Monday morning and the summer day camp at Harambee is off to a start. Unfortunatly I won't be working with the summer day camp at all so I need to send another newsletter out to let my supporters know that I'm in need yo! I won't have any income coming in except what ever I fundraise. Regardless God is good and he will supply my needs.
Please keep me in prayer I need to be wise when it comes to studying.

I just got done meeting with my stats teacher about my research study we have to do at the end of the semester. She accepted my proposal to do a hip hop study. My hypothesis is testing listening to hip hop provides an escape from reality of living in the 'hood. I'm glad she agreed because we only have 3 weeks to do it and put together. Which means that I need to find my 30 samples quick and ask each the five questions. Lets see 5 times 30 equals 150. I better get on it now.
In a few we have our first exams which I should be studying for but I decided to drop a word before reviewing one more time. Please pray that God helps me remember all the things I need to pass this test.
After this head over to Harambee and give someone a ride to the airport. And after that catch up on my reading on 'Thinking Like Jesus'. Evil is all around ya'll be careful where you step you might get some dodo on you.

I'm envying my friend's mission to go have beer and cheese sticks at the Yard House. But I can't go out like that. The wise thing to do is to go to sleep and get rest so I can be awake when I take my test tomorrow.

A lot of my friends who know a little Spanish because they took some in college will try to speak to me in spanish but will speak Spanish as if they were speaking English. So, their sentences are like backwards and are hard to understand what they say sometime. This is the case with my stats teacher. She is Chinese and when she is giving her lecture she is explaining things in English but I think she is thinking Chinese. Or maybe its just me that is not understanding her lectures. Whatever it may be this class is hard. Today I had a mock exam to see how we did. I don't think I did that great. Tomorrow we have the first real exam. Our professor said to make sure we didn't fail to take the test. She said in comparison to the other five exams this was a frebbie. Whatever. Right now I'm trying to write a hypothesis for a class presentation she wants us to do. I'm dragging because I have no idea what to do my research on.

I talked to my mom earlier today. She called me with a certain confindence in her voice which was very comforting to hear. She called me to let me know that my brother was released in bail. She couldn't talked to him because he couldn't hear. He got beat in jail and he was beaten so bad that his body couldn't take anyone touching him because it hurt him so much. The worst thing was the ringing in his ears. He can't hear a thing. Not even in our country can we get a break from the authorities. I'm glad my mom is feeling better. He gave me the numbers off a phone card so I could be able to call her. Thanks ma'. Thank you all from praying.

Today was one of my most productive days of this month so far. Got up early and drove over to a Starbucks in Sunland to meet with one of the guys that is schooling me on ministry and life. Ramiro you are a fountain of knowledge bro. I'm blessed to have you as a friend. After meeting with Ram I came back and picked up two of the kids i've been hanging with. Went to pick up some supplies we needed for the day. Worked at the center for quite a while and had the two boys help me out.
At the moment I'm watching 'Pieces Of April' with a group of high school leaders from Harbor House In Oak town.

Well estoy right here en the casa just relaxing doing mi homework. I had a good short talk con mi ma en the phone yesterday. I'm glad shi is better. Thanks you all por praying for her. Today was a good day. I felt like I got accomplished. Got up at 6am got ready and went to class. I didn't feel that comfortable in class the reason being is there is a chica that sits to the left one sit up from where I sit. Cool girl but I was trippin' about how she was showing her thong. She was wearing some of the new s low cut jeans and felt like saying something to her to get her to not be showing her chonies. But then I thought I don't want to be offensive towards her. Plus I thought about one of staff members who occasionally does the same. I brought it up to our staff members attention one time and her replied was "why you lookin." I guess she was right. But when you have to work in ministry and are around co-laborers its hard to not notice these things. So, I thought to myself maybe I should just let this girl alone and sit all the way in the front instead of the second row. Parents do you know what your daughters are wearing to school? Kids be doing some crazy stuff. I remember when I used to go cruizin' we would pick up the homegirls from there house and they would be dressed repectively. But then they would make us pull in to a gas station or something. They would go in the bathroom and come out with a different set of clothes on. Clothes much more revealing and sensual.

