May 2006

May 1, 2006 - Today was another holiday in Mexico so know one worked and there was no school.  I got up early because I wanted to do my laundry.  It was pilling up on me.  At 12pm I got a call from one of the kids.  He told me to be at the church at 1pm because they were going bowling to celebrate one of the other kids birthday.  So I finished my laundry really fast and went to the church.  I was 30min late but I was still the first one there, LOL.   Hey its Mexico, you can be late, LOL.  So I went bowling for the first time in Mexico with about 10 of the kids from the youth group.  It was a great day and I was glad to spend it with the kids.  I have not talked to Carlos in 2 days so I think he must still be really mad at me.  I need to call him to see how he is but I also want him to come to me instead of me going to him.  He needs to learn I can't do all the stuff he wants to do.  When I got home at 7pm I want to the place with the great hamburgers.  The guy said he would make me a "Chicken Wrap".   It was the best wrap I have ever had.  I tried to get him to come to the church sometime but he said he was seventh day Adventist. Oh well,  I need to study up on that religion some now.  Well that is about all I did today.  I also learned today that my Grandfather (my mothers dad) was baptized Friday night at the Rome Church of Christ.  SO that was great news for me.  

May 2, 2006 - Today I worked I at the Church most of the day.  I was trying to get some more activities for the teens to do.   After church I went to one of the members house and had dinner.  We study the bible some and he helped me with my some of my Spanish.  They are a really cool family and I like going to there house to spend time with them.   The rainy season has started here so for the past 4 days it has done nothing but rain.  Things are starting to turn green.  Which is something I have not seen here in Toluca.  The rainy season will last for about 3 or 4 months then it will turn dry again. Carlos also called today so he is over his little mad spell with me, LOL.  I told him that we really need to talk about what happened.   Well that is about all that happened today.

May 3, 2006 - Today I went to Church and worked a little before I went to Spanish class.  Spanish class went ok.  I really don't like going and I really need to find a class closer to the church.  But I can't just tell my Spanish teacher I am not coming anymore.  She is still trying to find students because she lost all of them when she moved.  So I have to keep going until she picks up some more students. Which I hope is really soon.  After Spanish I went back to the church and worked some more.  Kim and I are working on some of the stuff that the groups from USA will be doing this season.  What the class's will be over and what work projects we will be doing.  After working I went home and worked till about 10pm on a lot of the stuff I can do in my house.  I got the webpage updated again.  This takes a lot of time but I know a lot of people enjoy reading about the life here in Toluca.  So I will keep doing it.  I also worked on some of the stuff for the May 12-14 weekend.   I have planned a lot of work projects and some visits with some of the members of the church for the young people.  This is something I hope to do once every month.  That's about it for today.

May 4, 2006 - Today I had Spanish class which went really well today.  I also went to the church and worked on some of my projects that I am trying to get going.  Tonight I had a meeting with one of the members that helps me with the youth group.   She told me a lot of stuff that she thought I needed to teach on for the youth class.  So I am going to try and do a class over some of the subjects she thought would be good.  It also rained a lot today here in Toluca. 

May 5, 2006 - Well today was the 5th of May so most of you know what that means.   But I went to church and worked anyway.  I am still trying to get catch up on a lot of stuff that I have got behind in.  I also made anther slideshow of all the youth.  I used all the photos I have made over the past week.  The slideshow is about 30 min long.  Its a good one thou, LOL.  I worked from 9am till about 10pm today at the church.  I did not even leave to go home for dinner.   The class went great tonight.  I had asked one of the guys to teach tonight.  He has missed about 5 class's in a row.  So I asked him to teach on why it is so important for a Christian to be at all the worship services.  I think he did a really good job on the lesson.  I just hope he learned something about it.  I tried to call Carlos today but he didn't answer.  I know that his dad has left for a vacation to Egypt and want be back till around May 22.  I know Carlos is kind of upset that he didn't get to go.  And really I don't blame him for being upset.  I just hope he still wants to come back to Toluca in a few weeks.  Well that is about all that happened today. 

