With all the work projects being done in town, preparations have to be made for the trip to the ranch. I was Ed's 'go-fer' and the the general maintenance guy. Got the new air-compressor up and going, and greased and did the inspections on vehicles going to the ranch. There is no way to explain the extreme road conditions endured on the 45 miles to the ranch....new paved hi-way for starts, then rough, rocky, dirty, dusty (powder dust), narrow, curvy, crazy drivers, lumber trucks, fast trucks, broken down vehicles, steep mountain roads, more rocks and rough road, along with cramped riding conditions (Five vehicles packed to the max).....all taking around 3 hours. I was on one trip a few years ago when it took us 17 hours to get there, after spending a few hours sleeping on the side of the mountain.....the entire group of us!
The road is so much better now......it used to be a 5-51/2hr trip.
The group stays at the church, so each day all the men have to 'stow away' their sleeping bags and gear, for the use of the building during the day. Of course on Sunday everything had to be moved for Church service. Food and supplies were sorted and readied for the Monday morning departure to the ranch. Only the bare necessities of each person are allowed, as it is quite an undertaking to transport and deliver everything to the 'Canyon Ranch' location. I will have more on that later!
I forgot to mention we even attended the funeral of an elderly lady from the Church. It was very much appreciated by the family to have our entire group there....Pastor Antonio and Joel both spoke and the group sang during the service....such as it was.

The 'farming' was even done, in preparation for the garden. It's all ready for the seeds, and then some much needed rain......it is really dry in the area!

This was one of the other huge tasks of accomplishment!......A team group were assigned the job of opening, sorting, deciphering content, and then placing into piles for distribution, a multitude of boxed books that had been given to the school. Three different floors were covered with books, along with the makeshift tables piled high. This was no easy task......Ed was impressed that they were able to get all the boxes looked thru and sorted! This monumental task took three days to finalize....with not much slack time!.....Well you know, girls to have to giggle and enjoy themselves some, too!

 Joel and Cassilda are missionaries from the local church the Ed and Debby planted here in Guachochi. They spend as much time as possible at the 'Ranch' ministering to the Indians, but need a home in town also.....thus some of the team worked hard at pouring the footings for this new home, right near the Capps.

No cement truck to deliver the cement, it was all mixed on site, and then 'laboriously' carried 'bucket by bucket' around the perimeter of the building. Towards the end the generator had some major issues.....then the mixing was done by hand in the wheel barrow!

 Arriving in Guachochi, the work begins.....stripping old paint from the walls. It had to be 'peeled' and scrapped off, as it had not really stuck to the surface as most paint would! What a job...and I must say, "great work girls"!

 The new coat of paint is applied.....it really does brighten the room.
Josh and Candice Rose will be living in this apartment when they arrive in August.
I sure hope you like the color Candice!

The Church was also painted.....the bright colors have made a lot of heads turn as they drive by. The second story required some 'tall reaching'.....I'm not sure whom all painted up there, but I saw Mr. Holmes crawling up the ladder at the beginning of the upper story work!

Mission trip is completed!

All the team members have safely returned home from Mexico, and now maybe I can finish up from the last update, with some comments and pictures. This is always hard to find time for.....so much to catch up on, after returning home, and returning to 'life' as we live it! Bear with me as I make these postings.....all the things I would like to say, may not happen at once.

Sunday evening....

Most are off to play soccer with the church youth group, we will be eating late this evening, and also loading for departure to the 'Canyon Ranch' in the morning. The Church has to be empty by 8:00 am, as school starts at 8:30 am. Ed and Joel & family left this morning for the ranch, as they had to be there for Church on the mountain this evening. Ed went early, so he could run the cable system, transporting supplies to the bottom. Pictures later will explain the cable system, or you can go back to last years postings for some insight.