Currently, I'm staying with a friend who has been living in Philadelphia for the past three years. Today we went to church at the Philadelphia Praise Center. On most Sundays, they have a Spanish service and an Indonesian service. Every fifth Sunday, though, they hold a combined service for the Indonesian and Hispanic congregations, and they have someone translate everything into English as well. Today, there were about 150 people there. The praise songs this morning were pretty cool. They were projected onto the wall in three languages, and we sang all of them! It was fun singing in Spanish and Indonesian. We sang Revelation song, and I tried to copy down the Spanish translation. I think I got all of it except for one line....
Digno y Santo
El cordero, inmolado en la cruz
Nuevo canto, levantaremos
Al que en su trono esta
Santo, santo, santo
Dios todo Poderoso
Quien fue, quien es, y quien vendra
La creacion te canta
(Praise to the King of Kings)
Tu eres mi todo
Y yo te adorare
After the praise songs, four people gave testimonies. It was cool not only to hear their stories, but also to hear the translations. The first man to share spoke in Indonesian, the second in English, and the last two, a husband and wife, spoke in Spanish. All four, I think, spoke multiple languages, but the translations were given by a woman from Peru and a young man who looked Asian.
After the testimonies, there was Communion. They took an offering, but you just dropped the envelope into a collection bin on the way out. The whole service seemed very Spirit led. Everyone was friendly and we had a couple chances throughout the service to say hello to people. Afterwards, there was free food! I ate something Asian...rice with a broth and meatball things. Also a dessert-like drink with tapioca balls in it. It was pretty good. While we were eating, my friend introduced me to some other people that she knows who are part of what they call "The South Philly Group."
After hanging out for awhile, we left, and my friend showed me how to get to the preschool where I'll be working. It's about a 20 minute walk from her apartment - not too bad!
Adventure #2 today was going to the grocery store. Now, when my mom goes grocery shopping at home, she tends to buy a lot of stuff all at once. This ceases to be practical when you walk to the grocery store and have to carry everything back. I got two bags of groceries for about $25, and they were kind of killing my hands on the walk back! I need a little red wagon or something. :-P
Guess that's enough for now! I miss you all. Leave comments!
Loved reading your blog!! Love you so so much!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good day-before-a-new-job! You'll have to get one of those folding carts with wheels on it--or at least use recyclable bags with softer handles--to carry your groceries. Have a great tomorrow! Can't wait to hear about your first week!
ReplyDeleteGet a bike!
ReplyDeleteI need to!
DeleteSounds awesome! I learned the grocery lesson in NYC, but my grocery store was right across the street, so I could just stop every day if I had to. lol
ReplyDeleteThe grocery store closest to me now is like a 5 minute walk. I think I made it sound worse than it actually is. :-P
DeleteI don't think I can be seen with you if you walk around Philadelphia with a little red wagon...
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, good luck tomorrow :)...well today, I guess. Some of us just left work :P
Now I'm going to get one just to embarrass you. :-P
DeleteA bike and a sturdy backpack is the way to go in the city...for groceries and everything else! Or, if you're willing to spend a little more money, you can get a nice rack for the back of the bike and tie a plastic crate to it.
ReplyDeleteGood suggestions!
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