May 6, 2006 - Well when I got up today the power was off. Which is nothing new. It is off a lot anyway.  When I went inside the house my host mom told me the power would be off all day because they were working on upgrading the power lines.  So that mint I could not do some stuff I had wanted to get done.  So I went and helped Kike outside on painting the fence.  When I was painting Eddy came up (the guy I was talking about the other day and the one I stayed up till 2am talking with a couple of weeks ago) and wanted to know if I wanted to go to "Valle de Bravo" with him.  Well I said yes because I was bored to death anyway.  I had no idea what this place was or where it was.  Well it turned out to be a really nice town about an hour and a half from Toluca.  It sits on a huge lake and the lake reminded me so much of Center Hill Lake in Tennessee.  We stayed there till about 8pm and then made our way back home.  I stayed all night with Eddy because we wanted to watch a movie but I don't have a TV in my room at my house. 

May 7, 2006 - Today was Sunday, LOL.  I asked Eddy to go with me to church and he did.  So the day started off really good for me.  When we got to the church I showed Eddy around and let him meet everyone.  We also had 2 baptisms after worship service this morning so I was happy about that and also that Eddy got to see them.  After Church I stayed around for like an hour (as always) talking to everyone.  After that Eddy and I went to the mall and ate at Burger King.  I tried to get some of the other kids to go but they said they were all out of money.  After that we went and watched some more movies at his house.  He told me he really enjoyed the church today and that it was so different then the Catholic church.  So maybe he will want to go back sometime.  I hope.

May 8, 2006 - Today I had a Spanish class which went pretty good.  After class I went to the church building and worked on the stuff for this coming weekend and also for the next weekend.   This Thursday I have to be at the airport at 10pm to pick up Les from the Rome Church of Christ.  He will be here till next Monday helping out with some stuff here at the church.  Then the next weekend the AIMers arrive so we are trying to figure out what to do for them to welcome them to Toluca.  Both weekends are going to be really busy.   I have also bought my plane ticket to Tennessee.  I arrive in Nashville on June 16 at 5:28pm.  I am so ready to see my family and my friends.  I have a lot of work to do in the two weeks I am there thou.  So its not gone to be a vacation.  Tonight I went over to Eddy's house and hung out for awhile.  He had to take his mother to the hospital because her sister is having some health problems. I went along for the ride.  Well that's about all for today.

May 9, 2006 - Today I worked at the church building all day.  I have almost everything lined up for this weekend and now I am working on next weekend.  Also today we did something really neat with the youth group.   Tomorrow is Mothers Day in Mexico so we had all the kids come to the church building at 7pm.  Then we went to ever one of there house's to sing songs to there moms.  It was really fun.  We had to go to 22 different house's in a city about the size of Nashville.  So we had a lot of traveling to do.   We started at 7pm and we finished the last house at 3am.   I am so tired.  I have been singing for the last 8 hours. And in Spanish also.  I also called my mother at around 9pm and had the kids sing to her also.  I hope she enjoyed as much as I did.   The good thing is the kids don't have school tomorrow so they can sleep in late.  I have Spanish class thou so its gone to be hard for me to get up in the morning.

May 10, 2006 - Today I was suppose to have Spanish class but my teacher had other ideas.   She was really depressed today so I spent all the class time talking to her.  I read her some about Job and his life from the Bible.  That seemed to make her feel a little better.  I don't know what I am going to do with her.  She seems to be getting worse and my Spanish is not getting much better.  So I don't know what I am going to do.  I am in a very hard place right now with her.  All I can do right now is just try to encourage her to pray more and not to worry about tomorrow to much.  After class I went home and Kike and I took his mom out to eat.  We went to the mall and it took over 2 hours to get into the restaurant.  Kike and I did get our photo made for the newspaper here in Toluca.  After I made the photo I was like mmmmmm, I still don't have my VISA and now my photo is gone to be in the paper.  LOL.   I really don't think the Mexican Government cares thou.  Well that is about all that happened today.

