Home Again

Those of you carefully following this will note that the promised update from Atlanta didn't happen. That wasn't a technical problem (wireless was available, if for a fee), but an energy (personal, not battery) problem.

We got into Atlanta as expected, customs was no particular problem (although Lowell needed his shoes sprayed as he stated he'd walked thru a field (no lie)). As you might expect, our departure gate was concourse A (we arrived in E), but they have a nice underground train, so that change was uneventful.

Lowell, as commented yesterday, was traveling without assigned seat and the flight was clearly overbooked. However, about 5 minutes before the doors closed, he was assigned a seat, and in fact, we left a little late so 3 more passengers could arrive to be seated.

Our connection in Detroit was tight (only 30 minutes), so leaving late was a concern for Bill and I (Lowell had already arranged to follow backup plan A (Alex pick him up at the airport on his way home from Ann Arbor)), so Bill asked the flight attendants to request foregiveness from the passengers in the plane (we were in the very last 2 rows). The attendant made the announcement, and about 3/4 of the plane did let us trounce up the aisle when the doors opened. We arrived at A27 in Detroit, left out of C15 (with the tunnel between A36 and C1 in between), so our 18 minutes disappeared quickly.

However, when we got to C15, there was still a Q outside and the doors were closed. About 10 minutes later they let us board. As departure time had already passed, they finally told us that they had a crew problem, we had a 1st officer, we had a flight attendant, but no Captain (s/he had exceeded max hours). They finally assigned us a pilot (who joked on the intercom that he had been assigned 3 flights in the last 15 minutes) and left 45 minutes late.

Because of that departure lag, our luggage also made the flight and Marnie picked us up in MBS. I enjoyed the fact that God arranged for a delay on the last flight sufficiently that not only our bodies, but our luggage also made the flight.

Plans are to present this to the team, and God willing, go back February-ish. More later.

Mexico City (overnight)

We are back at the Holiday Inn in Mexico City. Had a very pleasant dinner last night with the Bishop, stayed at the Hotel Mexico in Xalapa (pronounce the "x" like an english "h" and you'll get it right). Bishop came to see us off at 9:30, then we made a round of the way trip to the airport passing by the port of Veracruz. Got two lighthouse photos (saw a 3rd, but it was on the wrong side of the van) and posted them at http://lighthousesrus.org/theAmericas/MexicoE.htm#MX17.

Got in here easily and the only real problem is the wireless is pretty unreliable. I had to walk around the hotel with my drink in hand to find a spot where I could write this and sip that.

We get up at 5:15 tomorrow take the shuttle at 5:30, leave at 7:30. We tried to check in online, but can't do that for a variety of reasons, so we wanted plenty of time at the airport.

Next post might be from Atlanta.

Mexican completion

We went back to Ixtagapa this morning and got the necessary water samples. We then travelled back to the hotel and met as a team (including Eigner and Padre Marco Polo, so we had dual language discussions.) We talked through the criteria we wished to use (printed last night on the hotel printer using a thumb drive). We then came to an agreement on the priority order of the 3 sites, and while the reasons were different, the answers were not.

I am not going to post that priority order here as they are only recommendations from us to the larger team, and water analysis may alter our results. We expect to review this analysis with the larger team July 18 and if we have water results then, we could make a final decision at that time.

Bill will start assembling the covenant that will be used and the intention is to assemble it in both English and Spanish. When a final decision is made, it will be communicated to the Diocese and to Padre Marco Polo who will inform the 3 sites. Once they have been informed, we will transmit the proposed covenant (which in some sections will contain alternative selections for the local people to choose) and we will await reactions.

In previous engagements, this has sometimes required revisions above and beyond the alternative choices. If there is conflict arising in the electronic communications, we propose a conference call, either with the telephone, or via the internet to talk through those areas of difference.

All 3 sites would require construction. We would like to do the system construction when the weather is more pleasant, so will propose a January of February construction if the coveant and building can be completed in time, otherwise a November 2010 construction.

At this time, we are going to pack our bags, leave Acayucan and go to Veracruz and play tourista for the evening and part of tomorrow. Our flight from here to Mexico City is at 1 PM tomorrow, but it is possible I will be able to make another post before then. Otherwise, future posts will be on facebook as I travel.

Monday (Chogota)

We are located right on the central square of Acayucan. Last night I went out on the front porch and got this photo of the central cathedral which is on one end of the square. The other end of the square of course is the government palace.

This morning we went to the village of Chogota. This village was yet again different from the other 2. If we build here, it would be on private land. My Tom Tom knows about the road in front of the village, well, I should say from here north. From here south it says there is no route, but we drove across it.

We got our samples of the water that is available (which just like yesterday) is from a community supply, a deep well, but with no processing after it's pumped from the well. It's vey soft water, with low amounts of dissolved solids. We'll have to wait for bacterial analysis.

We still don't have water samples from our first site: (a) we forgot to take the sample bottles and (b) the water only runs from 9-11 in the morning and 7-9 in the evening. So, we'll go back tomorrow to get those samples. Tonight we will assemble our comparison criteria, then tomorrow afternoon we'll see if we can agree on a site using those criteria.

