April 2006

April 1, 2006 - Well today I cleaned my room,  LOL.   It was a mess.   We just took everything out of the room and swept and mopped it really good.   I also did all my laundry and got it out of the way for awhile.  I will need to do it again next Thursday.  This way I wont have to do it during the youth week in one week.   I have a lot of things planned for the week the kids are out.   We are going to have many devotionals and then other activates planned all week.   I can't wait for it to get here. Also today I did something fun.  I taut my host mom how to make an EGG IN THE NEST.   If you don't know what this is then just ask my mom,  LOL.   I ate three of them. My host family loved them also.  Here is a photo of my room, a photo of my host family cooking something and a photo of one of the prayer groups meeting last Friday.

April 2, 2006 - Today was worship service and we had 2 baptisms.  This was great.  After church I had a meeting with some of the people that help with the youth group here.   We have had some major problems that need some attention NOW.   We have two kids that are really making class hard for everyone.   They are girlfriend and boyfriend.  I had heard some stuff that was going on when we were having prayers. So Friday night I didn't pray with the group and I watched the two kids. (I don't like doing this but I had to do it)  What I saw was really bad and I was ashamed to have been there and see what I saw.  We have had problems with them before but this was really bad.   I had to stop it and I stood between them for the rest of the prayer.  I didn't say anything to them because it does no good.  We have tried talking to them but it does no good.  I have talked to his parents but they do nothing and blame the girl for it.   This is why we had the meeting today.  I am getting ready to start a campaign with the youth to try and get more kids from Toluca into the Church.  I will not do this as long as this kind of stuff is going on in the youth group thou.  Carlos will be here this Friday and I don't want him to see it ether.  I would rather him not be here if that kind of stuff is going on in class.   So in the meeting we came up with a game plan and a set of rules for the kids and we are going to enforce them.   I hope we can get this under control before it gets any worse.  We are going to be as nice as we can but these 2 kids have got to learn that what they are doing is not acceptable in Church and is not acceptable for a Christian to do in class or in private.  It will not be tolerated.  I will not tolerate it.  Tonight I also went and watched a move at someone's house with the youth group. I also talked to Carlos for about an hour.  He is so ready to come here Friday.  I also talked to his farther at church this morning.  I think we all are on track to help this kid out and get him on the right road in life.

April 3, 2006 - Today was a really hot day here in Toluca.  Its weird seeing snow on the mountains and then it being in the 90s in the valley.   Today I worked at the church on some of the youth stuff for next week.  I am going to post the schedule so you can see all that is going on next week.  I also had Spanish class today.  It went ok, LOL.  After Spanish I worked at the church some more on the class for Friday night.  I am going to talk about "forgiveness" and what that really means. I got this idea from reading some stuff on the internet about what happened in Tennessee last week.  I know the Church's of Christ in Tennessee have really been getting a lot of questions asked about what a Church of Christ is.  If the lady asked for forgiveness then we have to forgive her just as God will forgive her.   That is what its all about.   We all here have been praying for all the Church's of Christ and hope that the healing can start really soon, but I think with forgiven her it has all ready started.   Tonight I watched the Men's NCCA game at a friends house and had pizza,  LOL.   This is only the second time I have watched Television since I have been here.   Well here is the schedule for next week.  Its going to be a busy one but I think it well be a good one full of  Worship, Work and Fun. I talked to Carlos a little today also. 

Youth Week

Sunday- 4pm - Meet at Raul and Kim’s house for a devotional and time for prayer groups to meet.    

Sunday – 6pm - Games and Fun

Sunday – 9pm - Girls leave for Beto and Heidi house, Boys stay at Raul and Kim’s for camp out.

Monday – 11am -Meet at Raul and Kim’s house for a time of devotional and time for prayer groups to meet. 

Monday – 12pm -Work project at church building.  Pizza party.

Tuesday – 8am -Meet at church building for a time of devotional and time for group prayer.

Tuesday – 9am - Trip to the ZOO.  Bring your own lunch.

Wednesday – 8am -Meet at church building for a time of devotional and time for group prayer.

Wednesday – 9am - Work project at church building. Bring your own lunch. Trip to play paintball or trip to the park after work project.

Thursday – Day off  (Time to take Carlos to some of the members house for more visit and Bible study.

Friday – 4pm - Meet at church building for a time of devotional and time for prayer groups to meet.

Friday – 5pm - Time for fun and to just hang out.  (might go to the mall)