May 11, 2006 - Well today marks the 4 month that I have been here.  I worked at the church building all today on the projects and class for this weekend.  After church I went home and packed because I am staying at Raul's house till next Monday.  Kike took me to Raul's at 8pm and then Raul and I left for Mexico City at around 9pm.  Les plane was suppose to land at 10:08pm but it was running late.  Raul and I were getting scared that he had missed his plane or that we were at the wrong airport.  But at like 11:10 he came out and we made our way home.  On the way home which takes about an hour I told Les about everything going on here in Toluca and at the church building.  It was around 12:15 pm when we got home and we went right to bed.  I know I was really tired. 

May 12, 2006 - Today I learned how to ride the bus from Raul's house to the church building.  Les came with me to see the church and meet everyone there.  We got to the church building at around 9:30am. At around 10pm we left to go see my Spanish teacher.  I wanted Les to meet her because she is a lady I have been working with while I have been here.  She was in a great mood today and her and Les talked a lot about traveling and music. We also had a small Spanish class.  AND IT HAPPENED TODAY,   I forgot how to speak English.  I was trying to talk to Les during the Spanish class and I forgot English.  It was the weirdest felling I have every had.  Every one told me it would happen and it did.   So I must be learning something. We stayed there for about 2 hours.  I told her we would be back tomorrow to help out with some stuff around her house.  Some of the youth are going to come with us also.  When we got back to the church building Raul was ready to go home for dinner. Which is at like 3pm.  So Les and I rode with him because I don't know how to ride the bus from the church to Raul's house, LOL.  When we got there Les went to take a little nap while I helped with preparing dinner (Pizza), LOL.  We had pizza because Raul's kids had some friends over and that is what they wanted to eat.  Les was not feeling to good so he decided not to eat anything which was probable the best thing.  Pizza is not a good thing to eat if your sick.  So he went and laid back down for awhile.  After dinner Raul, Kim and I talked about some of the stuff going on at the church and what the plans are for the 5 Americans coming next Friday.  After that I went back to the church because I needed to work on some stuff for next week.  Les was still not feeling better so he stayed at the house.  The class went great tonight.  I had the kids plan out how they wanted to do the visiting project.  They decided to break the youth class into 2 groups and each group would be responsible for visiting people from the church. (I had them in 4 groups but the kids thought it would be best with 2 groups).  They decided that tomorrow they would visit with 2 members from the church that are not in good health.  This was a little different then what I had planed.   I had already told my Spanish teacher I would come see her and help her out with some stuff.  So now I was suppose to be in 2 places at the same time. (gggrrrrrrr)  But I am so glad that the youth group like to plan there on stuff.  I try to let them do it as much as possible.   They all work really well tighter.  We also decided on what we was going to do next Friday for the 5 Americans that are coming.  I got home at around 11:30pm tonight.  And I have got to get up early tomorrow.

May 13, 2006 - Today Les was feeling better so Raul took us to my Spanish teachers house.  She had just got up and she said she was not feeling to good.  So we did not stay to long.  I told her I was sorry but the youth group had changed my plan's around.  I told her I still had not forgotten about her and would try to get some people there to help me with her roof.  After that we all went to the church building because the men were having a breakfast and then a meeting.  When we got there the meeting had already started.  They are trying to come up with some ideas on how they can help the church grow here in Toluca.  After the meeting all the youth got together for the visiting.  For some reason at the last minute they decided to only go in one big group.  I don't like this idea to much because I think it is just to many people going to one house at one time.  I would rather go in a smaller group and visit more people. So we decided to go to a house of a family that has stopped coming to the worship services.   She was really glad to see us and thanked us for coming.  We told her we would come back again some time.  We stayed there for about an hour or more.  After the visiting we went back to the building and we had a small class on what it means to visit and what other things could we be doing for the church.  The kids had some great ideas as well as Les.  So maybe in a few weeks we can do some other stuff for the church.  After that class Les wanted to go and buy some souvenirs.  Well if any of you know me,  I HATE TO SHOP.    LOL.    So Beto, Hatie, Les and I went shopping.  It was funny watching Les try to get the store owners to come down on there prize.  And also I got to use some of my Spanish as well with the store owners.  I don't think Les found everything he was looking for but Beto and Hatie told him they would take him to another market tomorrow.  We got home at around 8pm and I was tired but Toluca was playing tonight so I stayed up with Raul's boys and watched the soccer game.  WE LOST,   grrrrr.   After that I went and talked to Les and then went to bed. 

