Good morning,
ladies and gentlemen.
00:01:01.52\00:01:03.19
It's again a privilege
and an honor for me to be here
00:01:03.22\00:01:07.53
and be a part of this program.
00:01:07.56\00:01:10.13
I too myself is so excited
to come and share with you
00:01:10.17\00:01:15.00
some of my humble
experiences as a diplomat
00:01:15.04\00:01:18.64
and also as an ambassador
00:01:18.67\00:01:21.14
of the Republic
of the Philippines
00:01:21.18\00:01:23.45
and of course, as
an ambassador of God.
00:01:23.48\00:01:25.95
We are all
ambassadors of Christ, amen.
00:01:25.98\00:01:28.15
Amen. All of us.
00:01:28.18\00:01:29.58
All of us. No one is exempted.
00:01:29.62\00:01:31.92
Anyone who accept Jesus
Christ as their personal savior,
00:01:31.95\00:01:35.59
accepts the commission
that you are an ambassador,
00:01:35.62\00:01:39.56
you are to represent Him
in all angles and all capacity
00:01:39.59\00:01:43.47
and all powers
that God has given you.
00:01:43.50\00:01:46.33
So we are here in the same,
talking of being ambassador
00:01:46.37\00:01:52.54
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
00:01:52.57\00:01:56.01
When I was a literature
evangelist, a colporteur.
00:01:56.04\00:02:01.95
I tried to observe
why some of my colleague
00:02:01.98\00:02:04.69
are not selling good
books, especially health books.
00:02:04.72\00:02:10.43
I was wondering.
00:02:10.46\00:02:11.99
For me it was just easy for me
00:02:12.03\00:02:13.80
to sell health books especially.
00:02:13.83\00:02:16.36
I observed them one by one,
00:02:16.40\00:02:19.27
especially when I become
the director of the publishing.
00:02:19.30\00:02:23.30
I observed my men, how
they do the canvassing,
00:02:23.34\00:02:27.01
how they try to present
the books, the health books
00:02:27.04\00:02:30.08
to their subject, to
their target customers.
00:02:30.11\00:02:35.38
I observed something.
00:02:35.42\00:02:38.45
One of those who were
presenting the health books
00:02:38.49\00:02:43.49
could not even
convince the buyer
00:02:43.53\00:02:47.96
because he himself
doesn't look healthy.
00:02:48.00\00:02:51.53
So I kept this, you know.
00:02:57.34\00:02:58.94
I was recording, I was watching
00:02:58.97\00:03:00.41
all my men, my salesmen
and women who were under me
00:03:00.44\00:03:04.28
when I was the
director of the publishing.
00:03:04.31\00:03:07.18
For other books like, you
know, 'Your Food and You.'
00:03:07.22\00:03:13.22
In fact, that
'Your Food and You'
00:03:13.25\00:03:14.79
is even more
sensitive because if you see,
00:03:14.82\00:03:16.76
sell your food and you
and you are malnourished,
00:03:16.79\00:03:20.66
you are pale and unhealthy,
00:03:20.70\00:03:22.83
do you think you
customer will buy your book?
00:03:22.86\00:03:25.87
No, no, no.
00:03:25.90\00:03:27.50
If you talk about hygiene
00:03:27.54\00:03:31.41
and you have a lot of dirt
in your face, in your eyes,
00:03:31.44\00:03:34.31
you have not brush your teeth
and you face your customer,
00:03:34.34\00:03:36.95
do you think that will
convince to sell that book?
00:03:36.98\00:03:40.02
I don't think so.
00:03:40.05\00:03:43.02
So I have to regroup my men
again and tell them these tips,
00:03:43.05\00:03:46.72
you know, I did not tell them
frankly of what was going on
00:03:46.76\00:03:51.09
but I just told them you know,
you just wear your nice dress.
00:03:51.13\00:03:57.13
Clean yourself, tidy yourself.
00:03:57.17\00:04:00.47
If you don't use gel
or what, you put something
00:04:00.50\00:04:03.24
that you look
healthy and powerful.
00:04:03.27\00:04:06.37
I tell you friends, when I get
the tip to change their aimings
00:04:06.41\00:04:11.18
when they face their
customers, the sale of my books
00:04:11.21\00:04:14.22
just rose up so high
00:04:14.25\00:04:15.95
and almost all of
those who joined my group,
00:04:15.98\00:04:18.65
almost all of them
became millionaires.
00:04:18.69\00:04:22.52
Very interesting.
00:04:22.56\00:04:25.53
Now, we are talking
here about evangelism.
00:04:25.56\00:04:28.93
We are talking here
about selling Christ
00:04:28.96\00:04:32.37
as our commodity.
00:04:32.40\00:04:34.40
Selling the kingdom of God
as our goods for the people
00:04:34.44\00:04:40.01
to understand what
it is about, you know.
00:04:40.04\00:04:42.68
People doesn't just join
Christianity just by joining,
00:04:42.71\00:04:46.65
they join because
they're feeling themselves
00:04:46.68\00:04:48.85
importance of it.
00:04:48.88\00:04:50.92
And that is why when
you describe about Christ,
00:04:50.95\00:04:53.86
do you really know Him
as an ambassador of Christ?