Saturday - Study more with Carlos

April 4, 2006 - Today was a very busy day.  I had a meeting at the church building at 9am.   We were updating another guy on the problem within the youth group and how we are going to handle it.  He gave us some good advice and we are going to use some of it.   Right now I think we are going to sit down with both kids at the same time and talk to them together (I don't believe this will work but am going to give it a try) Then in class Friday night I am going to begin with a game and get the 2 kids separated and not let them sit together. (I also don't believe is going to work but am going to give it a try)  This 2 are like magnets and I don't think anything is going to work.  I don't want to give up on them thou so I am going to try anything I can.  We also went over the schedule for next week and made some small changes.  After that meeting I had another meeting with Raul for about an hour.  I updated him on everything and he helped with the campout that we are having this Sunday night at his house.  After that meeting I went to Spanish class and was about 30 minutes late.  Yeah I am turning into a Mexican now, LOL.   I was late to worship service Sunday also by like 20 minutes but that was because the bus driver decide to stop and get him something to eat, LOL.  After Spanish class I went back to the church building and talked to a guy about my VISA.  We are going to Mexico City Thursday to turn my photos in and yes to give them more money.   I should just go ahead and pay him off but I think that is kind of against the law to do that so I guess that is out of the question.  I then went home and had supper and then worked on my lesson for Friday night.  I also worked on some other stuff I am working on now.  I have a lot of projects going on right now.   They are as follow:  Youth week (which is next week), Youth Campaign (which I have began to put in place), Mission trip for one of my supporting congregations (which should take place sometime in May), My return trip home (which is June 17), City of Children trip (July 1), Return trip to Toluca (July 10).  All of these on top of my Spanish class and learning about Toluca. So you can see I have a lot going on right now and as soon as I finish one I have another one to take its place.  July is a very busy month here with a lot of stuff planned.   I have not even started on a lot of it and don't really don't know when I will. So please keep me in your prayers these next few months as I work on all of these things.  Also I have put a new song onto this page so give it time to download and turn the volume up and enjoy.  

April 5, 2006 - Well I guess I should tell you about what happened last night after I posted yesterdays journal.   At about 10pm someone called the house here and told my host mother that they wanted to talk to the American that was living here. I was just about to go to bed also because I knew it was gone to be very busy the rest of the week and next week also.  Well anyway the guy came over and he just wanted to practice English with me.  His name is Eddy and he is 21.   Well I could tell my host mother was acting weird around this guy but I didn't know what was going on.   I stayed up till after 2am talking this guy.   We talked about a lot of stuff and I also got to talk about what I do here and what the Church of Christ is.   I invited him to the class Friday night and also to all the stuff I have planned for next week.  He said he would like to go.   Ok,  so today when I got home my host mother told me that she didn't want him in her house anymore.    So, I was like ok.  Why?     She said that he was not a good person and she didn't like him.    I kind of understand what she is saying but I try not to look at what someone has done in there past.   And I really don't like people telling me everything about what someone has done.   That has been a big problem here.   Everyone has something bad to say about someone else.   But it is her house so I will respect her and not allow him back in.  I didn't invite him to begin with anyway.   Noe told him to come over here and talk to me but I wished he would of told his mother first.   It put me into a bad situation.   So I have a new person to work with and I hope wants to study and learn about Christ.   Also today I went to my Spanish teachers house and watched her mom so she could go to the bank and withdraw some money.   I am planning on taking a group there next week to visit with her and help her around the house.   I also worked at the church all afternoon.   I have finished my lesson for Friday so I am glad to have that done and out of the way.  Tomorrow I have to go to Mexico City and see about my VISA.   I know they will find something else for me to do or something else for me to pay for.

April 6, 2006 - Well Mexico City was not good at all, LOL.  I left my house at around 7am.  We got there at around 9:30am and started the running around we have to do there.  It seems they did not like the photo I had made.   They wanted me to fix my hair the way Mexicans fix there's.   Which is all laid back.   It cost me another $10 to have another one made today.   I was really mad about it also.   Then I had to pay the Mexican government another $75 for my paper work.   They told me to come back on April 26 to pick the VISA up.   I am so tired of going to Mexico City.  It takes a whole day for me to go.  A day I could be working on other stuff at the church.  Oh well,  there is not much I can do about it.   I went to the church when I got back for only like 10 minutes.  I have bought Carlos a Bible but it has not got here yet.   I was hoping it would of come today.   The man I bought it from was not there and I have not seen him all week.   I told them to please tell him that I need the Bible tomorrow night because Carlos will be here for class.  I am picking him up tomorrow afternoon at 5:30pm.   Well tomorrow is Showtime,  LOL.   It starts a week of Worship, Work and some fun.  Please pray that every thing goes well and that a lot of good is done in his name.   This will be the last post for a few days.   I will not be home much and might not have time to fix the internet so I can post the journal every day.   So if you don't see anything for a few days that is why.

April 7, 2006 - Today I put the final touches on my lesson for tonight.  I am going to talk about forgiveness because I think it is something the group needs to learn about.  I also had my last Spanish class today.  I don't have any Spanish class's next week.  "I am so happy about that" LOL.   I went over to a friends house and had dinner (dinner is at 3pm) and then went all the way to the other side of town to pick Carlos up at 5:30pm.   I was so glad to see him and I know he was glad to see me and to be here in Toluca.   I just hope I can give him what he is looking for.  I think with a lot of love and patience we can help him a lot. When we got to the church I gave Carlos his Bible.  He really enjoyed it and made me write some stuff in it so he would always remember where it came from.  I was glad he liked it so much.   The class went great and the kids seemed to enjoy it.  I played a game with them to start the class.  I had some of the kids that are brothers and sisters argue with each other and say what ever they wanted to about them.  Then I made them say good stuff about each other.  I was all about forgiven each other.  After class Carlos wanted to go for tacos but his dad would not let him go because it was late and Carlos had just got to Toluca.  I told Carlos we would have all week to eat tacos, LOL.   I did go with some of the other kids thou to eat tacos.  This is something we do almost every Friday night. 