May 14, 2006 -  Today was Sunday and Mothers day. I called my mom and talked to her for a few minutes and then I went to church with Raul and Kim.  I am so glad I did not have to ride that bus to church.  Church was great and I am picking up on a lot of what is being said during the worship service. (Not everything thou).  After church, Raul and Kim were having a dinner for all the people helping out with the 5 Americans.  So a lot of people where going over to there house.  I had already told Raul my ideas so I went with Les to finish up on his shopping.  He was looking for a hat and some spoons.  He would the hats but never did find the spoons.  He might be able to get them tomorrow in the airport thou.  Beto took us to a little market beside the church and then Les and I decide to go to the Centro to do some more shopping. So Beto left and went back to Raul's house.  Yes he left, so that meant I was going to have to learn how to ride the bus from the Centro to Raul's.  LOL.   So after walking around the Centro I went to were I thought the bus station was.   Well I was in the right place I was just not facing the right direction.  So after calling some of the youth and then talking to a guy standing beside me I figured it out.  We made it home safely.  When we got to Raul's they were just finishing up the meeting but then someone told me about it being one of the youth's birthday.  We always try to have a little something for everyone's birthday.  So I did not get to stay at Raul's for very long.  I was there for like 15 min. I think.  Les wanted to get all his stuff ready for tomorrow, because he is flying out really early, so he did not go with me.  I got home at around 8:30pm and Raul updated me on all the stuff that happened in the meeting.  I decided to ride the bus to Mexico City tomorrow just because its really easy and there is no need in Raul going all the way there that early in the morning.  We have to get up at 3am and be at the bus station by 4am.  So I got in the bed at around 10pm. 

May 15, 2006 - Well Les and I got up at around 3am and Raul took us to the bus station so we could catch the bus to Mexico City.  We got to the airport at around 5:30am and Les got in line to get his ticket.  He was suppose to fly out at 7:20am but they delayed his plane so he did not fly out till around 12pm.   So he had to stay at the airport for all that time.  There was no need me staying there so I just came back to Toluca.  My bus left at around 7:30am from the airport.  This is the worse time because of the traffic.   It took me almost 3 hours to just get out of Mexico City.  LOL.   I did not get to Toluca till around 10:30am.  Then I had to catch another bus to my house.  So all together it took me around 4 hours to get from the airport to my house.  A trip that should only take a little over an hour.  I was so glad to get back to my house and my family here.   I had been gone for 4 nights so it was like I was gone forever.  After I got home I decided to go ahead and do my laundry.  Because I have a lot going on this week.   Tonight I was talking to ****** on MSN and he was telling me how his weekend and day went.  He told me that he had stayed in his room all day.  Which I kind of thought that was weird.  He also said he didn't want to be around any one today. So I knew that something was wrong with him.   He is on medicine for depression and I also know he like's to drink.   So I just started talking to him trying to cheer him up.  I told him I would take him out and we could talk but he said he just wanted to go back to bed and watch TV.  I just kept talking to him and told him that I was here all the time.  It didn't matter what time of the day it was or what time at night.  That he could just call and I would be there.  He said thanks and then he said he had to go.  I asked where he was going and he wrote a word back that I didn't know.   I asked him again where he was going and he wrote the word "SUICIDE".   Yeap,   So I told him I was coming to see him NOW.   He said no he didn't want to talk.   I told him he had to talk to someone.  He then said he was just joking.   Someone that is taking medicine for depression does not joke about suicide.  I went to his house anyway and hung out with him some and tried to talk to him but he didn't really want to talk.  I don't know what to do now.  Do I tell his parents or just keep talking to him? I just don't know what to do.  I have been up since 2:45am and now with this I will never go to sleep tonight.   I am starting to think that my 2 week trip home to Tennessee is a big mistake now.   I really need to be here with these kids.  Well tomorrow is a new day.  Please pray for all these kids here.  They need all the help they can get. 

