomorrow and Saturday we will work on the roof of the Disciples of Jesus Church in Uman. I hope to be able to upload some pictures Saturday or Monday.

first day in Uman

So far, this is a great mission trip. We arrived on time at 9 30 last night. It is about the same weather as Pensacola, we may have an afternoon shower soon. There is a bit of a breeze.

The Presbyterians here are wonderful. They fed us a small breakfast and wonderful, big lunch at their church, the Disiciples of Jesus Presbyterian Church. Lunch was a squash soup that even Anne Louise liked. Meals at the church are served in paper bowls with plastic spoons and forks fresh from the package. The soup boiled all morning, so the germs were killed. They seem to have learned a lot about hosting mision trips since my last one here in 1988.

We were greeted by the pastor and members of this church. they sang to us and with us and had a morning devotional. This is a special ministry.

Today we placed roof support beams made of concreat on a roof. the roof covers 4 Sunday school rooms. Tomorrow a few of our number will go to sites south of here to install water filtration systems. You may read all about this part of the project at http://www.livingwatersfortheworld.org/

Friday and Saturday we will finish the roofing project in Uman.

We leave Tuesday for Merida, Mexico. I think this picture (lifted from the web page of a church in California) may be the last one on this series from the mission trip. But I love pictures! They are worth a thousand words.

Pray for the sixteen Presbyterians from Mobile and Pensacola who will help Presbyterians in Uman, Mexico (south of Merida) build an addition to their church.

My Favorite Blog Enteries

Over the past several months I've posted a number of thoughts to this "pastor's blog" for Northminster Church. Since they 'disappear' off the bottom and one really has to look (following the 'older posts' link), you may click on these to see my favorite posts so far.

I hope to blog from Mexico later this week. Scroll down for the map of the Yucatan. UPDATE: the post is here.

Here are my thoughts on Memorial Day and Pentecost.

Click here to read my newsletter article about the surprise visitor in church.

This is a link to my article on Men's Breakfasts (the next one is this Sat. July 14)

Finally, I share my piece about Heifer International. We are still collecting money for to give a sheep and a goat to two poor families. Designate your gift to Northminster for this project.

Carol's Pics of Fun and Faith Days

Many thanks to Carol O. for sharing her pictures of Fun and Faith Days. Here you see some of our children, the Red Sea, and the tribes.

Photograph of the Whole Congregation in costume

On the Sunday of Fun and Faith Days a photograph of the whole congregation was taken in front of the church. It is available for purchase in 5x7 (very small) for $10, 8x1 for $15 and 11x14 for $25. A print of the 8x1 and 11x17 are on the information desk in the narthex. We did not put one on this blog at the photographer's request. Take a look at it next time you are at church. He would like orders in by Sunday, July 22. Make checks out to Ferbee Photo/Graphic; there is an envelope for them on the information table.

Mission Trip background information

Several members have asked me about Merida, Mexico and the mission trip Northminster is participating in. Merida is the capital of Yucatan State in Mexico (highlighted on the map).

We're going with Presbyterians from Mobile and South Alabama Presbytery. Here is a link to the presbytery's mission trips web site.

Here is a link to a tourist web site for Merida.

It is a 3-hour flight from Houston to Merida on Continental Airlines; the price was reasonable. I will try to post information about the hotel, our Presbyterian hosts in Mexico, and the church in Uman that we work with. I hope I can post to this blog during the trip, but we'll see.

Happy Independence Day

We Americans are indebted to the Great Men of 1776, the Founding Fathers in the 2nd Continental Congress who dared revolt against the unjust King.

During this week of Independence Day it is worth remembering the words of Jefferson's great Declaration. You may click here to see them; read them slowly, it is worth the time.

Rachel's pictures of fun and faith days

Thank you, Rachel M. for these fantastic pics (and more).