April 8, 2006 - Today I went to buy a cell phone.  This is something I have been needing for awhile but I kept putting it off.  I know with next week being really busy its going to come in handy.  So I went and picked Carlos up at 8am and then meet another guy (Alonzo) up at the building at 9am.  Ok, Let me tell you about Alonzo, LOL.  He is one of these guys that is just a good person.   He was one of the guys that was baptized back in January when I first got here.  He is a great kid and a very good Christian.  This is why I invited him today.  I don't want to be Carlos friend.  I know that's bad to say. But Carlos is 15 years old and I am 26 years old.   I want Carlos to think of me as his older brother.  Someone that will be there to help him and not just someone to hang out with.  So this is were I want Alonzo and some of the other kids to help me.  They can be Carlos friend and be the one that hangs out with him all week.  I hope this plan works thou.  I really don't know how Carlos will react to other people.  I think he trusts me know so he might try and hang out with me all week.  I will just have to play it by ear and try and do the best I can with him.   After I bought the cell phone, which only cost me $40,  we went to the mall and went and had some pizza.  After that we went to the Centro and walked around for a few hours.  We had to be back at the church for an 8pm class that was going on.  Carlos asked me to stay all night at his house.  I decided it might be a good idea and give me some more time to talk with him about some stuff.  My decision was a good one,  I got him to tell me stuff about his life and I used the Bible to talk to him about them.  We had a good 2 hour talk about some very important stuff.   I hope he stays this focused all week.  

April 9, 2006 - ITS SUNDAY, LOL. Well today started the week long Youth Week.  I hope I have the energy to survive it. The day started off good.  I had another class with Carlos at the building this morning.  I kind of lost him I think thou.  So I just told him we could talk about what ever he wanted to.  I let him pick the subject.  That worked a lot better with him I think.  After Church I had a big problem with Carlos and another kid (the one I have problems with before).   I really don't know what happened but I know the kid said something to Carlos that made Carlos mad and Carlos said he wanted to beat the kid up.   ggrrrrrrrr,  Its the first day and already problems with the kids.  I made the decision to keep the two kids apart all week.  I didn't like doing it but it was for there own protection.  I think it is for everyone's protection.   I told Carlos dad not to let them hang out together because I was not for sure how Carlos would react to the other kid.  After Church we all went back to the mall and walked around and ate. At 5pm we all went to Rauls house for devotional and prayer and fun.  I was hoping the young man I am having problems with would not show up.  I hate to say that but I am running out of ways to help him.  I have not gave up on him thou.  I am still trying to figure out how to help him. This is just not the week for me to do it.  My hands are full.   Well he did show up.  So my job just got really hard.  I now have to watch this two really hard.  Every thing went great at first.  The girls left at around 10 and the guys had pizza and there prayer group.  The problem started when the guys started to go to bed.  Someone took everyone shoes and hid them from everyone.  Well Carlos lost it because that is what he does.  He knows no better.  I don't know who took them but I have a good idea who did it.  After about 30 minutes of looking we finally found them along a fence in the yard.  Some times I wonder why I do this to my self.  Of all the things I could be doing right now in my life I am here trying to help these kids.  Is it worth it?  Can I do it?  Only time will tell I guess.  At 3am, after all the guys went to sleep I finally went to bed.   Day 1 is over and I am still alive, LOL.

April 10, 2006 - After the day I had yesterday I hope today goes a lot better.  Things got off to a bad start thou.   I had a big talk with everyone at Rauls house after the devotional about the problem.  The problem is that the kids will do nothing that you ask them to do.  I ask them to help me to take the tents down but they don't help.  I ask them to clean the house but they don't help.  It takes me 3 or 4 times to get them to help.  This is not good.  I need everyone helping out with everything.  The adults helping with the group can't do everything there self.  It takes everyone to help out.  I hope I got my point across.  After the devotional we all went to the church building to do our work project.  MORE PROBLEMS.    Carlos and this other kid are like magnets they attract each other.  We have done everything to keep them apart but nether one of them will listen.  I expect it from Carlos but the other one is a Christian and should act like it.   I finally just asked the other kid to please stay away from him. To please leave him alone so I can work with him.  The kid just looked at me and said,  "YOUR NOT HIS DAD".    I don't know what to do anymore with him.  We have tried everything.  After that happened the kid disappeared for awhile.  I found him and another guy on a Church computer checking emails and looking up WebPages while we were suppose to be working.  I have to say I kind of lost it then.   I was tired.  I just told the boy to go home and not come back until he could learn to work and be good.   He didn't come out and say it but the look on his face was the look of "If you don't get out of my way I am going to hurt you".   After that looked,  I just went back to work.  I have done everything I could do.   I guess I need to tell all of you this now.  I have kept it from all of you.  The kid is Kike,  the kid that lives in the same house as me.   I think that because he had to help me out so much the first month I was here that he lost respect for me and just sees me as another person and not someone trying to help him.  I don't know what to do anymore with him.  I have tried everything.  Wendell came to the Church to see how everything was going.  I talked to him about everything and begged him to help me with Kike.  I told him to please take him out to eat and talk to him because he was destroying the youth group.  Wendell said he would help so that made me feel a lot better.   I have not given up on Kike and I will never give up on him.  I might not be able to help him but I will try and find that person for him.   After the work project we had a pizza party and went to the mall AGAIN.  I am starting to hate this mall, LOL.   I took Carlos home at 9pm and had a talk with his dad.  Carlos wanted me to stay all night but I said no because I wanted to try and talk to my Host family about everything that happened with Kike today.  They were in the bed when I got home thou.  I just don't know what to do with him anymore. Day 2 is over and I am still alive, LOL.