Quite an interesting day today was. I started the summer session which was pretty interesting. My first class is Stats 18, our professor opened with this line, 'hi! this is stats 18 and let me tell you that we are gonne be working intensly in thes six weeks. Now before I continue let me tell you that usually by mid session half the class dropps and the remaining half usually end up getting D's and F's so if you are taking this class during the summer and are thinking about relaxing you are in the wrong class." Hmmmm...I thought to myself, that is quite an encouraging start. I aint scurrud (spll?) so the second class which I was going to take but end up dropping is Critical Thinking. My stats class is an 4 hour long class which is going to require a lot of study time. So, I will be taking Critical Thinking and some others in the fall still at PCC.
I also went to see one of the counselors to check on transferring and other stuff. And as she looks over my records she tells me that I took two classes that I should of not had taken. I took those on the recommendation of other couselors. But whatever I aint bitter about any of that.

PRAYER NEED
A few moments ago I got off the phone with my mom. I usually call her a couple times a week. For the last year she has been having health issues which always brings concern to the family. Regardless of her helth issues she keeps on working and taking care of the family. Well, she just told me that my brother the one that is in Mexico is in jail. He got picked up by the PJR for drug charges. I know how my mom takes this so I'm concern for her well being. She didn't sound emotionally good on the phone. She was crying through out most of our conversation. I got a little relief knowing that almost all the family was there with her holding her up. Its saddens me that I can't be by her side to hold her. She told me that we need to pray more and trust God will be watching over us. She shared that the lady she rides to work with is a Christian and has been lifting her up daily which makes me extremely happy. My mom is longing to go to a Christian church but my dads machismo and his bad experiences with Christians don't let him give into being part of a Christian community. Please pray for my mom. Her name is Maria but our community in Washington calls her Doña Mari. She also told me that a friend of the families was shot dead in front of his house. This kid was only 16 but heavily involved in gangs. His whole family was inside the house when this happened his moms name is Alicia pray for her.
I thank the Lord for all the mercy he has had on me. Blessed may He be.

I just got back from the movies. Took Christian and Fernando to watch the new Shrek. Very funny movie I really appreciated Antonio Bandera's character as the puss in boots. Apart from the movie it was good to spent time with these boys. Another incident that made me very happy was seeing one of the boys that use to go to my bible study. Very at risk kid. When I left Northwest Neighbors he stopped going to bible study. I saw his mom later and she said he stopped going because I wasn't there anymore. Today I saw that he is working at pacific theathers. Thats a good thing. I'm very happy for that.

Church was good. Our speaker talked about what the bibles says when it comes to being yoked with unbelievers. People need to be on the same mission in order to be able to plow the land or else the farmer won't be able to accomplish much crop.
After our service went out o lunch with our speaker and picked up my friend Deon on the way. Went to try out Conrads. Wasn't much pleased with it. An all american restaurant with mexican service. I felt bad that our waiter would treat us with such disregard and would treat our brunching neighbors with such good courtesy. The service was horrible, the food was bad i'm defenetly not gonne be going or taking any one to Conrads on Lake and Walnut.

Sitting here at home studying for finals. I'm covering material for my music cultures of the world. And I came accross something interesting. I don't know if any of this writing makes sense but I read that the word 'rap' is ancient in the Asian culture. The Chinese use to call a certain form of spoken word and signing rap. I wonder if there is a connection there with how much Asians like rap music. Does anyone know where we got the word rap? It interests me to know if many Asians know this. I bet it would give them a sense of pride to find that connection knowing how much hip hop has been blowing the charts. Cool stuff.

Favorite hip hop artists:
Dilated Peoples (LA locals)
Black Eyed Peas
Musiq
Common (spll?)
Poetic Leo (we use to be roomates)
Tunnel Rats
Breezie (Kanye West's partner)
Orishas
CrossMovement

When I was just a young buck. I used to jam to Too $hort. It messed my thinking up. I thought I was a pimp at 14 with four girlfriends. Dang I was messed up.

I've been seeing shadows in the house. A few minutes ago I got done reading for my class tomorrow, I don't want to go to bed because Mark Anthony is staying over and he fell asleep in the livingroom. I don't feel safe going into my room to sleep because I have to leave the door unlocked for the workgroup that is here this week. I figured I can stay up a little longer and wait. I don't have much thoughts to write.
Marcus one of the boys from the center has been trying to wrestle me a lot and jump on me. In one of my classes I learned that young boys do that to give and receive attention. I wonde if that is the case with Marcus or if he is just trying to play. One of the staff members at the school told me his dad had passed away. Maybe he is trying to connect with older males. His mom told me that he needed older males in his life. Hmmmm.....what can i do in this case. I've been talking to him more often than usual as a friend more than a teacher.

