>         Hello Geoff, it's Cesar.  Long time no hear huh? I have been wanting to contact or send a letter to the church but, as ridiculous as it sounds, I have not had time.

         Just to give you a brief update I am earning my M.A. in Latin American Studies in May. (still with a 3.7gpa) I am starting Law School in the fall if I get accepted.  I have been working for a wireless company here while I go to school.  And twice a year I work for the New Mexico Advocates for Children and Families. I work as a mentor for them.  Our program consists of long-week classes at the local Youth Detention Center.  We teach kids of both sexes about career planning and other issues that can help them change their lives around once they are out in the real world again. I am also an actor. When I have time I like to do community plays.

         There is not a single day that goes by without thinking about the Whittier Presbyterian Church. Although I never became a member, it will always be my church.  You see there are two types of believers. There are the believers that love all the Christian rhetoric. They love to carry a bible and quote great scriptures but that's as far as their faith takes them.  There are also the believers that read the Word and act accordingly.  I have always classified the people in Whittier as the latter. 

   I still cannot believe how everything came to pass.  One day I was this kid that was headed for a very uncertain future, next thing I know, I am graduating from college with honors.  I always think about John Hanson, Peter Samano, and Mr. Hernandez.  I think about all the support they gave me and the effort they put into making sure that I changed my life for the better.

     I will always remember everything that the people from the church did for me.  I know that I can never repay anything my good friends did for me, especially Mr. Hanson.  But the one thing that I can do is follow his steps.  That is why I was involved in gang-prevention for so long, and that is why I am involved in mentoring today.

     I know that it's not a big deal to a lot of people.  But to me, just to be alive is a miracle.  90% of the friends I used to hang out with are dead.  The other 10% are in jail.  The faith of the people at the Whittier Presbyterian Church saved not only me and my soul but also my family's.

    They also saved all the people who I will mentor and hopefully make an impact on their life.  Thank you everybody for having true faith and believing in Jesus' great  commission.

Please tell Mrs. Hanson hello for me.

 Cesar Gonzalez

Here's a photo of Cesar, his wife and child and his mother at a recent event at church, when they were in Whittier to worship with us.  click on it for a larger version.