| In your day to day routine you never know what or who you might encounter. Imagine our surprise when we met up with Carlos Sanchez. Carlos is a twenty year old young man from Cometan, Cheapas, Mexico who has come to the United States to study our language, learn our culture and to serve his church, the Family Worship Center on Highway 162, here in Granite City. Carlos has been in the United States for the last two years, living with Pastor & Mrs. Eddie Brown of the Family Worship Center. We talked with Carlos at length about how he came to the United States, what he is doing here and what he thinks about our country. Carlos' story is fascinating. While living in Mexico with his parents, his father is a veterinarian and his mother works at a retirement home, his father became associated with a missionary. His father told the missionary of his son's dreams of getting an education in the United States. The missionary in turn contacted his friend Pastor Eddie Brown here in the United States and the rest is history. Carlos came to Illinois and earned a full scholarship to Lewis & Clark College, playing for their tennis team. He's quite the tennis whiz according to those he attends church with. He is currently in his second year of studies and hopes to attend Washington University in St. Louis to continue his education in Architecture. He is currently in the process of applying for an academic scholarship with Washington University, but tells us they are quite difficult to come by, but he's hoping for the best. Carlos works at the New Orleans Snowball stand outside of the Family Worship Center. He has a younger sister, sixteen, and a younger brother who is ten, back in Mexico with his parents. He has visited home twice since he came to the United States, and does get homesick from time to time. He is very active in his church and plays both keyboard and guitar. When Carlos came to the United States he did not speak English. Now, fluent, he told us he still struggles occasionally with confidence issues, and sometimes second guesses his ability to speak the language correctly. But we were astonished at his ability to hold a conversation and to tell his story. Carlos said what he loves about the United States is that you can find anything you want or need here, and that making friends has been so easy because people are so extremely open and friendly. His favorite American food is not pizza, but rather, steak, mashed potatoes and green beans! He says he does miss his mother's cooking. Our best wishes to a very kind and accomplished young man, Carlos Sanchez. |
| Meet Carlos Sanchez |