Iced coffee is good. Now if I can only get sailormoon to stop licking my toes.

I'm sitting out on my front porch waiting for some coffee i have brewing to be ready. I'm also mentally preparing myself to review for two more finals this coming week.

!!!!!!!!Happy Birthay Wendy!!!!!!!!!!!

I have such cool friends. Today I got the July's edition of YM magazine in the mail. A friend of mine got me a free subscription and another friend of mine got me a free subscription for Latina Magazine. Ok, I know I'm not a girl but for all you youthworkers like me out there. These magazines are very resourceful. Its what our youth are looking at and having these keeps you udated on whats new with the youth. Another good source is MTV or BET. The youth like coming over and watching tv. Its a good relational tool and good for just hanging out. It provides you with interesting topics to discuss with your youths.

The time spent in Washington was well spent. On Friday night we got there and stayed behind the house of Jim and Linda Hunt. They tore down an old farm that was located behind their house and build what is now called The Hearth. Jim mentioned they picked that name because it has the words: heart, hearth and hear. I thought it was a clever name considering what the Krista Foundation (kristafoundation.org). I enjoyed my night there. If you scroll down you will find a picture that was taken outside the hearth. Kneeled in front is Aron who was Krista's husband before she passed away while serving in Bolivia. I had an awsome time learning about people and listenting to their stories about serving in other countries. On saturday morning we drove north about an hour of Spokane to Camp Spalding, which is a beautiful place owned by the prebyteri. There was a lot of dialogue. For a minute I felt a bit akward because I wasn't connecting much. Which wasn't a bad thing hence I'm surrounded by people all the time down here in cali and in dialogue almost all day. So, it was good to spend time reading and talking to God. Alicia gave me a out of nowhere hugh that made me feel more welcome. Thanks Alicia. By Sunday night I let go. They had a talent show and I was the last one to go up. I did a few animal interpretations and finished of with a joke. After that we had a dance. Destiny who is a graduate of SPU and came down to Harambee to serve while in there gave us a some salsa lessons. Thanks man! Rachel Grassly who's dad used to pastor the West Side church, the church that I attended in the tri-cities was graces in being my dance partner. Thank you for your patience. Looking forward to having you come visit the Harambee. I also met Wake who works for Jubilee Christian Academy the high school I graduated from. Thanks for taking me out to breakfast Wake. My house doors are open for you. I met several awsome people, Hector I enjoy listening to holopaw on the way to Cali, Tess, Katie from Alaska I'm sorry that Intervarsity hated on you for being Catholic (whom are Christians as well) some people have to learn. Christina Li. Hat tip to Valerie Noorwood for putting on an awsome conference. And everyone else good luck. Hollar at a brother.

I think I ate too much. A while ago I was at starbucks studying for a final and I got hungry so I decided to come home, I was getting much studying done anyway. The fastest thing I could make was huvos con chorizo so I fixed me up a litte some and had two tacos now my stomach hurts. Besides that I'm well. Tomorrow I have my finals for my Interpesonal communication class. We have to do a group presentation and the other part is a written portion. The presentation is on Language in boys friendships. I'm looking forward to it becuase everytime I have to present I like to give the class a piece of my mind. Most of the time I get a good reaction and conversation starts flying. I'm presenting with Rosalyn from the Phillipines (that rhymes) and my friend Mauricio from El Salvador. Mauricio is here on a student visa and is going back home this summer, cool guy. I'm gonne have to go down there and visit. He told me that he is involved with the peacecorps down in El Salvador. Maybe I can use some of the grant money to go and serve with him in his country. I've always had dreams of going to a place like Chiapas and being physically involved witht he movement. I would still like to do it.

Recently I've been involved in discussions revolving around baby names. A few of my friends are expecting so they are trying to decide.

My top pics for baby names:
GIRL:
Miranda
Aries
Camila
Senaida
Estela
Mikari
Joeve

BOY:
Emiliano
Cristos
Aries
Austreberto
Cuauthemoc
Socrates
Aurelio
Sergio