April 11, 2006 -  Today I left the house really early because I had to pick Carlos up and then go to the Church building for the devotional.   Kike did not show up so that was a big help to me.  I hope Wendell can take Kike out tonight and talk to him.  I want Kike to be apart of everything that is going on this week but he needs to learn to act like a Christian.  After the devotional we all went to the zoo.  I didn't care that much for it.  It was not as nice as the ones in America are.  It was fun being with the group thou and hanging out. We stayed at the zoo till 4pm. After the Zoo I went back to the mall and played pool with Carlos, Wendell and Obaldo.   It was fun and Wendell and I got to talk a lot about Kike and how we can help him.  Kike could not come with us tonight so I think we will try tomorrow to talk to him.  I also stayed at Carlos house again and talked to him some more about why life is so hard.    Today was a good day.   Day 3 is over and I am still alive, LOL. Also today makes it 3 months that I have been here.

April 12, 2006 - Well today was full of work, fun and emotion. We had a great devotional this morning and then we worked the rest of the day at the church building cleaning the front of the building.  After that we had a huge water balloon fight.   I asked Wendell to take Carlos tonight. I had a small break from him and I think Wendell can help him out a lot.   I still don't trust Carlos enough to be alone with the other kids in the group.  So Wendell said he would take him tonight and give me a break.  I need to go home and smooth everything over with Kike and his family.  I think there might be some hard feelings about everything that is going on with him.    After the water balloon fight we just hung out around the church building till about 6pm.  I went home and worked with Kike for about an hour.  I told him I was sorry for not letting him and Carlos hang out but that was the way it had to be.  Kike needs to understand that I have a very difficult job trying to protect 25 teenagers.  It is a job I take to heart and I will do anything I think needs to be done to protect every one of them.   I know Kike was upset with me and I really don't blame him.   I told him I was sorry and he told me he was sorry for the way he acted.   I think that for the first time I have actually got into this guys head.   After struggling with him for about 2 months it seems I might have found something that worked.  I HOPE SO.   I was running out of things to do.  I think he really wants to live a Christian life he is just struggling with it a lot.   And that is OK,  we all struggle with it sometimes.   I hope that every thing is going to be good between all of us now and that the youth group can move forward.

April 13, 2006 - Today was a off-day for the youth group but I used it for another day to teach Carlos some stuff about life.  I asked a couple of the boys and Carlos to go with me to my Spanish teachers house to visit with her.   Carlos did not like this idea at all.  He wanted to go do something fun with other one.  I did not give in thou and made him go with us.   My teacher was in a great mood and talked to all the boys about her life and what all she has done.  How she learned English and all the countries she has lived in.  Also her mother was there and they got to see a little of what my teacher has to go thru every day.   I think all the guys enjoyed it.  I know Carlos did.  He kept asking her questions about everything.  I hope he learned a good lesson out of all this today.  After that we went back to the building and order pizza and had a great time laughing and talking about stuff.   I also stayed all night with Carlos tonight and talked to him some more about what it means to be a good person.   He told me he really enjoyed going to visit my teacher today and he wants to go back some time.  

April 14, 2006 - Today was kind of fun and kind of a day off for me.  Carlos and his dad asked me to go with them to Mexico City for a boat ride.  I had no idea what they were talking about until I got there.   In the middle of Mexico City there is this lake and a lot of small boats.  You can rent one of the boats for a day and a man will take you all over the lake.  It was really fun and I enjoyed it a lot.  We also went and rode horse for awhile.  I think Carlos really enjoys being around me and I hope I am a good role model for him.  I still don't know what kind of life he lives in Mexico City but I don't think it is a good one.  When we got back to Toluca I had to go to the church building and get ready for the class.  We moved the class from 8pm to 5pm because a lot of people have left for the holidays.   We had a good number thou.  About 10 showed up so I was happy.  After the class we went to the Centro and got something to eat.  Carlos wanted me to stay all night but I told him I need to go home and see how things were with Kike.  I told Carlos to sleep in tomorrow and we would do something tomorrow afternoon.   I hope he got the hint and does not call me till late in the day.  LOL,  I just need some time alone and to catch up on some of my other work that I am getting behind on.  

April 15, 2006 - Well at 8am the phone rings and its Carlos.   WHAT TIME YOU COMING TO PICK ME UP???????    LOL, well so much for my rest.    I told him to meet me at the church at 11am. I took him to the movies and we hung out for a few hours.   I also took him to one of my friends house and we had dinner and stayed there till about 9pm playing some games.   I want Carlos to learn that he does not have to drink and do bad stuff to have fun.  There is another way to have fun.  He really enjoyed and kept asking to stay longer.  I stayed all night at Carlos house and had another good talk with him.    This is the last night we will be able to have these talk's.  Carlos told me something very special tonight and it made me feel like I have made some process with him.   He told me he was sorry for some stuff he had said and done while he was with me this week.   He also said he did not know how to keep friends when he gets one.   I think he is learning what a true friend is and that he must also give back to that friendship.   I told him it was ok,  I understand that he is not perfect and I will do what ever it takes to keep our friendship going.   I know he does not know how to keep friends.   I also told him that no matter what happens when he gets back to Mexico City that I will always be there to help him and talk to him.   NO MATTER WHAT.   After the talk with him I was really sad.   Carlos has to go back to another world tomorrow with out me.    I hope he has learned a lot about life and can make some better decisions.    I just hope he remembers everything we have teach him this week.

