Of course in order to go on a cruise one must get to the water and Missouri isn't very close to the Gulf. To get there we must take a bus ride. The only real problem, just as we were leaving Springfield the freezing rain started to fall. Consequently, the 35 mile trip to Branson took 2 hours. After loading the Prep students and Fellows the rest of the night and half of the next day was consumed on the rest of the trip to New Orleans.
Here is the whole crew and our boat in the background, the Carnival Elation. We set sail that evening on a course to Cozumel, Mexico.
The next morning we were blessed with this glorious sunrise. There were not many of us up to see it.
Our table for the cruise was a great group of old and new friends.
Roger and Kay Osbourne, the camp contact and good friends ate with us---
---and so did Jim and Eula Fluckey, our new friends. Jim is the man who interviewed us via phone in December of 2010 for Sowers.
We spent a lot of time in conversation both above and below deck---
---and the Fellows had a great time in the ship's pool.
They also diligently cared for their Prep charge at meals---
---and by the pool.
One of the Brauner children attentively reviewed the model of the ship which was at the entrance of the dining room---
---and several of the Prep students joined the dining room crew with their singing during the evening meal.
Anytime there was music on deck the Prep students were up and dancing, wheel chairs and all.
Also in the evening the crew gave a lesson on towel animals and Billie took part creating several animals like this one.
When we got to Cozumel we decided to take a tour to a Mayan temple ruin. We were blessed to get this young lady, Bianca for a guide. She was very knowledgeable and funny.
She explained the Mayan calendar and assured us that in December of 2012 the calendar did not come to an end, it just started over again.
We saw a lot of these big guys protecting the grounds.
There were remains of temple structures---
---and other structures as well. This building was a place where the young women went through a ritual to become a "woman". The ritual consisted of entering this building which was heated by steam from hot rocks and they stayed there for 7 days with no food or water. Unfortunately, nearly half of the girls died before the 7 days was completed.
After we left the ruins we took a trip around the island. One stop was at a small "snack shop" on the other side of the island.
Our next stop was Progresso, Mexico. When we left the ship we had to pass through these buildings which were your typical tourist run.
When we got to town we found this lovely fountain---
---but the big draw was to the beach. Everyone went, wheel chairs and all---
---and they all really enjoyed themselves.
Of course some of us spent a good deal of time in thoughtful, deep conversations.
Billie and I ate in this quaint beach restaurant---
---and of course we shopped.
After another long buss ride home we got back to Camp Barnabas just in time to move down to the RV sites just before it snowed and froze again. But we were able to hang our bird feeder and see some of the beautiful birds which are resident here.
The new snow really set of their beauty---
---as well as the snow on the branches.
Finally, the last pin is in place and the back hoe is again ready for service.
