This is going to be written

just like that. With out checking my notes or anything. Just a quick reference of what went on. Or well... A reference, we will see about quick. So far I have it set on my mind to actually go through the notes, and write about the whole ordeal. But most likely that will become a large PDF file, and most likely too, it will be written in Spanish. Because for that, it just feels right to write it so.

Either way... This is kind of how my missions came to happen...

At first, I honestly didn't want to go. I wanted to go with Daniel to Cuba or some exotic place and have some good times fun. I knew in advance Wend was going to go on missions, and I was already invited. But... It just sounded plain boring. You know what I mean.

Freaking Daniel though, when I told him something like -Dan, we have to do something otherwise Wend will take me on missions!- He was quick to tell me about all this great things about going on one of those. It seems that he was into several and learned a lot, and bla bla bla... I was sold. Mostly because we both think a lot alike, even in terms of religion and all, so his opinion has some weight there.

I gave the idea a chance, and went with Wend to the first meeting. (went with Wend sounds funny by the way... he he he).

I liked it... I gave me good vibes, and the people was cool. Besides, great things were going on in every aspect of my life, and all of a sudden, giving and doing something in return to the world seemed like the thing to do. That is how I ended up in a bus filled with people going to this little region on the north of Jalisco.

The bus ride was nice... He he he. Partly because I slept 80% of it, despite the noise that some guys were making and all. I am a good sleeper like that!. :-P

Once in there, we were greeted by the local Priest, and we went to his place. There we had some good food, and just nice chilling while things were organized. Then a meeting took place, and on it places and teams were assigned, changed and confirmed. Sort of. There is where I found out I wasn't going to go to Mezquitic, which meant I wasn't going to see Wend all through the week. I already talked about how I took those news in my latest post... He he he.

We were here and there around the little town, just being silly and killing some time. Then there was a service, where we were introduced to the community, and when that ended, people were picked up and taken to their towns. Well... Most people... We were just left behind and feeling lonely.

We spent that night there, sleeping in the priest office, and the morning after he took us to Aguamilpa. Our welcome was something like -What are you doing here?, were you not told we wanted you to not come?- O.o

...

It seems the town was in the middle of some issues, families were on each other's bad side and... Well... It felt like a bad time in general. We talked about it a little, and decided to at least try it. The priest came back later with a box full of food, so that we would have something in case they didn't want to feed us and all!. We set things up in the house we were to sleep, and well... Our missions started.

The three of us, Oscar, Luis and I were in a odd mood... I mean... Come on!.

All of a sudden we knew things were going to be much harder than we thought.

That day we walked all through the town, from house to house talking to people and introducing ourselves to them all. Just, small talk... People were actually warm, or at least, they did welcomed us. But most of them talked about how far away from God they were, and how much hatred was going on in the community. Like... They were all nice, but they all talked about how sad it was no one was friends with anyone... O.o

Weird.

That day at night, on the service that we organized, we had 12 people showing up.

The week consisted of such visits every day. Getting to know people more and more each time, about their problems. About how the town used to be much larger and had seen much better days. Yet now it was almost abandoned, with people moving to larger settlements and young guys going to work in the USA. And where once huge trees and harvest used to be, fields were forgotten and not taken care of. Some alcohol problems here and there... A lot of pride around the community, and none of them really were willing to let go and move on to friendship.

On each house there were great stories, and peculiar situations. From Mrs. Evelina, who had to raise 5 kids all by her self, and the proper reasons why. To Martin, a great fellow that was just too depressed, and had spent the last few months just drunk... Because his kids were taken away, almost stolen, when he wasn't even around...

This are people who have really suffered downs in life... People from which you could write a full passionate book about each of their stories... And part of the magic of all this trip, was to get to know those stories. Get them to open their hearts to us.

Kids were great since day one. Specially Angel, or Johnny and some used to call him. The guy had the greatest of attitudes and smiles. Honestly, I almost wanted to adopt him!. Really.

He was our guide, and would take us across the mountain walking for hours under the sun, through bushes and rocks and cliffs, to take us to little houses lost in the middle of nowhere. In those little houses we did bump into some people, but most of them were just forgotten piles of dust.

Another guy that was around a lot, was Felipe... In him I could sense a lot of love, but a lot of anger too... Almost frightening, like he could jump into either side of the force all of a sudden...

Food was great and more than plenty. Nice humble stuff, but so yummy!!!... Those tortillas, oh man!... Those are the best tortillas in the world.

We got to have some good talks with the community. I shared one day with the kids, and another with the grown ups. Talks were focused on love, forgiving and living in community... Just, focused discussions and guided ideas so that they alone got to understand the need to just forget and be willing to smile again at each other.

I realized we were getting some where, when one day, as we came back from a ranch that was a bit far away, we saw a beautiful altar and little room built were we used to give the services. With food, sticks, leaves, flowers and all. Which was built between several of them, and through the day they all kept helping!.

Through the week, Luis, Oscar and I built a pretty good relationship... No one was leader, no one was dragged. We just worked pretty cool like a fine tuned machine, and we had great times helping, being silly and learning about a bunch of stuff. By now, of course, we have a ton of inside jokes and great stories to hold on to in our memory banks.

The last day, on the last service and party, we had over 36 people in there. I know not that many people lived there!. They all shared food, laughs, music and... All of a sudden I could see a glimpse of a nice community living in real harmony. There is still a long way to go... Were were there just long enough to plant a nice little seed. It will be up to them to water it, and take care of it so that it grows.

... After that party... Well... I already wrote how we were greeted good bye... With tears on their eyes, and hugs that didn't want to let us go...

sigh...

The ride back was just quiet... We all were happy, yet sad at the same time... Thoughtful...

Once in there, we started meeting up with all the other missionaries and sharing stories... That was pretty cool. I saw Wend again, which was pretty cool too!... He he he. That night is when we both stayed up until later than 5 am, letting our hearts open and just sharing, while everyone was asleep and the romantic sounds of snores filled the air.

... The morning after, well... We were supposed to leave early, but the bus decided otherwise, and picked us up until later than 11 or so. Thus we got to walk around the town a lot, and we bumped into some people from Aguamilpa. I got to introduce Wend to them!!... He he he. Which they loved because I did talk a lot about her through the week. When we said bye again to them... They couldn't help it and tears flowed a little...

It is amazing how much you can do for someone in a week... How much they can do for you... How much can happen when you let love talk, and really honestly you allow yourself to love without expecting anything in return...

The ride back home was nice, a lot of sharing stories, some sleeping, singing, jokes sharing and you name it...

Once in Guadalajara Wend, Andrea, Oscar and I went to a coffee shop to share some time, and then I just headed back home... Shared with my family...

There, I gave my self the greatest of showers ever!!!... I honestly shower all over twice and all... he he he. Over there we had one little space, with cold water, that had a bunch of wasp flying on it all the time, and the door was a piece of cloth hanging that did move way too much due to the wind. So... A proper shower was missed... ^_^

And so was my bed...

...

This... Well... It does nothing, no justice whatsoever, to how great the experience was, and how many things happened every day. I promise I will write down that journal, and maybe let you people download it or something... We will just see when that gets to happen though.

he he he...

Cheers!!!...