April 16, 2006 -  Today was SUNDAY!!!  Church was great today and Carlos seemed to enjoy it also.  After Church it was time for everyone to say there good byes with Carlos.   I was really sad and really didn't want him to go but I know he must go back home.   He asked me to come to Mexico City Thursday to meet his mom and other family.  I think this is a good idea and I can see what kind of life he lives there so I can better help him out.  After Carlos left some of the youth group went to visit with a boy that had hurt his foot the week before.  We just hung out with him and watched a movie.  That is about all that happened today.   I was kind of a day to relax and not work to much.  Tomorrow I am taking the day off and doing my laundry, LOL.   I need some clean clothes fast.  

April 17, 2006 - Today, I did all my laundry and got that out of the way.  I also got invited to go visit with a family from the church and I stayed there for about 6 hours visiting with them.  Tomorrow I start trying to get thinks back to normal.  I have so much work to do.   I need to get the Web-Page updated and check my emails.  I go to Spanish class tomorrow also.   Well that about all that happened today.

April 18, 2006 - Well so much for getting back to normal.   Carlos called me today and said he was coming back tomorrow to Toluca, LOL.    I think its good that he like it here and he wants to come back but he needs to realize I have other things I have to do here.   I came to Toluca to learn Spanish so I need to go to class everyday.  I talked to him about this and he understood.  He said he would wait till the afternoon to come.  This way I can get some stuff done that I need to do.  Spanish went ok today.   She had a list of stuff that she wanted me to do for her so I got to find some time to do it now.  One thing that I have learned from working for the Church full time is that if I have a problem in my life then I just have to put it to the side and focus on the other person's problems.   I told Kike this same thing the other day.  People think my life is perfect that I don't have problems.   I have problems.   I am so homesick right now but I can't let it show.   I get depressed also. I feel lonely also.  But my problems get pushed to the side until I have time and the energy to deal with them.  I also worked at the church today on my class for Friday night.   I also took care of some of the stuff my Spanish teacher needed.  I will try to finish the rest tomorrow morning before Carlos gets here.

April 19, 2006 - Well I didn't get to finish everything but I got most of it done this morning.  I went to Spanish class and at 11am my cell phone rings.  It was Carlos telling me he was at the church building, LOL.  He was not suppose to get here till like 2pm and I still had 2 hours of Spanish to go.   I told him he was just going to have to wait for me there at the building.  I would be there when I got there.  He tried to get me to skip my class but I would not give in.   I have already paid for it and I was staying.   He was kind of mad but he will get over it.  He has got to learn that in life you have to work and study.   I think this was a good lesson for him.   When I got to the Church building at 1:30pm he was just sitting there like a kid that had just lost his best friend.   I made fun of him thou and he cheered up really fast after I got there.  I still had work to do so I made him help me with some of it.   Today was Alonzo's birthday so we were having him a surprise party at 6pm.  I had to buy a lot of stuff and make some sandwiches for it.  I made Carlos help with it, LOL.   He seemed to enjoy it.   The party went great and a lot of the youth showed up.   There was also some other kids there that I did not know.  So maybe they got to see that you can have a party with out beer and drugs.   I had some problems with Carlos at the party thou.   When he gets around a lot of people he goes wild and does not know when enough is enough.  I told his Dad I would have him home at 8:30pm but I could not get Carlos to leave.   I finally just told him I was calling his dad to come and get him.   That got him moving fast, LOL.    But it is also sad that I have to go that far to get him to do what I need him to do.   I know the relationship between him and his dad is not the best.  I also know that Carlos feels like his dad does not love him which is not the truth.   I can't change what happened in the past for Carlos but I can help shape his future.   After I finally got him into the Taxi it was already 8:30pm so I had to call his dad and tell him we were going to be late.   Traffic was a mess also.  It took almost 45 min to get to the house.   I stayed all-night at there house because it was just going to take to much time to get back to my house.   OH,  and the Taxi driver made me paid $9.50 for the Taxi.    That driver better be glade I was with Carlos because I felt like showing him what an American does when you make them mad, LOL.  OK,  yeah I know its me and I would never hurt anyone but I still felt like telling him what I thought.  It should of cost only around $5 for the taxi.   And the driver told me it was $4.50 before I got in the car.  But he knew I was American and he took advantage of it so I had to pay $9.50 for it.   I didn't want the police there because I still don't have my VISA yet and they could cause me a lot of problems.   SO I just paid it and went on my way.   I STILL DIDN'T LIKE IT THOU.  Well tomorrow I leave for Mexico City to spend 2 days with Carlos and his other family.  I am nervous because they are Catholic and they really don't care for the Church here in Toluca to much.  They want Carlos to be Catholic and nothing else.   All I want is for Carlos to be a good person and to be a good citizen in Mexico.  If Carlos wants to be Catholic or Christian that is his choose, not mine or his family to make.  So I hope everything goes good for the next 2 days.

