Hallelujah! I was able to get a photo to load to the Blog!!

The above photo is of the construction site at which I (Herb) am working and the picture was taken from the edge of our balcony. The concrete area you can see is actual a form of cinder block that is notched on each end so that it will fit onto a precast concrete "girder". These blocks are relatively fragile and we ought not to walk in the middle of the block lest we break them. Yes, I've broken some blocks. The plan is that on Friday afternoon we will pour concrete on that floor. Malchor (our Mexican Construction Foreman) and I figured out that we will need 22 cubic meters of concrete to cover the floor to a depth of 10 centimeters. Construction here seems to be peculiar mixture of metric and SAE measurements. We went to a Home Depot in Queretaro this evening - I was looking for new work gloves, mine are almost worn out. You could tell it was a Home Depot but it was very obvious that this particular Home Depot was in Mexico!

Yesterday and today I have been feeling much better. My stomach seems to have become aclimatized and the same is true for the rest of the family. If we continue to feel this good we may venture into the Orphanage Dining Room for a meal in the next while.

Joan and I realized that now that we have arrived and settled into life in Queretaro there will be less 'news' to share with you. We do become somewhat routinized no matter where we might find ourselves, don't we.

I have tried not to comment on the weather here mainly because I never appreciate it when people brag about how hot it is where they are travelling when they know the weather is colder in Manitoba. However, in case you are curious you can read on. If you don't want to know about the weather in Queretaro, Mexico this time of year just skip to the next paragraph. Over the weekend the days were pleasantly cool -about 20-22 degress and somewhat breezy. This week the wind has died down and the temperatures have risen - today was about 27-29 with little or no wind. I found it quite hot working in the sun - I got my first heat related headache. The forecast is that it will remain hot tomorrow and cool for Friday and the weekend.

Tomorrow, Thursday, there is a worship service here at the orphanage at 6 PM, so we need to finish supper in time to get to worship. Unlike stories we hear of Mexico, church at Pan de Vida starts on time - the director is an American, born and raised in upstate New York. We have been blessed that, Eileen, a young woman from Texas who is one of the teachers here at Pan de Vida has agreed to translate the services for us. This makes it so much easier to follow along and look interested. My favorite part of the worship times here are the singing. The children sing with amazing enthusiasm. Occasionally they sing a song in Spanish that we sing at home in English and that helps us out. It's quite fun trying to keep up singing the Spanish lyrics from the Overhead, learning how to pronounce words as we go along.

Joan agreed to teach English to a class of 12 children Grade 3-4 who range in age from 8-15. Her first experience in classroom teaching was enjoyable for her and she is planning to go back again tomorrow as the English classes meet on Tuesday and Thursday. During her first class on Tuesday she was able to teach some English words and pronunciation to her students while writing down the Spanish equivalents of what she taught them. It seems that learning goes both ways here. Malchor, wants to learn English for when the work teams come in February so it takes us longer to find tools, nails and rebar etc. because I have to teach him the English word and learn the Spanish word for the tool we are using. I learned the Spanish words for nails, and two tools that are commonly used. The problem is I have forgotten those words as quickly as I have learned them.

Well, I think that's all I have to say for now. It's almost time for bed and it looks like the Skip-Bo game at the table where I'm writing this is winding down. Thanks for reading. Thank you so much for your prayers. They have carried us to this point and we trust they will continue to carry us. You have blessed us as you have prayed for us.