May 16, 2006 - Today I worked at the church building this morning then went to my Spanish teacher.  Things are looking better for her now.  She has 3 new students so that is a lot of pressure off of me.  After Spanish I went back to the church and finished some of my stuff that I started this morning.  I went to one of the members house today and had Dinner with them.  We talked about some stuff that is effecting the church here in Toluca.  After that I went over to the guys house that I have been talking about  just to see how he was doing.  He seemed like he was doing ok but he really didn't want to talk to me much.  I only stayed for about 15 minutes.  After that I went to a Bible study with one of the guys from Church.  I am hoping to start going on more of these.  Especially if they have teenage kids that I can help and teach to.  Well after all of that I got home at around 11pm.   It was a full day and I am very tired now.

May 17, 2006 - Today I had Spanish class which went really good and I also worked at the church building till about 2pm on some stuff.  I was suppose to go to the movies tonight with ********* but he never did call me.  I hope every thing is alright with him today.  I don't want to push my self on him but at the same time he needs help.  So I didn't call him or anything.  I did send a email just to see how he was.  I worked on some of my stuff for my return trip home in less then a month.  So far I am preaching at 2 congregations and given 3 reports on the work here in Toluca.  So there is not going to be time for rest.  I then fly to Baja Mexico for another week long campaign there.   But I am planning a 2 day vacation in San Diego.   Just to relax a little before I fly back to Toluca.  That is the plan right now.  I might wait a few more weeks just to see if things get any better with some of the kids here.  I am hoping that Carlos will get to come next weekend.   Its been over 3 weeks since I have seen him.  I try to talk to him as much as possible.  Well that's all for today.

May 18, 2006 - Today I worked at the church all day.  Trying to get everything lined up for tomorrow.  The Americans should be here around 11am.   I will not see them till like 8pm thou.  I also talked to ******* today.  He really does not want me to help him.  He was kind of mean to me and told me to just leave him alone.   I told him it was cool.  I was just trying to help.   He knows were to find me and I think he just needs some time to work things out.  I am not going to push him thou.   I can't be the one to change his life.  He has to do that him self.  But still it made me feel bad because I was just trying to help him.  

May 19, 2006 - Today I went to my Spanish class but instead of class I had to cut her grass.   This is going to have to come to a end soon.  I have already sacrificed almost 4 months of Spanish class doing other things for her.   I have got to learn Spanish has soon as possible.  I don't know what to do yet but I am going to have to do something.   After class I went to the church building and worked on the stuff for tonight.   After that I went home and worked on some stuff for my return trip home in June.  I had to go to a birthday party at 5pm for Roberto.   Then I we all went to the church building at 7pm to get ready for that party.   We decided to have a big Mexican party for the Americans.  The party went great and the Americans had a lot of fun.  We also gave each one a bag with some Mexican food and candy in it.  It was just a welcome bag. After the party we had a talk about the difference between the culture here and the culture in USA.   I tried to give them as much information about the things I had learned.  Raul also gave another class and he talked about the things going on between Mexico and USA right now.  And how that should not effect what we do in the church because we are Christians first.  It was a good class.  We had about 50 people there tonight which was a lot more then is there most of the time.  After the party and class I had to stay and help clean up.  I got home at around 11:30pm

May 20, 2006 - Today I went with Raul and the other Americans to watch a soccer game.  Raul's kids were playing and it was funny watching them.  Then we went to Raul's house and had a talk with the Americans about the things we wanted them to do and also some of the rules that they need to follow.  We also went to a fair that they were having in town.  I really did not care for it thou.   The music was really to loud for me.   When I was standing at the bus stop, to come back home.  Fernando pulled up beside me and started talking to me.  I was trying to catch the last bus home because it was already around 9pm.  If I missed this bus then I would have to take a taxi which would cost me around $6.  So I really wanted to take the bus, it only cost 50 cents.  Well Fernando just kept talking. Which was good because he has not been to a lot of the class's in a while (he blames it own his girlfriend).  So I have been trying to get him to come to all the class's.  Well yeah I missed the bus.  So I just jumped in Fernando's car and told him to catch the bus.  LOL.   So we went flying down the road and we got in front of the bus and stopped it.  I then got on and made my way home.   Yeah,  I am a very cheap guy.   I can find a better way to spend $6 then on a taxi.