April 20, 2006 - Well today we left for Mexico City at around 8am.   It takes about an hour and half to get there because the bus has to make a lot of stops.   When we got to the bus stop I asked Carlos where we was going first.   He kind of just looked at me and said well I don't want to go home so lets go to the Centro.   So from the start there is problems.  Why does he not want to go home?   Does he not want me to see his family?  Or his house?   Sometimes I hate this job.   I am always trying to figure out what is going on.   I never get to just enjoy something.  There is always a problem and I am trying to fix it.  The Centro in Mexico City is nothing special and I had already been there like 5 other times so I just told him lets go to his house so I could meet his family.   He said ok and we left but on the way Carlos decide not to go home and instead he wanted to go to his grandparents house.   So again I am trying to figure out what is going on.   I have already meet his grandparents, I did that when we went and rode the boats.   I didn't say anything and I just followed him.  When we got to his grandparents house I learned something new.   Carlos lives with his grandparents most of the time.  I knew he stayed there a lot but I did not know that was were he lived.   All of his clothes everything he owns is at his grandparents house.  So I am thinking WHY?  Why does Carlos not live with his Mother or Father?   Oh well,  I came here to learn about him.   We stayed there for about 2 hours and finally Carlos took me to his mother's house.  Or that is what I thought was going to happen.   Turns out Carlos took me to his other grandparents house.  (I know that this is my journal and I am suppose to tell everything that happens but because of the respect and the friendship I have with Carlos I have choose not to include everything in the online journal).   I have learned that Carlos is the way he is not because he choose to be that way but because he has to be to survive were he lives.   I would never wish the life of this boy on anyone.   No one should have to live the way Carlos has to live. Always having to watch you back.   Carlos never took me to his mom's house so I don't know how he lives there.  I did meet his mom thou.   She seemed nice but her boyfriend scared the me to death.  I also believe Carlos is being used as a tool between both sides of his family to try and make each other mad at each other.  When one family gets tired of Carlos they send him to the next until its time for him to come back around again.  I need to give this boy something to focus on so he can take his mind off of everything that his family does to each other.  I feel so sorry for him tonight,   I have not said anything because I don't want him to get upset.  Tonight he took me to the mall to meet his friends,   again out of respect for Carlos I choose not to talk about it.  I just want to take this kid back to Toluca with me tomorrow but I know I can't do that. 

April 21, 2006 - Well I don't think I slept at all last night.  There were people coming and going all night.  Today as soon as we got up Carlos left the house.   We went to the Latin American Tower because Carlos want to show me it and some other stuff.  I tried to keep it a secret but I had to finally tell him I had already been there before.  He just smiled and said you have been every where, LOL.  He told me he had never been to the top of the Latin American Tower before so I told him lets go.   He didn't have the money thou.   It was $5 per person.  I don't like spending money on stuff like. I want Carlos to learn to make his own money so he can do stuff he wants. I am always careful with what I do or the money I spend on the kids.  But I think at this time and  at this place it was ok.  I wanted him to enjoy it.  So I took him to the top of the tower and he had a big smile on his face.  Later in the day Carlos took me back to the mall to meet one of his other friends.  I thought it was going to be the same kind of friends that I saw last night.  I am walking in the mall and this 14 year old boy comes up to me and starts talking to me in English.  You would of thought that I had known this guy all my life.   This kid looked like he walked right out of a book.   Turns out this was Carlos other friend.   He was right the opposite of Carlos.   He had no earring or lip rings.  He was dressed nice.  When Carlos started smoking he told him to stay away because he did not want to smell like smoke.  I was so impressed with this guy and I asked him why he didn't come last night with all of Carlos other friends.  He told me he didn't like to hang out with those kind of people.  So I asked him why he hung out with Carlos then.  He didn't have an answer for me thou.  When Carlos was away for a few minutes I told the guy to please look after Carlos and to help him.  I asked him not to give up on Carlos that if Carlos did something bad to him then to just forgive and keep being his friend.  The guy seemed to understand everything I was telling him.  I think he wants to help Carlos also to help him find his way in life.  Maybe the guy has seen how Carlos has to live and wants to make his life better.  I don't know the reason but I am just glad he is in Carlos life right now.   It makes me feel a little better about him being in Mexico City. Well at 4pm Carlos took me to the bus station and this has to be one of the hardest things I have ever done. It took me about 4 times to get on the bus because I kept going back to say bye to Carlos.   Why is it some people are born into a great life and some are born into a bad one?   On my way back home I just kept wondering what Carlos was doing at that time.  I hope I have helped him in his life and that maybe I have made his life a little better.   Only time will tell thou.  I got back to Toluca and had to start getting ready for the class at 8pm.  Tonight I talked about how we all need to be united and to keep moving forward with the gospel.  There was about 25 people  there tonight.   There is one boy that has missed the last 4 Friday nights class.  So I called him tonight and asked where he was.   Turns out he has been going to party's on Friday night.   So I just told him that him and I needed to talk sometime and left it at that.   I am going to try and talk to him Sunday after Church.  After class tonight everyone went to the house of one of the lady's from Church.  She has been depressed the last couple of weeks and today was her birthday.  We surprised her and we all song out side of her house until she came out.   I really enjoyed this.  And we had a big party for her and she seemed to be happy that we all came to see her.  I did not get home until like 12:30 and I am so ready for bed.  

