Who´s following who?

This past week one of our former students, Carlos, who is now proud to proclaim he is in First Grade, was hanging out in front of the school with his brother. I was busy doing this and that and the other and noticed that Carlos was following me around, kind of like a puppy, but he didn´t wag his tail.

Normally when we have preschool going on we don´t allow kids who aren´t enrolled in preschool to come in, but I was feeling like the softy that I can be, sometimes. So, on this day I just let Carlos hang out with me. He wanted to know what he could do to help. I scratched my head, I didn´t know. For one thing Carlos´ speech is so garbled that you can hardly understand him, even if you are in his family. For another thing I didn´t really have any jobs for 6 year olds at the moment. So, I just let him follow.

But he found jobs. He grabbed the plastic bin I was lifting off the bodega floor and helped me, struggling all the way. He wrestled with all his might to accompany me with the plastic bin.

Later I picked up garbage and bits of trash around the grounds. Since Carlos doesn´t pick up garbage much he just watched me and followed me.

I wonder sometimes who´s following me and who´s watching me. After all, I am an American, bald guy living in a neighborhood as the only white guy. I work in yet another neighborhood where I am the only white guy. I guess you could say, I stick out like a sore thumb.

Who´s watching you? Who sees you doing the little daily things? What sort of a grade would they give you? What kind of a leader would they call you? Are you too busy to be followed?

heaven - numero 1

We don't talk much about heaven anymore and I don't know why, but I wish we would. Guess cause I'm still like a kid, I have a wild imagination and when I think of heaven and the possibilities, my mind races. More on that in another blog.

Getting back home to Mexico is kind of strange. We used to call Georgia home, but now we call Mexico home. After 4 1/2 years Mexico seems more familar than Georgia. Maybe cause the roads change and so many buildings are built that I can't find anything. Maybe GPS is a good idea for me. Nah!

Just yesterday we got back from a month visit with family and friends in Georgia and Alabama. It was nice to see everyone and see what's up. I even caught up with a buddy, Ralph T, who I had not seen in 6 years, because he called Costa Rica home for a couple years and Colombia before that. It was really cool to hang out with him for our 3 hour breakfast. Very cool to hear what is going on with him and where his life path is heading. I like old Ralph, maybe because we think alike, except the black clothes.

When we got back home to Mexico I was, okay, a little giddy, very excited. I missed our friends and the kids here. One of the first places we went was to Martin's house. He was gone but his kids were home so we played and laughed and cut up, until Martin got back. Then we acted right.

Next as we drove up the road from his house we saw Valeria's mom selling roasted corn. She greeted us and went to fetch Valeria, who is about 2 years old, from the house. She smiled a huge smile when she saw us. We did too. As we got ready to leave her mom said to give us a kiss, or maybe Kelley asked for one. I thought I would get one of those cute kid blown kisses. You know, you kiss your hand and blow it to the person you would kiss. Nope, she gave me the sloppiest, wettest kiss on the cheek. Wow! I was in heaven!

So, heaven is going to be about sloppy, wet kisses from little ones like Valeria, or maybe Jesus. Wow! I can't wait.....