On Wednesday, July 21, at 8:15am, the store in which I work, 7-Eleven, was robbed…and I was there to witness every horrifying minute of it. Before the craziness ensued, it was just a regular day on the job. I had just finished dealing with a long line of customers that satisfied their fix for coffee and other things, and I had turned my attention to organizing some of the grill products. I let my coworker take over on the register for a while because of course, I can’t be in two places at once. I started to hear some loud voices, but I thought it was just another disgruntled, impatient customer. All of a sudden, I hear something that I didn’t anticipate at all: a GUNSHOT! I saw the gun, and I did what any unarmed man that feared for his life would do, and that is DUCK! The gunman yelled out, “Give me the m.f’ing money” several times while my coworker was shuffling through both of our registers, naturally scared, shocked and confused. There were four or five customers in the store at the time in various areas. One hid in the bathroom, another ran towards the coffee bar, and I saw one ducking on the ground near me. One customer who sits by the window almost every day saw the whole incident from beginning to end and was telling my coworker to give the robber the money along with the rest of us. After the robber got away with the money, I immediately called 911 and shortly, the police showed up and our store became known as the “crime scene”. For about three hours, witnesses including myself, my coworker and two customers were questioned about everything from the robber’s physical description to exactly how much money was stolen. I even got a call from the Washington Post and a reporter from a public access station even showed up to the store to get “the scoop”. After all the questioning and investigating, the head detective said that he would come back when the manager was able to open the office to look at the surveillance tape. Soon, it was back to business as usual. As Erykah
Badu once said, what a day.
When I saw that gun and heard that shot, I did feel a sense of fear because I knew that any one of us could’ve been the recipient of the next bullet. I realize that it was nothing but the Holy Spirit that protected all of us during the five minutes in which we were under siege. I see the bullet hole in the ceiling now and I consider it a symbol of God being our shield and His angels encamping around us. I thank God for giving me the wisdom to remember our store’s policy for what to do during and after a robbery. For many years, I heard about convenience stores being robbed, and I was arrogant enough to actually think that it would never happen while I was in one. That thinking is abolished now, and I understand that because of our sinful hearts, we are capable of doing things that have the potential to destroy ourselves and others around us. I am forever grateful to the customers that were with us during the incident, not because of the danger that surrounded them, but because they were able to share the evidence that was necessary to bring justice to this situation. They were also very encouraging and helped me to laugh, which might’ve taken longer if they were not present. To everyone that prayed for me and checked to see if I was okay, I appreciate you and I love you forever. I can say that the scripture that I kept meditating on the whole day was Matthew 10:28, which says, “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill the body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in Hell”. This situation has helped me to be more cautious at work by paying more attention to my surroundings and making sure that not much money is kept in our registers. I am working towards being more compassionate and patient, even with the most demanding people. I make it a point to laugh as much as possible nowadays. For a while, I felt like I was being weighed down by expectations brought on by being one of the only employees at my store that spoke fluent English, but after this incident as well as my week at Teen Camp, I’m learning how to be content in the place that God has currently put me in until He leads me somewhere else. Now more than ever, I’m looking forward to fulfilling my call as a Youth Pastor and leading teenagers closer to Christ. I encourage everyone that reads this to remember that no weapon formed against you shall prosper, literal or spiritual. Please pray for all of those who are lost and have to resort to robbery. May the Lord draw them towards Himself so that they know they are forgiven. I sincerely hope that you are all blessed by reading my testimony, for it would’ve been wrong of me to take the glory away from God by keeping this concealed. Grace and peace, brothers and sisters!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Camp Is GREAT (Part 2) (aka Camp Is 'DOCIOUS): The Things I Remember Most About The DelMarVa-DC Teen Camp 2010
As you probably know, I had a phenomenal time at last year's Teen Camp. It was the first time I had ever signed up to be a counselor. I learned so much and met so many wonderful people. Well, this year was no different. As a matter of fact, I would have to say that this was the best experience I've ever had since I acknowledged my calling to youth ministry. I wanted to do something a little different when I came back to share with you all, so what I did was make a list of all the catchphrases and other things that I remember from my trip. If you get confused at any time, just laugh anyway. Here we go...
