Yo! i'm around just haven't been blogging much as you already know. I plan on getting back on track in a few weeks. At the present time I have been doing a lot of planning and decision making about my future. I'll get back on track in a few weeks.

The more I read this book about the purpose driven life the more I find it challenging in my beliefs. And the more assurance I get that most of my thinking about community is right. But actions speak louder than words. One of the points I recall about the last chapter I read is about community building. El Rick Warren says "He who loves his dream of coummunity more than the Christian community itself becomes a destroyer of the latter...if we do not give thanks daily for the christian fellowship in which we have been placed, even when there is no great experience, no discoverable riches, but much weakness, small faith , and difficulty; if on the contrar, we keep complaining everything is paltry and petty, then we hinder God from letting our fellowship grow."
Romans 14:19 says "let us concentrate on the things which make for harmony and the growth of our fellowship together." I haven't had a "good" church experience or "community" experience so far. Being in a church with a bunch of others sinners like myself is not an easy thing. I've always have found it hard to truly believe that I have something to offer and maybe I should just focus on working like the illegal alien that I am. But that would be a waste of my knowledge. As an illegal immigrant is easy to find negativity if you look for it even within strong christian circles. Maybe I shouldn't say negativity becuase it might be the wrong word. Let be elaborate. My dream as many of my now professional peers is to finish an education, a BA pues. Pero the only problem is that I'm undocumented and my comprehension and vocabulary skills are poor and not many people see me as a prospect especially me. One of the ministries I have worked for after being told by churches that they won't support them because they have someone who is undocumented working for them. It broke my heart when I was offer to either get a job or they could send me to another ministry. Maybe this is one of the reasons why I've been told to just get a job by all of the non-profits I've worked for. Por que soy mojado. No joke esta bien cabron. So, do I keep fundraising, keep juggling trying to finish school and keep doing ministry in the next phase of my life, or get a job and stop doing ministry to focus in school only. I have faith Gods work is going to be done even if I'm not his employee.
All I am saying is that its not easy to be undocumented, trying to finish college at the same time and doing ministry and it doesn't get any easier.
My question is what can I do to try and help future generations of migrant kids much like myself. No doubt I want to sacrifice myself, give the glory to God and come out victorious on the other end with a BA in hand and a taco on the other saying Jesus is good.

Where did all of that come from?

Got an exam tomorrow over properties of statements and their truth tables and the natural system of deduction all involving over 15 rules that I need to memorize to be able to solve all the statments the professor is going to be giving us. I'm happy because this is the hardest material we are going to cover in our class and I don't find it difficult. After these chapters we have another exam covering two very easy chapters and then the final which is going to cover the last two chapters in our book. I'm in a happy mood today.

I got up and drove from Pacoima to Pasadena to help a friend clean his van out. I spend a good two hours doing that before going home to rest watch Oprah and shower up. The more I think about my life the more excited I get. Five more weeks before I move up north.
During this summer God willing I willl be working with migrant children helping run a summer day camp wich pays signifiantly well. At the end of this monty I fly out to go speak in a workshop to raise awarness about some of the difficulties facing illegals in the US. I'm not going to be talking just about Latino immigrants but also Chinese, African, and all the others that daily pour into los estados. I'm excited about sharing my thoughts with these group of poeple. I'm sharing the stage with two women both civil rights activists.

The Last Newsletter Before I move to Washington

Hola! I pray you all are doing well.
After school program…Well a lot of things have happened since the last update concerning my work with the after school program. For the rest of my time here my time to serve for the Harambee Center has terminated. Due to this I have stopped living at the retreat house. God’s purpose for this has been obvious to me. I was in much need of rest from ministry. I am staying with three good friends of mine at their condo. They have been gracious to me by letting me stay there and allowing me to rest from ministry, read and study. I have been enjoying my time off and have been using it to pray, read and draw closer to God. I am still in the neighborhood and see the families I’ve drawn close to. As I continue to enjoy my time here my plan is to visit the people I know and thank them for their friendship and love.
I have learned a lot from my last four years here and look forward to what God has for me in the future.

My F.A.T (faithful, available, teachable) boy’s bible study is still going. We haven’t met regularly for the last couple weeks due to all the changes and the boys being involved in a quinceañera and having to practice every night during hang out time. This coming week they are going to have more free time and we are going to be able to get together and fellowship. I have been able to share in the simplest levels of fellowship getting together to study the word, sharing our feelings and transgressions, and serving. I have done as much as I can to expose the boys to Gods character and encourage them to take it a step further in their relationship with Jesus.

