Sabbath in New York | The Fastest Sabbath I’ve ever had

7:20 AM we woke up late
I know that my excuse is not really much of one, but I was up a little later then usually because I was working on this, and have not yet adjusted to the time zone here. All I know is that we were late for waking up and that meant that I had to rush a little bit. We didn’t have time for breakfast. So we were quickly out the door. After this everything just seemed to go by very quickly.

We took Sub 6 to Harlem and then from there we took a train to Peekskill. I was so tired that I fell asleep. I just knocked out on the train. There in Peekskill someone picked us up. When we arrived to the church didn’t realize how small the church really was, but it was really small. I was told that at one point it was a full church (it was always packed) with about 150 members. But it has really dwindled down. They didn’t use the piano or the organ that was in the church, but they played all the music over a radio (what they do in the Dominican).




























The service seemed to just fly by. We went straight through the Sabbath School, then into Mission Spotlight (which was read), and directly into the Divine Service; it was good though, I really enjoyed the service. There is just something about those old small churches that no big church can ever have.

We stayed a little after the service, and then were driven to the train stop. Henry, the man driving us, talked with us for a while until the train came. When our tickets got collected I was out again. I was seriously so tired. It was interesting though, when I was walking the street in Harlem and then waiting at the substation it was almost like I knew that others knew that I was a pastor. I really felt protected.

When we came back to the city we had some good lunch – salad, Kentucky Fried (veggie) Chicken, some rice, and white grape juice. It was good stuff. After lunch we talked a while, read some a good chapter on Daniel 1, and then we experienced a little tiredness and fell asleep. It was okay though, I really needed the rest, but I think I over rested. I didn’t wake up until about 5 something. I guess I was really tired.

After about an hour we went to Central Park. It was a true treasure to be there. Almost like images of being in the new kingdom passing through my mind. First we went to the Obelisk. After that we just walked around the park until we the close of the Sabbath. I really didn’t want the Sabbath to pass. It just went to fast this time.


































































































After the Sabbath we went to the Apple store, which was near the park. After the Apple store we went to Time Square through way of 5th and Grand Central Station. One of the subs was not in service so we had to take the N train. We finally arrived to Time Square and then went to eat.
















































































































The food was great. And they even gave us a complimentary dessert. I thought that they knew that my birthday was coming up, but I was wrong. It was just out of sheer kindness. I truly enjoyed the meal.




























Basically, by the time we finished eating and got to the subway it was 10:58, and now it’s 11:30 so I’m going to head to bed soon. So I climbed up the 4 flights of stairs one last time in apartment 227.




























Tomorrow: Goodbye New York, Hello Providence.

Attempt II: successful

Today was quite an experience.

Wake up 6:30 AM, for some reason I didn’t have trouble waking up this morning, but I was definitely tired throughout the day. We make a lot of traveling around the city. But I was able to read a lot for devotions this morning. We slept late, but it was okay. The Lord still sustains me.10:00 AM eat breakfast. We had some good vegan waffles; they were really good. I was quite impressed.

11:00 AM leave for the subway. I had to get a Metro card because I gotta get around this city. Hopefully $20 covers it for the weekend. We then made our way to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, well, after standing in line for an hour and 30 minutes. It was good though. I really enjoyed. My family was supposed to be some of the first, and I am really hoping to come back some day and do more research into that. But we left the city, and headed for Liberty Island (which I didn't know was different from) and Ellis Island.

























































After several shots I was finally able to get an English family to take a decent picture for me. I also got a little souvenir for my mother, and then I got one for myself. She likes those things, and I guess I kind of adopted that from her.





























In this room the decisions were made whether or not someone was well enough or okay for admittance into America.














Also many of the bags that were carried by those immigrants are still displayed there today.














After Ellis Island we didn’t really have any time for anything else. So we rushed back to Manhattan, where I am staying with my friend pictured above. We got back at about 5:30 PM.

We hadn’t eaten since that good breakfast, but he assured me that there was going to be food at the meeting we were headed too at 6:30 PM. The meeting was at the Greater NY Conference ABC. Its actually in a really good location, just about 3 or 4 blocks from the Grand Central Station and right across the street from the Public Library (I should have taken a picture of this while we were waiting outside for a bit, but to tell you the truth, sometimes I don’t like to seem like a tourists, even though they’re everywhere around here). But I did get a picture of the Chrysler Building.











































The meeting went well, it was about get more advertisment for GYC in the local churches in this conference. I was extremely tired though.

We got back about an hour ago, and now I’m ready too sleep. Let’s see, I’ve been trying to practice this, and someone said that I did really good…

안녕히 주무세요 or in Romanized form An-nyeong-hi chu-mu-se-yo.

Am I going to make it?

Last night I went to a baseball game.










































We kind of celebrated for my birthday. Man, I am getting older. No helping that one. Hopefully I’m getting wiser too. The game went well, the Diamondbacks won 3-2. I think they scored their last run in the bottom of the 7th. That’s when David and I left to eat the Vegetarian House.

Today I came to New York. It was an interesting flight. I woke up late this morning sometime around 6 something to finish packing and etcetera. But I didn’t get out of bed until 6:58, and then took a good long hot shower. I quickly packed the last of my things for the next four months in Portland, Maine; and my quick weekend getaway to New York, and a short detour to Providence, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

I made a quick stop to Jamba Juice, picked up my Lolo (grandfather in the Tagalog) and was off to the airport. We arrived at 9:30, but took a while to find a parking spot. When we eventually did, I was able to get checked in quickly. But I found out that they bumped up my flight departure time to 10:37, it was originally 11:10. I didn’t even have a warning, what’s up with that? I’m going to have to talk to Delta about this.
I got through security, got there just in time to start boarding, and then they had to change our route twice, so we actually left some time past 11:10. I didn’t mind though, but I felt bad because I wasn’t able to tell the person picking me up that I would be arriving later now.