1. Camp is GREAT! No, camp is 'DOCIOUS!
2. Every counselor, camper and recreational staff member
3. WHO ARE WE? PENN STATE!
4. I said a beef hot links! (I said a beef hot links!) When I say Hillshire, you say Farm! Hillshire! (Farm!) GO MEAT!
5. REDDDDDDDD ROBINNNNNNNN...YUMMMMMM!
6. OOOOOOOGAAAAAAAA...BOOOOOOOGAAAAAAAA!
7. (sings) If I could talk to the animals... (jumps around like a rabbit like Fred Abbott)
8. (sings) Start spreading the newwwwwsssssss... (screams a name and throws out a balloon)
9. (Brian Whitelock voice) DODGEBALL!
10. The water slide
11. Capture the flag
12. Flag Football
13. The big rock on top of the mountain...and people rolling DOWN the mountain
14. Buying nothing but Gatorade at the Canteen (the 7-Eleven of Teen Camp)
15. Balloon-A-Grams (some people got more of these than others)
16. AIN'T NO PARTY LIKE AN AI PARTY 'CAUSE AN AI PARTY DON'T STOPPPPPPPPPP! (throws up an "A")
17. Seeing Bishop Ronald "Yeeeeeaaaaaahhhhh" Martin during dinner on Thursday
18. Camp food, especially the French toast that made us either vomit or use the bathroom...or both
19. A Minute To Win It
20. CAN'T NOBODY DO ME LIKE GEORGIA! CAN'T NOBODY DO ME LIKE THE 'DOGS! CAN'T NOBODY DO ME LIKE GEORGIA! HE'S MAN BEST FRIEND!
21. That weird ninja game...
22. (Fred Abbott voice) PARTY!
23. Crowd surfing!
24. HOOOOOOOOOOO! (raises and lowers hands to emphasize volume)
25. Ok! (Alright!) Alright! (Ok!)
26. Jason and Shannon Matthews and SHOUT!
27. Cabin 16 (MY CABIN!) winning "Cleanest Cabin" TWO days in a row
28. 14 people, 1 shower (shudders)
29. Wet clothes with dirt and grass stains all over the floor (shudders again)
30. No phone or TV...and NOT CARING!
31. Learning a godly principle after a camper was late for dinner
32. GET YOUR ELBOWS OFF THE TABLE!
33. OOOOH AHHHHHH...WE'RE JUST TOO SMOOTH!
34. The heat during the "Peculiar Race"
35. Everyone has a different story
36. Vin Diesel, Justin Beiber and Soulja Boy clones
37. THIS GON' MAKE YOU CHOP, CHOP, CHOP, CHOP, CHOP!
38. Sir, have you been drinking?
39. J. Swizz's all-night sermons
40. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE BEEN TOLD, BUT THE U...T IS IN THIS HOUUUUUUSSSSSE!
41. WHERE MY WARRIORS AT? AHHHHHOOOOOH!
42. WHERE MY FELLAS AT? (Fellas) RIGHT HERE SERVING GOD! (Ladies) I KNOW THAT'S RIGHT!
43. Sweating profusely during worship service and pretty much everywhere else
44. The Confidence Course
45. (sings and waves hands) OOOOOOLE OLE OLE OLE!
46. WE GOT A REPUTATION AND WE DO IT LIKE THIS (does random dance move)
47. If a redneck be for you, who can be against you?
48. Anthony Braswell's powerful sermons
49. The morning staff meetings
50. Frogs in the pool
51. Snapping turtles in the lake
52. When I survive, the Kingdom is advanced
53. It's not about a moment, it's about a mission
54. I will be the one
55. People submitting to Christ at the altar
56. People of various cultures loving one another
57. (sings) NO MORE SHACKLES, NO MORE CHAINS! NO MORE BONDAGE, I AM FREEEEEEE, YEEEEAAAAAHHHHH!
58. My life be like OOOOOOHHHHHH AHHHHHHH, OOOOOOHHHHHH OOOOOOHHHHHH! (that's an old song by Grits that was played a lot)
59. The rain that did NOT ruin our recreation time
60. The joy of knowing that I'll be doing all of this and MORE next year
That's all, folks! May God continue to bless all y'all!
