Hanging out with one of my nieces at Barnes & Noble. Her name is Daisy.



December 22 around 6:30pm:
I'm in huntington park waiting for the bus to arrive. I walked down to the corner of Olympic and Florence to get some bacon hot dogs, nothing like a healthy meal before a long bus ride (joke). As I walked down the side walk towards I got a feeling of familiarity. Walked passed familiar faces and thought soon enough I will be home. And I will hold my mothers withered hand and fill her face with kisses. I can't wait to fill my dads rough dry skin hands. It feel happy.

I kept on walking down to those hot dogs. As I walked passed the 99 cent store, as I peaked inside I noticed a devoted young shopper. She sported a Cal State Long Beach hoodie. It reminded me of a friend. I smiled.

After getting the hot dogs I walked back to the mini station to eat my food there in fear of getting my belongings taken. They were still there. I offered one of my companions a hot dog. He refused so I indulged. Eagerness creeps.


The start: Huntington Park Office


The Ride: 1988 some kind of bus


9:56pm
Dang it! my computer shows 24 minutes left of juice. Oh well. Its okay. I'm sitting in the dark bus, I hate its bumpiness and the rigid odor the bathrom releases everytime someone walks in there. There goes that smell again. Maybe later I'll try to move to the front of the bus.
I'm enjoying listening to Los Cafres. 'Tus hojos, volcan de tu alma.'

Dec 23 Thursday 10pm

We been waiting here for three hours already. In the process i've taken a bunch of pictures of my compadres and comadres. I met a few people on the bus. A girl who told me I looked like the thinking type after I told her I was in college. She pulled a couple pictures to show me a before and after. She said she has lost 130lbs. She was happy about it. I congratulated her and proceded to import my pictures. After that I spent a few minutes telling jokes with an older lady and middle age man. Not too long after that they mechanic came to get the bus. Appreantly something wrong with some cap the engine has as a safety in case the engine heats up. So they are fixing it. I'm haning out with a guy from Pasadena in the little restaurant they got here. For a split second i got really happy when I noticed my computer was registering a wireless connection. But to my dismay its down. Oh well. I'm sitting here with Tony, my new friend, drinking coffee and listening U2's new album. 'I wanna trip inside your head, spend the day there. To hear the things you haven't said.' I think thats one of my favorites from this album.

I was thinking back remembering the first U2 song I heard. It was 'Staring At The Sun.' I was riding with my friend TJ to pick up some binding for his snowboard. Good times.

Well I guess we are going to be here for another couple hours. Time.

Apart from missing everyone in my community I miss my guys. They told me they were going to miss me. Lupe's mom called me to wish me Happy Holydays and to tell me she was going to have some buñuelos for me when I got back. She told me little Lupe was crying becuase she thought I wasn't going to come back. It made me feel sad. When that time comes for me to leave. I will be sad but I also hope that God allows me to leave some footsteps in some of these young ones lives. As we grow we build a heart for certain things in life. I was thinking where my heart is? There is nothing I hope more than to see the kids at Harambee grow and become productive adults. To see them seek after Gods own heart. I cry when I think of this because I know its hard. I had a hard life and still do. I'm thankful though, God has spare me eventhough I have a rebellious heart. He knows my love for Him and his people. And there is nothing more I yearn for than to feel closer to Him.

Please Pray for these people they have been divine interventions in my life:
Phil Bullard: currently in Colombia.
Cheryl Broetje: Servant Leader at Center For Sharing (www.centerforsharing.org).
Glenn Cross: Servant Leader at Center For Sharing.
Rodolfo Carrasco: Exec @ Harambee
Derek Perkins: friend
Judy Wagonblast: friend
Sharon Isaacson: friend
Eric Lipp: friend
Von Johnson: friend
Ramiro Medrano: friend and mentor
Tim Grey: friend and brother in the walk. Helping me remember to check my attitude and humble my self.

I'm in debt to you guys.

I gotta stop listening to U2. It puts me in a sentimental mood. I'm getting anxious as time passes by. I can see the freeway and the cars passing us by and I can't help but wonder when the heck we are going to take off.

Dec 23 12noon
Still waiting. The bus is not ready to go. At first I thought there was going to be another bus coming but they are still trying to fix it. My hope is that they will be giving me a discount on the way back. I'm sure glad they have outlets here. I borrowed a dvd from my friend Tony. "About Schimidt' is the film its pretty funny. It reminds me of Mark Schmidt. Because of the last name of course.

The driver


Los compañeros


Mas compañeros


The bus broke down on us. Thursday 6am in Corning CA.


So we waited


And the help came. Todos off the bus.


Rapido todos vajensen.


Sunset came.


We saw a lot of Mts.

some with snow on them.


This kids had fun the whole time.


'Mom looks horses.'





I finally got home at 2:30am and life with family starts.

This was my morning welcoming comittee.


My neighbors dog was not too happy to see me.


Tamale preparations. My mom, sister-n-law a one of my nieces doing it.



THIS IS FOR YOU RUDY. I had chicharron tacos for lunch. They were good.


Yes, that is my hand right before I took a bite.


I was getting the coconut ready for the atole de coco. A tradition in my fam.


Another sister-n-law came over to help my mom with the tamales.


One of my pastors came over to say hi. This is her and mom in the kitchen as my mom was preparing the cornhusk leaves.



Well thats all for now. Expect more later. Peace. I'm doing well.