Update #7 Friday, June 23, 2023

Yesterday we had our last workday. We fully cemented the roof  which consisted of mixing the cement, putting it in buckets, passing it down a line, up scaffolding, and tossing the buckets down to someone on the ground to go back to be filled. Mr. Philip and I were the main bucket catchers and we both got absolutely covered in cement because of the occasional bucket that still had some left in it. I also passed the buckets up the scaffolding. 

Friday morning we had breakfast at 8! We then drove an hour and a half to Chichen Itza where we spent the rest of the morning. We had a guided tour for the first part and got to explore on our own after that. 

Next we drove to a nearby senote that was extremely fancy and had a buffet. We ate lunch there at around 2:30 then swam in the senote that had a place for us to jump off of about fifteen or twenty feet up. We did that for about an hour and then hopped into the vans to go back to Merida and eat at a fancy restaurant for dinner. 

When we finally got back to the church we got showered, packed up, and went to bed soon after because breakfast was at 4:30 Saturday morning. 

Wade Hunt

Friday, the final full day in Mexico, was spent eventfully with an extensive bus trip to the ruins of Chichén Itzá and the Cenote Ik Kil nearby. After we explored the ruins for a few hours with a guided tour and some free time to roam, we ate lunch at the buffet restaurant located at the Ik Kil cenote, and then swam in the massive cavern below. The cave was far wider than the previous two, but also crowded with people wanting to see it for themselves. Many team members enjoyed jumping off of the rocky platform into the cool blue water underneath the vines and lucious plants between the water and sun, before we climbed back aboard our buses to drive back home to Merida. Before arriving at Shalom for the night, we ate a vast dinner at Mr. Pampas, a Brazilian buffet-style restaurant with an incredible volume and variety of all sorts of delicious food, a fittingly excellent ending to an already outstanding day. 

Elec Hunt

A late wake up was just what we needed, after our long days of work! Chichen Itza was a beautiful sight to see. After the long days of work, walking around the place was a relaxing and beautiful sight! We enjoyed our trip to another cenote and a delicious dinner. This trip was very eye opening to the things that the Lord has blessed us with!

Bailey Atkinson