Day 4

Today was our third day of work, but our fourth day here. The weather was great as always, not overly hot, but nice. Although it did rain at the end of the day on the way back. We had a long day of work, but it was all worth it in the end. We knew today was our last and we had to touch everything up. Walls needed second and third coats of paint, and corners needed touching up. But before all this, we started off our morning with a prayer service led by the youth. We said our own peoples prayers made by the kids and dedicated our day to Diane Evans and her family. As we touched up the walls and started to clean the benches the Church really started to shape up. The beuatiful art work by the local artist was in the final stages as the peach really stood out on the bottom in the church. The outside transformed very well as the white paint sprakled on the walls. Claire and Ellen turned Father Tony's office from messy to a fresh peace color. It looks great! Me Jordan and Mary Martha painted our bench and even got to initial it. After lunch the busy work started. We moved pews and dusted them down. This was tiring and the church was filled with body heat as we readied it for the service. We moped and swept, and even the adults got on their hands and knees to chip paint off the floor. After a whole group effort the beautifully transformed church was ready for service. We then had a very nice serivice led by the Bishop as many mexican locals piled in the church. The bishop gave the people a lashing on keeping their church nice [thanks to Jordans spanish skills], but gave us a wonderful sermon in english. He thanked us for all our hard work not only this year but the past 3. He hopes to see us back next year and blessed us with all his heart. It was very sweet and was greatly appriciated by us. Then Father Tony called all the locals up to the front and gave us a round of applause. All that hard work payed off right there for me. Then we took a photo will all them and present the church with a homemade cross the youth made. We then waited at the church in anitciaption as the locals hurried off. Father Tony led us to a open area and to our surprize, kind of, there was a feista waiting for us. They had a small orchestra and tons of food waiting. The kids showerd us with confetti as we walked in. The food was great and there was even some interesting local music. The second singer played all love songs and won over the ladies. Sammy, Mary Martha, and Jordan even danced with him! The party ended with them presenting us all with roses and gifts. We all said our good byes and danced to one last song. We returned to our nice cold bus after a long, but wonderful day. The ride home was great even though it rained. Today was what we had come here for, and it was everythign and more than i expected.

Matt