I arrived at 7:21 PM (New York time), and didn’t get my bags until about 8:00 PM. That took what felt like a near forever. I was tired, and definitely really hungry by now. I hadn’t eaten all day, except the snack from Jamba Juice and the plane.

We took my first taxi in New York to 91st and 2nd in Manhattan somewhere. The fair: $49.00. Thank God I didn’t pay, cause I don’t have that kind of spare change. We got the bags to the fourth story (no elevator, it felt like 4th floor Newton all over again); and then out to eat at La Turk something, it was good Mediterranean food. On the way there I took my first bus, and they would accept dollar bills. So someone else actually paid for me. Kind people. This was after I mustered up the courage to ask for change for $2.00, but someone just gave me their pass thing.

On the way back we stopped somewhere and I got change for $2.00 from a market that was ran by a Korean man. I told him Kam sa ham ni da (thank you in Korean, I think I can actually write this in Korean too 감 자 맘 니 다), but he didn’t really seem like he cared. Its okay, I still really like Koreans.

When we got back it was about 10:00 PM and we began a movie that speaks about a Polish Jew who moved to the East side of New York city. I’ll possibly mention more later, but now its 12:50 AM, and I’m tired.

Tomorrow – Statue of Liberty, attempt #2.

What happens in Tombstone stays in Tombstone, but not in Mexico

Today as an adventure of a lifetime. My friend, Ben, is visiting from Northern California, and I promise everyone who visits AZ while I am here, I will take around. So first stop the Casa Grande Ruins. But since I have been there often, I have decided not to include any pictures.

10:45 AM we leave for Tucson, AZ

12:00 PM arrive at the Saint Something Church in Downtown Tucson.














Right afterwards we arrived to these Mexican style adobe condos.














We ate here at around 12:10 PM














It was pretty interesting at the Restaurant. It seemed like everything was included their "Famous" something. Yet the service I'm not all to sure about, we received burnt bread and the guy wouldn't take our order until he took others, yet we were ready. The guy seemed to have some serious problems. The food on the same hand was really cheesy, it was just covered in it. Too much for me, but I don't regularly eat dairy.

Leave for Tombstone 1:10 PM

Arrive at the Boothill Graveyard 2:30 PM














Just a few streets down, we arrived at the Tombstone Courthouse.














And then eventually we made our way to Tombstone's main road.




























We left sometime after 3:00 PM

And on our journey to Nogales, we saw some of the most beautiful scenery we have ever seen in Arizona. It was just beautiful. The weather was great, and the drive was not that bad.














We arrived in Nogales, Mexico at around 4:00 PM














First time we actually stepped foot in Mexico was to take a picture of this statue.














With a note to those who may be traveling to Mexico sometime soon, you may see things like this. What kind of a obstruction, without any warning?














Below is pictured what we would find as the worst part of the trip. We didn't realize where this road was going. And after that my friend Ben was able to get it on video, of us trying to get out.














After we got ourselves in to this messed, I stalled twice trying to get out.



Around 6:00 PM We got stuck in a line that took about 30 minutes to get out of. And from there one could see the fence between Mexico and America.














This is just another green site of Arizona.














Though it does not look like it, David is asleep. Which I'm ready to do.














9:00 PM return home.

Next stop: New York!

Mini Vacation | San Diego

For those of you who didn't know, I went to San Diego for the past few days. It was a truly blessed time. I feel much closer to Uncle Jeth, for the first time we really got to talk about spiritual things; whenever you speak spiritual things to someone, you become closer.
I also got to meet the beautiful Wendy. As can be seen in the picture below, she's my cousins girlfriend.














It was a joyous time. We went to the Audi dealership, it looks as if I know what car I am going to be getting. I am quite excited. Thanks TJ! We went to the beach, Ranch 99 (Asian market for those of you who don't know), and then Wendy and TJ cooked great food for me, then Tea Station (Boba or Bubble Tea), and lastly we saw Auntie Flor, aww I miss you guys already.

Yet today, was not as joyous, I nearly missed my flight because for some reason I was suppose to take American Eagle, even though I bought my ticket through Delta. Either way I made it safely home. Thanks Nicole and Mom for picking me up.

Ate out with David, Mexican, can you believe that? I ate Mexican. Went to church, only to find out that the youth vespers was not meeting this week, or something else was schedule for women, which doesn't apply to myself. And then on the way back I text some the whole way.

So, Happy SABBATH!!! or umm, lets try this...
Jurl guo wun an shik irl ipm ni da!

Niece's Dedication Service

ASI (Adventist-laymen Services and Industries)

ASI (Adventist-laymen Services and Industries) was great! It was a true spiritual blessing. I was able to meet with some new people and connect with many others. I have been invited to speak in Africa next summer - I really do want to go. We'll see about that though, because I think my graduation is the same weekend as I would be scheduled to speak.
I also got to meet with Mr. & Mrs. Hadley, they are truly a great inspiration to myself. Thank you Pastor Paulson for letting me stay with you. I think I am more clearly directed as to what I will be doing in the future in regards to a Ph.D. So far it is looking like Andrews University. It was really cool I got eat with them.














I don't know what happened here, but I got shy, and finally got a picture with Dr. Pipim. Hope to see you soon.

Equal

Magandang Sabado!

Lord,
Was this an answer to prayer? Am I misinterpreting? Am I wrong? Am I right? Oh, Lord, please reveal further what I am to do.

I understand that feelings are not to judge our actions, but why does it feel or even seem so right? It actually seems possible. Like something or someone beyond myself is in control.

Have I found an equal?