yea, Mono Loco is what they called me. now, keep in mind I was not IN the city, I was about 30 min south out of down town. and the ones who called me this, well they were residents of the orphanage we stayed in. I myself was really surprised with their willingness to be polite.

Now, as you may be wondering, the true Mono Loco in the Guiness shirt, well, thats my youth pastor. We're not a typical youth group. Jason there is a kilt wearer but didn't want to take one down there because all he has was a great kilt he spent $200 on at a renn faire. (I figured that a stillwater economy could take it.) but anywho, Jason loves Irish stuff and he was formerly an inner city high school teacher. and us being white suburban folk haha, we have a fun time. (mostly in practical joke wars ) this is partially why I think we have such attendence to our youth events, my church isn't really that big but Jason does a wonderful job.

you don't have to worry though, every person that went was required to sign and swear to a covenant that they would not consume alcohol or tobbaco or any other drug, as well as it was scarce were we were.


what we did;
laid cinder block wall around 6 acre lot that is to become a community center in one of the poorest parts of the city. the wall is now proudly standing 15 blocks high.
built a bath house on the grounds
built a school house on the grounds
dug a septic system and then built a dorm on top of it.

the dorm didn't get finished though. It saddens me. all of us who went wanted to help, we didn't want to impress supiriority on them, unfortunately as an American, we tend to do that without trying. the Mexican "Engineer" that designed the dorm only had 8 years of school. we got the floor concreite poored and then the walls up and find that oh, hey, the building is sinking. so we had to chip up the concreite and install footers and pillars to support a second level.

there is going to be I think 1 more group to go down there this summer and they are going to be finishing everything.

all in all I can't wait to go next year, it was a great trip. I loved seeing all the little kids and the impact that a few people can make on someones life in just a few days.
if you have anymore questions more specific I know that religiosity is discouraged from the forum PM me or Email me.

Oh, the mission I wend on is www.peoplebuildingpeople.org

~Casey