April 22, 2006 -  I used today to try and catch up on a lot of stuff I have put off for the last 2 weeks.  I got the Toluca page updated.  For the people that read it often I am so sorry it took me so long but I was away from my house a lot and didn't have time to do it.  I still have a lot of work to do and I need to start getting ready for my trip home in June.  I still have to buy plane tickets and all that good stuff.  I have a lot of stuff to do this upcoming week.  I need to go to Mexico City to see if my VISA is ready. I am also working on some other projects that will take place in May.  I hope to get my schedule back in place this week.  I want to slow down a little also and work more on my Spanish class but I don't think that is going to happen.  There is to many problems in the youth group that need to be fixed fast. 

April 23, 2006 - Today was Sunday so I went to Church.  It went really good but it always does, LOL.   It was kind of sad thou because Carlos was not there.   I hope he is doing ok in Mexico City.  I talked to his dad today and we are going to meet tomorrow at 5pm to talk about some of his problems and how we can help him.  After church all the men had a meeting and talked about how all the men could be more involved in the work here.   We are going to get together again Saturday and work on some of the ideas we had today. After that meeting the youth had another meeting.   Then we went and watched a move.   Also today I got a taxi and took it all the way home by myself.  I was so proud of myself, LOL.  It also rain here a lot today.

April 24, 2006 - Today I tried to put my schedule back together.  I went to Spanish class and then went to the church building and started working on some stuff that has been stacking up for the last 2 weeks. I also had a meeting with Carlos dad today.  This meeting lasted for about 4 hours.  That should tell you how many problems this guy has and how lost he is in Mexico City.  His dad cares for him a lot and wants the best for Carlos.  But its kind of hard for him to give him that because of Carlos other family that is Catholic.  I told him I would do what I could but it was going to be very hard to help Carlos when he is in Mexico City for 15 days and only in Toluca for 2 day.    Carlos comes here ever other weekend.  I told him that if I had the time I would go to Mexico City the weekend that he was not here.   I wont be able to do that every weekend thou.   I have to help all the youth here also.   I got home at around 9:30 tonight and I am so tired.  I have been going none stop all day. (Well I take that back,  I do get to rest a little on the bus, LOL).   

April 25, 2006 - Well to day was a sad day for me.  I learned this afternoon that my cousin in Tennessee died yesterday morning of cancer.  I got to talk to my mother this afternoon before she went to the funeral home.  This was the first time in about 3 weeks I had got to talk to her.   So it was nice.  I do wished I was at home with my family right now.   I had Spanish today also.   I really need to start to focus on this class more.   I also worked at the church on a project they gave me to do.  They want me to reorganize all the files for the songs.  So I started on that today also.  We have cancelled the youth class for Friday night because the church here is having something like a lectureship.  They are trying to encourage all the members to be active in the church.  They are going to have a big breakfast Saturday to go over some ideas to get all members to be active.  I was really looking forward to this.  But this afternoon Carlos called and said he wanted to talk to me about something. I tried to get him to tell me on the phone but he said it was to important.  So I am going to go see him Saturday in Mexico City and then try to get home before the meeting starts Saturday night. I will miss the breakfast thou.   I don't know what is wrong with him but I told him not to worry we would talk about it Saturday.   

April 26, 2006 - Well today I found out from one of the other kids that Carlos got into a big fight in school yesterday.   He also got mad when he found out this girl told me about it.    This is one of the problems I am talking about.   I am so scared that one of these day's he will get in a fight and the other guy will have a knife or something and really hurt Carlos or something worse.   I don't know if this is what he wanted to talk to me about or not.   I really don't think it is.   He tried to keep me from finding out about it but I did.   I wish that his dad would just move him here to Toluca so all of us can work with him here.   Also I sent word to one of the other guys in the group that him and I really need to talk.   He has missed the last 4 youth meetings and I know that he has been going to some party's and doing some drinking also.   So him and I are going to talk.   I know some of you think I should go to his parents but his Dad is catholic and would just laugh at me if I told him his son was drinking.   Its ok in the Catholic faith here to let your sons drink.   This is one of the many problems I have to deal with in the youth group.  The culture is so different from what I am use to working with.   Also I worked at the church on the files for the songs.  I also had 2 Spanish class's today.  I am trying to focus more on them. 

April 27, 2006 - Today I didn't go to Spanish class because I needed to work at the church on some stuff.   I have a man coming down on May 11 for a work weekend with me and the youth.  He is from one of my supporting congregations.  So I have been working on that.  Also there is the City of Children trip coming up. In July there are 2 groups coming from USA to conduct VBS with the kids here.   So I have many projects going on right now.  Trying to figure out what material needs to be covered and activities that are going to be done.   All of this on top of trying to fix the problems in the youth group.   The youth group is great,  don't get the wrong idea about that.  Its just there are some problems that keep coming up that need some attention and then there is Carlos also.   So today I just worked at the church building all day. 