1. Camp is GREAT! No, camp is 'DOCIOUS!
2. Every counselor, camper and recreational staff member
3. WHO ARE WE? PENN STATE!
4. I said a beef hot links! (I said a beef hot links!) When I say Hillshire, you say Farm! Hillshire! (Farm!) GO MEAT!
5. REDDDDDDDD ROBINNNNNNNN...YUMMMMMM!
6. OOOOOOOGAAAAAAAA...BOOOOOOOGAAAAAAAA!
7. (sings) If I could talk to the animals... (jumps around like a rabbit like Fred Abbott)
8. (sings) Start spreading the newwwwwsssssss... (screams a name and throws out a balloon)
9. (Brian Whitelock voice) DODGEBALL!
10. The water slide
11. Capture the flag
12. Flag Football
13. The big rock on top of the mountain...and people rolling DOWN the mountain
14. Buying nothing but Gatorade at the Canteen (the 7-Eleven of Teen Camp)
15. Balloon-A-Grams (some people got more of these than others)
16. AIN'T NO PARTY LIKE AN AI PARTY 'CAUSE AN AI PARTY DON'T STOPPPPPPPPPP! (throws up an "A")
17. Seeing Bishop Ronald "Yeeeeeaaaaaahhhhh" Martin during dinner on Thursday
18. Camp food, especially the French toast that made us either vomit or use the bathroom...or both
19. A Minute To Win It
20. CAN'T NOBODY DO ME LIKE GEORGIA! CAN'T NOBODY DO ME LIKE THE 'DOGS! CAN'T NOBODY DO ME LIKE GEORGIA! HE'S MAN BEST FRIEND!
21. That weird ninja game...
22. (Fred Abbott voice) PARTY!
23. Crowd surfing!
24. HOOOOOOOOOOO! (raises and lowers hands to emphasize volume)
25. Ok! (Alright!) Alright! (Ok!)
26. Jason and Shannon Matthews and SHOUT!
27. Cabin 16 (MY CABIN!) winning "Cleanest Cabin" TWO days in a row
28. 14 people, 1 shower (shudders)
29. Wet clothes with dirt and grass stains all over the floor (shudders again)
30. No phone or TV...and NOT CARING!
31. Learning a godly principle after a camper was late for dinner
32. GET YOUR ELBOWS OFF THE TABLE!
33. OOOOH AHHHHHH...WE'RE JUST TOO SMOOTH!
34. The heat during the "Peculiar Race"
35. Everyone has a different story
36. Vin Diesel, Justin Beiber and Soulja Boy clones
37. THIS GON' MAKE YOU CHOP, CHOP, CHOP, CHOP, CHOP!
38. Sir, have you been drinking?
39. J. Swizz's all-night sermons
40. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE BEEN TOLD, BUT THE U...T IS IN THIS HOUUUUUUSSSSSE!
41. WHERE MY WARRIORS AT? AHHHHHOOOOOH!
42. WHERE MY FELLAS AT? (Fellas) RIGHT HERE SERVING GOD! (Ladies) I KNOW THAT'S RIGHT!
43. Sweating profusely during worship service and pretty much everywhere else
44. The Confidence Course
45. (sings and waves hands) OOOOOOLE OLE OLE OLE!
46. WE GOT A REPUTATION AND WE DO IT LIKE THIS (does random dance move)
47. If a redneck be for you, who can be against you?
48. Anthony Braswell's powerful sermons
49. The morning staff meetings
50. Frogs in the pool
51. Snapping turtles in the lake
52. When I survive, the Kingdom is advanced
53. It's not about a moment, it's about a mission
54. I will be the one
55. People submitting to Christ at the altar
56. People of various cultures loving one another
57. (sings) NO MORE SHACKLES, NO MORE CHAINS! NO MORE BONDAGE, I AM FREEEEEEE, YEEEEAAAAAHHHHH!
58. My life be like OOOOOOHHHHHH AHHHHHHH, OOOOOOHHHHHH OOOOOOHHHHHH! (that's an old song by Grits that was played a lot)
59. The rain that did NOT ruin our recreation time
60. The joy of knowing that I'll be doing all of this and MORE next year
That's all, folks! May God continue to bless all y'all!
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