At times I find myself having unreal expectations and I have to remind myself they are so young. The trip to Washington was an awesome time of fighting, reconciliation, forgiveness and humbleness. I promise to never take so many young people on my own on a road trip. Although I was able to meet with them on a different level it was a tough trip both physically and emotionally for me. I want to thank Lynn and The Manna Team for their love while we visited.


Cheryl Broetje for helping us get back to California and all of you who came out to the car washes to give your time and to all of you who gave financially and
spiritually. Thank you.
College is going well. I am really enjoying the class I’m taking at Pasadena City College for several reasons; one is because this professor can teach, and two because it’s the last one before I successfully complete my AA. I applied for 4 scholarships which if I receive will help me finish my BA through WSU Tri-Cities. I am applying for the fall.
That’s what is going on with school.

Returning to Washington is exciting on many levels. The first one is my mom. I love that lady so much and I long to spend time with her. Secondly, upon my return I will be entering into and internship with The Manna Project entitling coming along them and helping with their summer project. Please pray with me as I prepare for what the summer holds for me. I will continue to send updates as I am there to let you all know what is going in the life of Sergio. I finish my class June 9th and I plan on driving out on the 11th or 12th of June.

Finances…urgh! Not so good right now since I am completely without any income.
I have five weeks left before I move up north and if you would like to help me make it through these next five weeks and be able to go up north at the end here are my financial needs:

Food: $200
Gas: $100 to get around
Bills: $65 phone bill
Gas: $250 to get back up to WA (gas is very expensive)
Applying for WSU: $38

Totaling: $653.00

I am no longer fundraising through Harambee. If you would like to give you can either go to my website: www.castaneda.blogspot.com and click on the Pay Pal Button on the side bar and follow the instructions from there. If you would like to give via mail by check please feel free to contact me for my current address.

Thank you so much to all of you that have been so faithful to me in doing Gods work here in Pasadena. This is the last newsletter you will receive from down here in Pasadena. I will continue to send them later on from Washington.

What have I been doing with my time?
One of thing things I habe been focusing on is reading. I finishing "A Gring Guide On How To Handle Mexicans" by Jose Angel Gutierrez. A good book about community organizing. I enjoy reading about the tricks used by gringos to keep minorities from getting into positions if power and to keep them from jobs, school protests. Its a good read. He uses the word gringo not only to refer to racist whites but also referring to hispanics who have lost touch with their the struggles their raza faces. I will post more on it later.
Right now I'm half way through "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. I was at his church, Saddleback, down in Lake Forest not too long ago. Very nice. Eventhough I can't agree with everything Mr. Warren writes it still a good book to read within a group. I just got done with purpose #2 titled "You Were Formed For God's Family." Which spoke to me the most so far becuase of all the things going on my life. The end of every section has a point to ponder, verse to remember and a question to consider. The question to consider is someitmes good sometimes bad. What I like about the way Warren writes is that he focus on key points and back them up with biblbical wisdom something that we all lack from time to time.
Next book on my list is "A Chicano Manual On how To Handle Gringos" by Jose Angel.

Things are good. I just sent out my last newsletter before going up to WA. I hope those of you who get to read it are able to bless me in my move up to WA coming up in June.

Mariachis Invade The White House

Otro dia mas...


Estoy bien en exilio, descansando y aprovechando todo el tiempo que tengo libre.
Yesterday was a long day for me. I got up too early in the morning and drove down to Lake Forest, I spent most of my time there procrastinating at a Starbucks while my friend attended a conference but it was a good time.
After getting back I went to the eye doctor to get my check up. My vision has changed it still the sam but the eye doc was concern the optic nerve in my right eye is a little thin. He assurd me some poeple are born with it like that. So, he said will check it again in a couple years and if we see any big difference we are going to look into it more serioiusly. Not too worried about it.

The evening was spent with the ladies at home. We cooked steaks, mashed potatoes, sauted asparagus and zuckini and we tried my first attempt at making strawberry lemonade. Everything came out gracious.

I hung out with my boys on friday a bit. They are all going to be in a quinceañera this coming weekend so there have been practicing for it. I got a chance to witness their practice and hang out with their families a bit. I would post some pictures up but I lost my privilege to were I was hosting my pictures.

Today was a good morning. I had breakfast, steak and eggs, with el Eliel. We watched Romeo And Juliet, the one with Decaprio in it. Then Musiki joined us after returning from church. Now i'm posting on this thing and studying for my class this week.

thats what is. Peace in.