Ruben's thoughts

Ruben wasn't terribly excited to go but boy did he change his tone. He called me when they got down there and was totally exhuasted from being sick and traveling all day, but he called me the next day and was overwhelmed from the day. He said it is the best vacation he has ever been on. He said it was like therapy. He has been down there several times as a kid to visit relatives and we have been there a few times for vacation. He said he has never experienced Mexico like this. He just kept telling me that he wished I was there to experience what he was.

This picture is of a boy named David that Ruben fell in love with. They went to his village and he was the first one to come out and greet them. He came up to Ruben and asked if he could have the soccer ball Ruben was carrying. Ruben said it was completely flat so he told him to wait until he pumped it up. David said it's ok I can play with it like that. Ruben said no because they were doing other things first. David waited patiently while they cooked 200 hamburgers, sang songs, handed out clothes (donated by Gymboree) played games and did some skits. Ruben then pumped up the ball and presented it to David and made him keeper of the ball. This was an honor because by the end of the day there were about 200 kids and at each village they only left 2 balls so Ruben decided he should be keeper of one them.