April 28, 2006 - Today I had Spanish from 11am till 1pm. Then I worked at the church for about an hour.   Then I made my 2 hour trip to Mexico City.   Traffic was really bad in Toluca.  It took me almost 45min to get from the Church to the bus stop.  A trip that should only take about 15 min.   After I got to the bus station it took another 30 min to catch my bus to Mexico City.   After I got to Mexico City thanks went down hill fast.   Carlos had told me that he wanted to talk to me about something but at the bus station he had 2 of his friends there.  He said they were staying all night with him also.  So I was thinking how is he going to talk with me if his friends are with us all the time.  I was not to happy.  I had to change all my plans around so I could go to Mexico City to talk with him.  When we left the bus station he decided he wanted to go to the mall.  I told him I did not come all the way to Mexico City to go to the mall and walk around.  But I want anyway just because I had to go.  We stayed at the mall for like 30 min and then he decided he wanted to go home.  When we got home he wanted to go over his other friends house.   I was really mad by now.  All I wanted to do was go back to Toluca.  I have better things to do then follow a 15 year old around to all his friends house.   Carlos got mad at me because I would not go.   He does not understand that I am 26 and this is not what I like doing.  But to keep him happy I went along.  I don't want to make him mad and he not want to come back to Toluca.  I know I will not be able to help him in Mexico City thou.  Its going to be to hard on me.  When we got back to Carlos grandparents house we ate pan cakes. They were so good and I had like 5 of them.   After we ate Carlos told me it was time for bed.  I was like OK,  I was really tired anyway and it was only like 10pm.  Ahhh, but was I in for a surprise.    Carlos wanted everyone to stay in the same bedroom.  Well I wanted to sleep and I knew that with four 15 year olds in one room was not a good idea.  (Yeah we picked up one other guy from somewhere, I still don't know where he came from, LOL) I told him that I wanted to sleep in the other bedroom alone.   Well he got mad again.  He told me if I didn't want to hang out with him I should of stayed in Toluca.  This is the reason I don't want to be Carlos friend but his brother.   But I gave in just because I didn't want to make him mad. (Me and him are going to have a big talk thou, as soon as his friends are not around).   Well what can I say, LOL,  four 15 year olds in a room is not a good idea.   Finally at like 5am I got up and went to the other bedroom and went to sleep.   They didn't do anything bad it was just that they would not go to sleep and just kept talking and stuff.   I guess it was good because at least they were in the house and not at some club but I need my sleep, LOL.   Well that's all that happened.

April 29, 2006 - Well I got up at like 9am, LOL. At least I got 4 hours of sleep.   His grandmother made breakfast for me and it was really good.   Carlos and his friends did not get up till like 12pm.  Oh and there was only 3 of them now. (One left during the night sometime, LOL, The one that I still don't where he came from)  He was there at 5am thou when I left, LOL.   Well after Carlos got up I asked him to take me to the bus station so I could get back to Toluca.  I needed to be at the church by 4pm.  So he took me and I left at like 2pm from Mexico City.  I never got to talk to Carlos alone.  I think he is mad at me because I did not want to hang out with his friends.  But he has to learn that I am 26 and to old to act like a 15 year old. (Even thou sometimes I might act like one, LOL)  I got to church at around 3:30pm so I was right on time.   The class started at 4pm and at around 6pm (remember its all in Spanish) I asked someone what time the class was over.  They told me 8pm or 9pm.    I was like a 5 hour class?    Remember I didn't have much sleep last night.  So at like 7pm I left because I could not keep my eyes open.   I got home at around 8pm.  I was so happy.  I was so ready to go to bed. Yeah it was to good to be true,  Me going to bed at 8pm.   As soon as I got ready to open the gate to the house someone started saying my name.    It was the guy that I talked to a few weeks before till like 2am in the morning.  So I went and started to talk to him.  I could tell right off something was wrong so I asked him if he was alright.   He said NO, that him and his dad had a huge fight and now his dad was not talking to him.  So,  I told him to come with me and we would go and get something to eat.  We went to this little place close to the house that has great hamburgers.   I have never been inside the place but had ate the hamburgers before.  Well when I went in I told the man I wanted a hamburger and fries. (Yes I did it all in Spanish, LOL)  Well the guy turned around and asked me What all I wanted on the hamburger. (He said it in perfect English).   I was like where you from?  He lived in the USA for 7 years and worked at a restaurant there.   So me and him stated talking.   But I still had the other guy.   But anyway all 3 of us had a great conversation in English, LOL.   And the Hamburger was great.  The guy told me he could make me almost anything I wanted from the USA.  Yeah right,  I know he can't make some of the stuff my mom makes.   I bet he don't know what an "Egg in the Nest" is,  LOL.    I got to talk to the other guy for a few hours.   The fight was over him drinking the night before and not getting home till 3am.   So I just told him he needed to stop drinking and try and find a job.  He needs to turn his life around now.  He is 20 and has no job or in school.  I told him he needed to set some goals tonight and work hard to make them happen.  He told me 4 goals that he has. So I told him to work toward those goals and stay out of the clubs.   I told him to call me anytime he need to talk about anything.  Finally at about 12pm I made it into my bed.   I was so tired.

April 30, 2006 - Today was Sunday so I went to Church.  Today was "The day of the Kids" in Mexico.   Its kind of like a mother days or fathers day but for kids.   So after church they had a lot of games and stuff for all the little kids.  We also had a huge meal.  I ate till I could not eat anymore.  At 4pm they started the class again which lasted till after 8pm.  When I got home after that Kike wanted to go to the movies so I went with him.  We say "When the Stranger Calls"  it was a really good move. Kept me on my seat thru all the movie. 

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If any one would like more information on anything I talk about in the journal please let me know.  I try to put as much information about what is going on but sometimes you might want to know more about it.  Some of you have sent Emails asking about certain things and I enjoy answering them for you.  Also I am going to start adding photos to the journal so you can see the people I am talking about.  I hope you enjoy this.   If you would like to see more stuff on this page then please let me know and I will try and make it happen.   Please let me know what you think about it so far.