May 21, 2006 - Today we had worship service.  After church we had a meal for all the new Americans that are now here.   The people at the church are really bad about not telling me what all is going on.   And at like 3pm one of them told me that I was suppose to go to someone's house for another birthday party for one of the youth at 5pm.  I had already made plans to do something else thou. When I told them I was leaving they were like where are you going?  You have to go to the party!!!   I really don't think my job involves going to every birthday party they have here.  I have worked really hard the past few weeks and I will have to work hard next week also.   I need a brake from all the work with the youth and the Church.  I am going to burn out.   But since its me and I don't want to make any of the kids mad or upset, I changed my plans around so I could go to the party at 5pm ( they really do get upset really easy).   Well I got there at like 6pm, yeah I was late, LOL,  But no one was there yet.   That really made me mad.   I changed all my plans around and no one was there yet.    They didn't get there till like 7pm.  But anyway that is how life goes here and you just have to go with the flow and try to get use to it.   I got home at about 10pm and went right to bed.

May 22, 2006 - Today was a busy day.  I meet the other Americans at the church building and took them to the Centro to see there school.   I also took them inside to meet there teacher.  I also showed them around the Centro and taut them how to ride the bus from the church building to the Centro.  After all that I took them to Wal-mart so they could get some stuff that they could not bring with them.  When I got back to the church building I started working on my lesson for this Friday night with the youth group.  Tonight I worked on my stuff for my trip to USA in June.  I also made a huge decision today.   I am dropping my other Spanish class.   It has just gotten to hard for me to go there and try to learn Spanish.   I am going to start a new one tomorrow with the other Americans.  I have not told her yet but I talked to her tonight and told her I would try to go see her tomorrow.  This is one of the worse things I have had to do since I got here.  Tomorrow is not going to be a good day at all. 

May 23, 2006 -  Well like I said today was going to be a bad day and it was.   I had to get up really early and fight the traffic all the way to the church building.  I had to take the Americans back to there school today for the Spanish class.  The class went great and I am glad that I am taking it with them.  The teacher is 22 and after class he asked if he could come to the church sometime.  I guess he like all of us.  I told him to come Friday night if he wanted and Sunday also.  After class we went back to the church building.  I had to leave because I had to go to my other teachers house and talk to her about everything.   I knew she would try and make me feel bad and try to make me depressed.  Well she did.   She tried to run the church down but I would not let her go there.  After everything I have done for her the last 4 months and what the youth group has done.  I told here I would keep paying here some until she got back on her feet but she was mad because the other Americans where not coming to her class.   That is my fault also.  I would not let the other Americans waste 4 months on Spanish class like I did.   So anyway she made me feel bad but it was not as bad as I thought it was going to be.  I told her I would come once a week to visit with her.  Well after all that I was ready to go home so I decided not to go back to the church building and go right home.  That was a huge mistake.   When I did that it meant I had to get off the bus in the Centro and catch another bus to my home.   Its a really crowed place.  So I was waiting for the bus and this young guy kept walking around looking at everyone and I saw him try to take a woman's purse.   So I kept my eye on him.  He finally left and went across the road and I thought he was gone.   I am American so I am a huge target here.  They see me and they think I have a lot of money on me.  Which today I did because I had to go the bank and get money for my new Spanish class.  Well my bus got there and I got own it.  It was really crowed and I had to stand up at the back. There was a lot of people and you could hardly turn around.   As the bus started moving I felt something in my front pocket where my wallet was.  When I turned around there was the same young guy.  I tool hold of his arm and yelled.  The bus stopped and he let go of the wallet and jumped off the bus.   I was more mad then anything else.   I had already had a bad day and this dude just made it worse.  I was so glad to get back to my house and that this day was over.   24 more days and I will be home. 

