About a month ago a friend of mine returned from a business trip to Mexico and upon his return

shared with me some stories that he had heard during his time there in Mexico. These stories have deeply impacted my

thinking over the last month and today I want to share these stories with you in

hopes that they will also impact your thinking. My friend frequently goes down to Mexico for business and a couple

of benefits that he has is number one he is bilingual, speaks both English and Spanish fluently.

Because of his language ability, he has the ability to integrate a little bit more deeply

in the local Mexican culture than many other US Americans who don't have a significant Spanish language ability are able to.

Also, my friend is a Christian and because of that has kind of a built-in automatic network

in some of the local Christians churches and Christians

that he has come to know. He travels to Mexico frequently and during his time down there has

over the years built up many relationships that are close personal

friendships.

When he returned he shared with me some stories that he had learned from a few of his friends

corroborated by multiple people, but primarily the story of one

man, a good friend of his, who is a taxi driver.

They have a long history and relationship and he often hires this man for his taxi services when traveling down there.

We'll call our Mexican taxi driver friend,

Raphael, we'll make up a name to protect him here.

Raphael was sharing a little bit more about the on the ground,

on the ground information of what's currently happening with the local drug

cartel which is most dominant there in this particular city in Mexico.

Specifically our friend Raphael recently started paying protection money to the local

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