We are now in El Gusano! But I am actually in Dolores Hidalgo for the day to buy some stuff for the center. Dolores Hidalgo is the city of Mexican Independence from Spain. The priest, Miguel Hildalgo, shouted from the cathedral VIVA MEXICO! (long live Mexico) and called his laity to fight for independence.

Since the last time we talked much fun stuff has happened!
-played soccer at Ibero University with Kike! so much fun, but I was definitely not used to the altitude, so it was really hard to keep running without subs
-went to a concert in opposition to the Arizona law ... lots of funny roqueros (rocker kids). I had no idea that the law was getting international responses.
-it is day 3 in the communities, last night we got invited to Doña Cata s house for a catholic ceremony. they rocked a baby doll in a blanket, who was supposed to represent baby Jesus. It was to remind us why the Jesus came and the story of his coming. It was really cool experiencing the ceremony and Christianity in a different manner. Im hoping this will open the doors to talk about spiritual things with them. We at tomales (corn, meat, milk all ground up and then cooked in corn ears. we also had atole (ground up corn, sugar, chocolate, and cinnamon). This just reminded me of how important corn is to the rural Mexican communities, so it got me frustrated again that the US inadvertantly destroyed the corn market in Mexico by subsidizing American corn.
-Im staying with Don Jesus Garcia and Doña Matilde Alvarez. They have 11 children, some of whom have their own grandchildren). 11 is sort of large, but not outrageous for a number of kids. They have their own plot of land that they share with a few sons who live on the land with their families. I am staying in the house of one of their sons that is in the United States, Javier. Don Jesus loves to talk! Whenever I am on my way out of their plot of land with all their houses, he always asks me to stop and platicar (chat). Sometimes I do, and I love it. We talk about life and how he likes to live. He has been to the State of Mexico (yes, there is also a state in Mexico called Mexico) and he has been to Tamaulipas (where I used to go with Grace and where God developed my heart for Mexico and its issues and novelties). He said that he did not like living there and much preferred to live with his whole family where "podemos compartir todo entre nosotros" (we can share everything among eachother). I really want to live like this ... with family in friends all in the same place where the collective matters more than the individual. It reminded me a lot of days out in Knightdale where we could run up to Grandma and Papas really easily. And a lot of people in the town are related, so as Lupe (an amazing woman) told us, you never have to worry when you step outside because everyone is either you "hermano, primo, tio, sobrino, nuero, o quien sea" (brother, cousin, uncle, nephew, son-in-law, or whoever). I am going to have to write later specifically about Lupe ... so get ready!

-yesterday: complete 180
I wanted to come home because I had no idea what we were doing here and I didnt feel like I am in any place to offer assistance to the residents of El Gusano, but then I realized that they are offering me so much as well. I have to remember to SHINE, not shrink! I am going to learn about their lives here, about tending to animals (hopefully), about rural Mexican living (maybe a possible magazine title like "Southern Living"), practice my Spanish, and basically be part of their community. In return I am bringing some capital into the community in the form of paying to stay with my awesome hosts and also by teaching them some computer skills and doing some handicrafts with the younger students. For computer skills, which they already have computers, we are going to show them how to use excel, word, and powerpoint, so that one day when they get internet, theyll be able to go to highschool and even university online!!! how awesome is that! To the younger kids, they already have fun, so we are just going to try and do fun activities with them: arts and crafts, movie nights, Kaylee and I are going to try and do some mini-gymnastics classes because self-confidence really develops in ALL kids when they learn how to do something new! We are going to paint some of the grey walls to add some color to the town and also clear out this ditch that would allow for better water flow instead of in clogging up! I just have to remind myself that it is Day 3 of 40-something, so we have lots of time to get to know everyone and accomplish our tasks.

theme for the summer: SHINE, not shrink! I am going to write a separate blog about this one too!

love