The last four days in Guanajuato were spent mostly without a camera.  At church I presented a slide show of my trip and on Tuesday, a surprise party was thrown for my by Lupita and Ani.  However, I did take a few pictures...

Monday was the birthday for Esperanza's father.  Tres leches, singing, fiddlin, pickin, laughin. 

On the 27th... everyone in my household came to send me off!!  How special.  Here I am eating mis ultimas tunas (prickly pear fruit).  On the way to the airport, as this tree flew by, I realized how time too had flown by.  (At least, I didn't feel homesick much which was quite a blessing seeing as how much I enjoy being at home.)

Sendoff at the airport...  parting is sweet sorrow -- sweet with the promise of reuniting in heaven if not before.

Sweet are harmonious reunions... hey Mom and Dad, Stephen, and Annie!!

This afternoon we spent time at the beaches of Cancun (nest of snakes).  The next two days we spent at Tulum and Chicken Pizza, I mean, Chicken-Itza.  This is the end of my trip... but the beginning of reflection.  Thank you for your prayers.

Friday, the 22nd was my last day of classes...

I had a fun last, long (many more hours than normal) day -- and even went to music class to learn the history and melody of "La Cucaracha" y "____de Mis Amores"

Saturday, I started off with a spinning class adventure -- I thought about Lance Armstrong only having one day left to win the Tour da France.  Afterwards, I went with Melisa up to Pipila to buy some silver gifts for my female relatives.  These are the owners of the store... my uncle and aunt!  The view was great from up there!

Esperanza's brother came for la comida... we played a lot of chess (I never won.)  He is a semi-priest for the Catholic church who teaches chess and its analogies to spiritual warfare.  That night my family and I saw the movie "Herbie"... overly-childish, but I enjoyed it... as did Esperanza.

So far this week, the story has been laid back classes (4 hours instead of 6) rain rain rain violin practice, reading, and a lil stomach ache this morning which Pera mostly took care of with a tecita de manzanita (tea of apples) chicken soup and a hardy lunch!  My teacher this week is Rojelio who also taught the salsa class last week.  He brings cheer to the class... my small class with him and Melinda.  Melisa works nearby at a dance studio as the secretary, and I drop by at least once a day to say hi and maybe bring her a sweet bread... one of my favorite things about Mexico -- las pandarìas.

This next picture here is of a new kind of rain shadow... what happens when there is so much rain that is soaks through a concrete wall next to the stairs.  Besides being trapped inside by rain a few times, I was also trapped in my school talking on the roof with this lady Christina from Finland.  She was sharing more ¨refranes¨ (common sayings like ¨Bloom where you´re planted¨) and all of a sudden everyone had left.  So we escaped through this window!  ¡Otra adventura!

¡Otra oportunidad!  ¡Otra oportunidad!  Here are some pictures from church this past Sunday.  Lot´s of action... like at CHBC!

Alfredo´s daughter and Jessica -- Naomi -- Clara y Marta

Here is the missionary Joel making fishers of men... and talking with Alfredo.

Sunday, the kids´ class was led by Clara and her mom Rosa... the fruit of their labor: