Sunday...

We started out our day by waking up at 7:00 am, and having group devotions with praise and worship songs, as well as some time in small groups discussing the scripture for the day. We had breakfast and then got the webcam conference set up as a lot of you saw us at Cornerstone. That was a really fun way to start off the day... Then we went to the 'english' church right here in San Carlos. This church Art & Brenda and Ryan regularly attend.
After church we headed down to the Oasis (Macapule) where we trekked around for a few hours. The oasis is just a beautiful, lush, green area in the middle of this desert we call San Carlos. It was a good time. It was fun to take pictures and challenge our bodies with all the obstacles. We had to use a lot of teamwork.
Lunch was a delicious meal of Enchiladas (YUM) and refried beans (we have them at just about every meal)! Brenda is a wonderful cook! Then we went to a nearby beach for a few hours where we suntanned, swam in the ocean, looked for seashells, and the boys played some football. Landon had a little encounter with a sea urchin...let's just say it left it's mark on his hands (..ouch).
So it sounds like we just hang out all day hey? Once we got back from the beach we headed over to Guaymas to attend an evening church service where we performed skits, shared testimonies (Nicole, Erik, and Julia were the brave ones tonight) and Andy shared some Scriptures and encouragement. We also brought out our Spanish praise and worship which some of you heard in Cornerstone last week. They seemed to like it so I guess we're saying the right words! One huge highlight was when the pastor asked if anyone was having a birthday soon...Andy and Alex's are both this week (March 31). They had to go up to the front while the entire congregation sang "Happy Birthday" (in Spanish..and English once) and filed by giving them a hug. It was hilarious, "very entertaining" (says Nicole). They were very surprised, but apparently that is a very common practice here in Mexico. We hung out at the church for a long time afterwards just talking with the locals. Fred is a HUGE help so we can actually have conversations with these people. There are also quite a few Mexicans that know English which made it easier.
Now we're just hanging out in the "palapa" (it's like a straw hut type thing...very pretty) at Brenda's. The team seems to be getting along great and everyone is having a great time. We love Mexico!
Tomorrow we will head back to the church in Guaymas to start building their new church (which you guys at Cornerstone helped fundraise for at the brunch). Time for bed! Enjoy the snow....

By Terri and Nicole....with the help of "Shorty" (a local Mexican who lives with Brenda...he's actually really tall)