Simple

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. (Psalm 19:7)

Simple... Simple... Simple...

Central Church

Today was an awesome day. I met some people at the local intervarsity chapter at school, some Bible study thing on Thursday night, and they invited me to go to this church downtown. It was one of the coolest things I have done in a very long time.

There was five of us, Asquith, Amanda, Zach (see pic above), Judy, and I, that went down on the bus at like six in the morning. We arrived at this big church right in overtown, one of the poorer parts of Miami. The church is an one of those churches that is from like fifty or more years ago. When we got there we got right into passing clothes out. People come from the streets into this church to exchange their clothes for some clean ones and the church washes the clothes and it is a cycle.

There were all kinds of men and women that came in: people who have living on the streets most of their lives, people who just got kicked out of their house and are turning to a last resort, transexuals, homosexuals, heterosexuals, drug addicts, non-drug atticts, immigrants, nationals, people escaping the northern US cold, christians, atheists, voodooists, very hard workers, lazy people, bitter ex-pats, proud ex-pats, Bible school graduates, policeman, anarchists, social workers, and abusers. Talk about a mix of people.

After people got to shower and get some fresh clothes, we all met in the sanctuary and worshiped together. There was about 100 people in the chapel for the service. After the service we ate together and hung out together. I met so many different people, heard so many different stories; some I believed, some I did not. I felt like I was actually in church for once. I will definitely be going back there.

Picture: On the way home on the bus we partied. Zach brought his little guitar and this guy on the bus came over and started to play. He played that real spanish guitar. Everyone on the bus started to clap and we started singing with his jamming, it was so fun! Only in Miami do people not get annoyed by that stuff, and even get involved! The guy exited the bus after only one song and I did not even get to take a picture of him except for this one. (he's the guy on the bottom left...the Legend)

Happy MLK Day!

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

I got some Tolstoy books for my birthday today, I was so excited, thank-you grandma! (Oh I also got an Alicia Keys poster!) When Tolstoy had just finished writing "War and Peace", one of the most famous novels in the history of the world, he decided to go live it large. You know what he did? He started a school on his estate for peasant children. He personally taught a group of underprivileged peasant children, Tolstoy, who was one of the most famous men of his time.

I find it incredible that he decided to do that. He had such a firm belief that there was potential for good in those children, that he sacrificed all the parties and great social life that he could have been enjoying in place of hanging out with a bunch of little kids. He also claimed that he learned an incredible amount from them, more than he taught them.

There is so much bad in the world. We should start to do little things instead of worrying about saving the whole world. Tolstoy hung out with a bunch of little kids, Martin Luther King marched down some streets, what can we do?

My brother, Orion Pahl, drew this picture for me once that makes me think how little we are, yet how unique we are. (Top of the page.) We are really small. We are not gods. We are loved to make a difference.

bike crash :(

Today I could have gotten the rest of my college paid for, instead I let the guy go. I was riding down the crosswalk on my bike and this car pulled out and hit me! I went flying off my bike, but nothing happened to me, it takes more than some car to get me down, lol. Then there was a cop right behind the guy who hit me, I could have nailed him so bad! I had the whole law going for me. The guy was freaking out, and I was checking to make sure my bike was okay and everything. The cop put his lights on and came out and there were tons of cars watching because it was a big intersection, BUSTED! I kind of felt bad for the guy in a way and since nothing really happened I decided not to file a report and lay into the guy a little bit about watching for bikers because the drivers here really don't treat us bikers very well in Miami.

So everyone went home without a lawsuit or their insurance rates going up. Then I noticed my front rim was bent a little bit! I was so mad at myself, now I have to pay for it to get fixed. But I am sure it happened for a reason, but man was I mad at myself...

Anyways...Peace

My Game

I took a convenient selection survey today as I walked back from my class to my dorm. 9/34 of the students were talking on their cell phones, none of the cell phone talkers made eye contact with me, hmmm, we live in a weird society. Another fourth of the students were listening to headphones.

I have a game to play for anyone who likes games that try to de-create our extremely impersonal society. When you are walking by people, lock eyes with them with a smile. Whoever steers their eyes away first loses. If people get weirded out by you, just tell them "what else would I want to look at while I am looking than you, you are the most important thing around." That should calm them down, okay maybe not. It is really funny the responses people will give you. I don't mean to brag, but I have only one loss in this game in my entire career of hundreds of contests, which is the longest in the world since I invented the game. The loss came to a really talented janitor from ECC. I never got her name, but she will always be a legend in my mind.

I am Legend

Today I hung out with my flat mate Tom from Texas. He is very cool. One of those real smart guys... like Berto. I am glad to be here in Miami more and more as the days go on.

I read about the annihilation of the native americans by the Europeans today and then I met this girl who is leaving for Afghanistan this week to serve our country. War is ever present and real, it is easy to believe we are not a part of the wars that are going on because we do not see it in our faces or feel it on our skin; however, that does not mean we are not a part.

I saw the movie I am Legend with Will Smith today. Sorry to give it away if you have not seen it, but, it is about a virus that kills most of the world. There are scenes showing the United States in a frenzied anarchy as people rush to try to find safety. People who thought that they were safe from everything and living happy lives. At the very end Will Smith gives his life so that the human race can be saved, or what is left of it. It is incredibly moving and holds some incredible truths.

Will Smith, in the movie, realized that he was a part of the pain and decided to give the greatest gift someone can give. Life comes from death. Jesus said something like, there is no greater love than this, to give one's own life. I want to start thinking in that way, I want to try to give my life a little more. We'll see if I really do it... Thoughts?

New friend

I have a new friend, someone who will be with me throughout the bad times and the good times. Someone who understands me for who I am. Someone who will be strong for me and carry me. Someone who will hold my hands, or I will hold their hands actually.

Let's just say it has been an uphill battle since I got here in Miami. After going on zero sleep new years eve to new years, taking a flight to Miami, driving all around Miami to find a hotel under $150 dollars for a night because of the high season, I finally found a place to lay my head.

After doing some e-mails I went to bed, only to get woken up by a terrible pain in my stomach, some sickness I have been plagued by since last new years. I ended up staying up and vomiting all that night until about 5:30; I had to wake up at 7. Three days-one and a half hours of sleep and I'm on my way to orientation, yuck.

At orientation they tell me most of the classes are already full, I am not considered a resident so my tuition will be three times as much, my major is at another campus, and the only chase bank, my bank, is an hour away=no money! I like obstacles though, it makes things very exciting.

Long story short, I found my way to get in-state tuition, get into classes, get some much needed sleep and meds, and made the trip to the only chase bank. I have met some pretty cool people and my dorm is very empty, it makes it very spiritual for me.

I am very content because I am listening to my secret crush's new cd that my sister got me!

mia

Well I have finally made it to Miami. I arrived today at about twelve o'clock. I have been waiting to get here for so long and now I am here. I don't have anywhere to go yet, but I am here. I slept a total of zero hours last night from new years and then driving to the airport in Santo Domingo to catch my flight here, so I am tired.

Tomorrow I will have orientation at the school. I'll pick my classes and all of that. Hopefully I will meet a friend, most likely not, I am still pretty shy