day of the dead

Had an interesting experience this week. There is this alley-way in our área that is really creepy. And we have to use it to get to one of our investigators. The alley is wide enough for 2 cars to pass through really close together, then in gets to where only one can pass. Half way through this alley, there´s a huge glass case with a statue of la santa muerte. Which is basically the grim reaper. It´s a belief that was started here in Mexico City. They worship this idol and give it money. Saturday night, there was a huge party for the day of the dead (dia de los muertos) and that alley was a site of one of the biggest parties. There was a ton of drugs and just crappy stuff. Well we were going to pick up our investigator to go to church in a van that a member has. He helps us every Sunday pick up investigators. We were going down this alley and 5 guys stopped the van to tell us the alley was closed off. These guys were obviously drugged out of their minds, therefore really dangerous to be around. We started to back up but they started to hit the windows and basically trying to get in. Then one guy pulls out his pistol and starts shooting which I hope were blanks into the air. We made it out safely but it was still interesting. I didn´t want to include that in the main email, but there ya go. Then the day after, one of the main subjects of our meeting with President was safety. haha. I know that we are protected here. I don´t know if this is good or bad, but I had no fear at all in that situation. I was just guiding our driver as he drove in reverse, and watching that unfold.