Hola from Merida!

Greetings from the heart of Mérida, México, everyone! As this message is being written, our group is heading off to bed after a long, yet wonderfully fulfilling two days of action here at the Mission of Friendship. Although our group only departed from Erie two days ago, our group dynamic is so strong and we are very excited to see where our energy takes us as we embark on new projects and experiences throughout this week.

Our trip began Saturday at 7am, when we met under Gannon’s infamous arch. Over the span of 10 hours, we drove to Cleveland, flew to Houston, played many games and got to know each other during a four hour layover, and eventually arrived safely in Mérida. We were immediately met by Lewis and Tricia, our gracious and wise hosts from the mission. As we cherished the warm weather (which is a stark contrast from Erie’s most recent temperatures) and the new environment, Tricia and Lewis welcomed us to Mérida and prepared us for our next experience, which included spending a night in downtown Mérida. To round out an exhausting day of traveling, we watched folkloric dance and tried “Marquesitas,” delicious snacks made from cheese, Nutella/caramel, and a waffle-like cone. Our group definitely wants to bring those home!! In addition to the marquesitas, highlights of the day include Ryan flying for the first time and a few other group members traveling out of the country for the first time! Unfortunately, one of our group members, Emma, had a circumstance that prevented her from continuing the full experience with us this year, but we are still grateful that we got to spend time during day one with her. She will be greatly missed and in our prayers.

Waking up feeling refreshed and eager to learn, we spent another day in downtown exploring and learning. With the support of Valentina, Steve, Jose, and Lewis (others associated with the Mission), we attended mass at the first cathedral built in north and South America,visited El Palacio del Gobierno and Casa Montejo, and ate lunch at La Chaya Maya. Many members of our group stepped out of their comfort zones today by immersing themselves in the Yucatecan culture, and specifically demonstrated their willingness to learn by trying new foods (like shark) and speaking Spanish with local vendors at Mérida’s Sunday Market. Overall, the day was full of positive vibes, laughter (mostly because a bird decided to use the bathroom on my shirt, which Mackenzie was wearing), and deep conversations about life. We completed the day and built our bond even more with  a two hour reflection session at the mission. We would once again like to thank everyone for their support and eagerness to engage with us as we continue to grow during our ABST experience. We can’t wait to share the rest of our adventure soon!