May 24, 2006 - Today I had my second Spanish class at my new school.   It is going good so far.  I really like the new teacher.  The two hours seem to just fly by.  Which is a lot different from my last class.  After class I went to the church and we all had a meeting with the new Americans.  We talked about all the projects we are doing and the new ones we want to start.   The new Americans are going to try and get a Wednesday night service going.   Its going to be hard just because of the traffic and the way people work around here.  After the meeting I worked on some of my stuff and then went home.  I washed some of my clothes because I was scared I would not have time again till next week.   I also worked on some stuff for my return trip home.

May 25, 2006 - Today was just about like yesterday.  Spanish class and then went to the Church building and worked till about 2pm.  When I got home I decided to study some of my Spanish that we went over today in class.   That is a good sign.  Most of the time I am just sick of Spanish by the time I get home.   Tomorrow and this weekend are going to be very busy.   There is some family coming in tomorrow that will be staying at the house (its my host family's family).  Noe also gets home from Harding Saturday so it going to be kind of busy around here all weekend.  

May 26, 2006 - Today I went to Spanish class and then went to the Church building to get ready for class tonight.   I also ate at the church building because some of lady's cooked for all the Americans this afternoon.  After that I decided to go watch the De Vinci Code because a lot of people have asked me about it.   I did not like the movie at all.  I thought it was going to be like a history lesson but it was a "movie" and Tom Hanks was in it.    It was not what I thought it was going to be like.   After that I had class with the youth group and it went really well tonight.    For the next 2 weeks we will be talking about "Death".  I got home at around 12:30am.    I have been going all day and I am so tired.  I also have a really bad cold.

May 27, 2006 - Today we went to the airport and picked Noe up. When we got home my host mom had a huge meal for us.  It was really good also.   I stayed at the house all day because I still don't feel good and my cold is getting worse.

May 28, 2006 - Today I went to Church, which was great as always.  The Americans wanted me to take them around town today but I just did not feel like it.   I did go out to eat with Noe and his family and then I went home and worked on some stuff for my return trip home.    I also talked to Carlos dad today and he says that Carlos is doing better in School and is trying to stay out of trouble.   That is a good sign.  I am going to try and go see him next weekend.  I want to talk to him before I leave for Tennessee in 2 weeks.  I also talked to ******** tonight.   He is still really depressed and is struggling with a lot of stuff.   He wanted me to come over to his house but I then found out he wanted me to drink with him.   So I thought it was best not to go.  I kind of thought he had been drinking today just by some of the stuff he was saying.  I talked to him for about 2 hours so maybe that will do a little good.  I might try to go see him tomorrow but this is the same guy that said some bad stuff about me but that is not a reason to give up on him thou.   I got in the bed around 1am.   These late nights are getting to me.  I am still feeling really bad from this cold I have. 

May 29, 2006 - Today was my day off and also a Holiday in USA.   I stayed at home most of the day and worked on some of my stuff for my trip home.   This afternoon I went to Raul's and Kim's house for a cookout with all the other Americans.   It was nice to have the cookout today. I really enjoyed it.   After the cookout I went back home and did nothing.  jaja

May 30, 2006 - Today I had Spanish Class in the morning.    It went really good I think.  We got a new teacher so I don't like that.   She seems nice the only problem is that this is her first class she has taught.  After class I went to the Church building and worked on a little project I have being trying to get finished before I leave in 2 weeks. I also went to my other Spanish teachers house and visit with her for about an hour.  She seemed to be in good sprits.   Tonight I went and talked to ************.   I took him to the movies and hung out with him the rest of the night.   I just wanted him to get out of that house.  He stay's there all day and night.    He seemed to enjoy it.     That is about all I did today.

May 31, 2006 - Today I had Spanish Class which went ok.  I don't like the way the new teacher teaches.  She skips around a lot and its hard for me to focus on everything she is saying.   Also the class room is very hot.  Which I don't like.  After class I had coffee with a guy I have been talking to for about 3 months.  We had a almost 3 hour conversation about the difference between Church of Christ and Catholic.    He understands a lot of what I say but he still is holding on to his Catholic believes.    I don't expect people to change there believes over night.  It takes a lot of studying and soul searching to believe in the truth.  Tonight I went out with Noe and Kike because I have not got to spend much time with them in the last week.

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