Thank you for your prayerful support.

Sunday (San Pedro)

We started the day with some free time, which was nice. Gathered together at 10:30 and went to the Anglican service here in town with Padre Marco Polo as celebrant. Small service, we didn't double the size of the congregation, but were significant. For a small church, the service was "high", probably the Latin influence.

After service, we gathered at the rectory, then went out to "Padre's" favorite option. San Pedro Martir is a large modern building (in an older style) that turns out to be the home for a healing ministry. It is located about 20 miles east of Acayucan and took us nearly 40 minutes to get there. They provided lunch (breaded chicken breast, potatoe with corn et. al., beet and cucumber salad) and we sat around and talked for a while.

Got home later (7:15) than yesterday, so a short break and then got dinner.

Tomorrow will be our 3rd site and then we'll gather to make decisions. Tuesday is our make-up day and then we're off the airport fairly early Wednesday.

We then looked at the options for where to do a water conversion unit, took our samples while they had a second church service for the day "he" has service here roughly every 8 weeks. Larger congregation than at his home church. We then had a discussion with the people here about how things might work if they were chosen.

Visit to Ixtagapa

We visited our first candidate site after lunch (which was at 2). It's the village of Ixtagapa ('x' pronounced like 'sh' for those with poor Spanish like me) which is about 15 minutes north on highway 280 back towards Veracruz.

Pedro, our sponsor, first proposed his side yard, then we discussed his front porch (more room, less traffic.) He then proposed the public building at the top of the hill which might become a clinic for a training location and we walked up to look at it. As you can see, the system water tower is right behind it, so this becomes a very ideal location. Pedro admitted that he can't commit the site, it would be a committment by the community, they might very well approve it.





Asking more questions, it turns out the source of the water is a 90+ meter deep well with a submirsable pump in it. The well is another 200 meters (more or less) further on the road we walked to get here. That photo is shown below.



The water was off when we were there, so we'll have to make another trip to get samples. That will be either Monday evening or Tuesday morning.

Dinner tonight at 7:30 (early, but we're pretty tired from the short night last night.)

In Acayucan

We got to bed after midnight, somebody forgot to check the clock radio (there are two us in the room, so that's a shared "oops") and the alarm went off at 3:15, then we got up at 5:30 to get to the airport.

These flights had been made independently from yesterdays, so we had to go through the entire change process (there's goes an hour), but we got through security smoothly and the plane although small, was comfortable (ish).

My bag didn't make it from the US, so another hour getting that registered. Hopefully it will show up. Biggest lack is my phone recharger and AC adapter are in there, so it will be fun working around that. Oh yes, so are 4 changes of clothes that I suspect I will want.

It's about a 2 hour drive from Veracruz to Acayucan, so at 2:00 we meet for lunch. So I'm off and will post more shortly.

In Mexico City

We're in the airport 2nd holiday inn. It's 12:20 here (1:20 EDT) and we need to leave for the airport at 6 tomorrow. The good news is I got the the restaurant 5 minutes before they closed and they sold me 2 beers (56 pesos, or about $4).

Everything went well (that is after the 5 am cancelled flight) till we got to Houston. Delta comes in to Terminal A, then you get a bus to terminal B, then you get a train to terminal D (with some walking in the middle.) NW in Midland issued us the boarding passes this far, but couldn't issue the Aeromexico (code share) flight. Wel, AM didn't have a reservation for this flight (since we'd changed due to the cancelation). They wanted us to go back to Terminal A and talk to Delta. I had Delta on my phone, Bill had NW on his phone and both agreed everything was fine - but AM disagreed. Bill finally got the agents talking to each other, and we did get boarding passes, but it consumed and hour. Good thing we had a long layover.

It's only 64 outside, so quite pleasant, but the hotel is warm, so sleeping will be a question. On to further vistas tomorrow.

Not a good start

Today did not start auspiciously. Got a call from Bill at 5AM saying our flight was cancelled. Looking online, for some reason the flight from Midland to Detroit was cancelled. No statement why, but I assume either equipment or crew as the weather is fine here and in Detroit.

We are rebooked leaving Midland at 1:30, arrive in Mexico City at 10:50 tonight, will have to overnight there.

Off the Mexico

Friday morning Bill (actually Jessica, his wife) will take me to the airport leaving here at Oh, so dark:30. We leave Midland at 6:55, the fly Detroit to Houston (8:45-10:44 CDT), Houston to Mexico City (12:40 to 3), pick up our luggage and check back in again to fly Mexico City to Veracruz (5:30-6:30). So 13 hours more or less of travel.

We should be met at the airport by Bishop Benito and his son who will take us to the Colonial de Veracruz Hotel. I expect I'll have internet access there, and will attempt to add to this, although what I can see about 13 hours of travel probably will be pretty limited.

Saturday we expect to drive south to Acayucan Saturday, visit the 3 villages that are candidates for a water purification system. We'll use Acayucan as a base for the rest of the week. Hopefully we will also have internet access there.

More late tomorrow.