00:04:53.89\00:04:58.89
Do you understand
when He talks to you?
00:04:58.93\00:05:01.60
My son, my
daughter, please tell them
00:05:01.63\00:05:04.13
how good and precious I am.
00:05:04.17\00:05:07.70
Could you speak in His behalf?
00:05:07.74\00:05:10.31
Could you tell the
people that the kingdom
00:05:10.34\00:05:12.74
where He belongs is the kingdom
00:05:12.77\00:05:14.34
that you will not
want anything anymore?
00:05:14.38\00:05:18.51
If you are not
ready to speak on that,
00:05:18.55\00:05:21.72
you won't be
able to sell His book.
00:05:21.75\00:05:25.89
They will have
to close their doors
00:05:25.92\00:05:28.62
and their hearts.
00:05:28.66\00:05:29.99
I was mandated this
morning to share with you
00:05:33.53\00:05:36.10
on the witnessing and evangelism
00:05:36.13\00:05:39.70
and then you ask
me, "Hey, ambassador.
00:05:39.73\00:05:42.44
How is it to
witness for the Lord,
00:05:42.47\00:05:44.91
now that you
are the ambassador?"
00:05:44.94\00:05:47.41
Friends, I wish I could tell you
00:05:47.44\00:05:50.05
the excitement that I have.
00:05:50.08\00:05:52.58
Too much
excitement, too much joy for me.
00:05:52.61\00:05:57.29
As a poor pastor
coming from a poor province
00:05:57.32\00:06:01.56
of the nothing, nothing.
00:06:01.59\00:06:03.96
You know that.
00:06:03.99\00:06:07.70
It's just too
much for me to accept
00:06:07.73\00:06:10.57
how the Lord has open
to me the opportunity.
00:06:10.60\00:06:14.20
You know, when I
was in the union,
00:06:14.24\00:06:18.37
we have to fight for our...
00:06:18.41\00:06:20.48
trip going to from
one place to the other.
00:06:24.08\00:06:28.15
We have to fight for operation.
00:06:28.18\00:06:31.22
We have to fight
on the transport.
00:06:31.25\00:06:34.56
Sometimes we are given
2,000 pesos for the whole year,
00:06:34.59\00:06:39.29
and that 2,000 is just enough
00:06:39.33\00:06:41.06
to fly to from
Manila to Palawan,
00:06:41.10\00:06:43.06
it's not even enough
because now it's already 5,000.
00:06:43.10\00:06:47.87
And that was the
limitation that we have.
00:06:47.90\00:06:50.94
Then of course you have to
ask your provision, your food,
00:06:50.97\00:06:53.68
your hotel or your place,
you don't even talk about hotel
00:06:53.71\00:06:56.41
but that's not the language.
00:06:56.44\00:06:58.18
You talk about where you can
sleep in the makeshift there.
00:06:58.21\00:07:01.55
That is where we are
pastors, that's how we work.
00:07:01.58\00:07:06.55
And all I decided and
I became the ambassador
00:07:06.59\00:07:08.92
of the Republic
of the Philippines.
00:07:08.96\00:07:11.56
You know what?
00:07:11.59\00:07:14.46
When I go to a place
except this of course,
00:07:14.50\00:07:16.90
I understand, I hope you did.
00:07:16.93\00:07:20.27
When I go to the
place, it's all prepared.
00:07:20.30\00:07:27.11
Someone meets me at the airport
with all their grand reception.
00:07:27.14\00:07:31.51
Escorted from the airport
00:07:31.55\00:07:35.68
to the place where I want to be.
00:07:35.72\00:07:38.25
Hotels, accommodation
are prepared first class.
00:07:38.29\00:07:42.29
The food.
00:07:42.32\00:07:46.03
And you know, I
just go to the place
00:07:46.06\00:07:49.56
to preach on Sabbath.
00:07:49.60\00:07:53.87
I say, "Boy, this
is an opportunity."
00:07:53.90\00:07:58.21
That's why when I
was in Papua New Guinea,
00:07:58.24\00:08:01.41
I had all this
privilege to be flying
00:08:01.44\00:08:03.85
from one place to
the other, so may trips
00:08:03.88\00:08:08.52
and the government
pays with all this expenses,
00:08:08.55\00:08:12.82
then I said, "Lord,
why should I not use this
00:08:12.85\00:08:16.96
for your honor and glory."
00:08:16.99\00:08:19.56
Of course the
intention is to serve my church
00:08:19.59\00:08:22.56
but all Filipino
community are delighted
00:08:22.60\00:08:25.67
because I don't
only answer their needs
00:08:25.70\00:08:28.14
and counsel our affairs
00:08:28.17\00:08:30.11
and their needs to have renewal
of passports, having visa.
00:08:30.14\00:08:35.08
They have problem
entering the Philippines.
00:08:35.11\00:08:37.11
They have some
cases, this and that,
00:08:37.15\00:08:39.11
and of course I attend to them
00:08:39.15\00:08:40.65
but much more they
are delighted to hear
00:08:40.68\00:08:43.08
that I give them a message
00:08:43.12\00:08:45.19
that they have never
heard in their whole life
00:08:45.22\00:08:47.82
when I tell them
that all your cares,
00:08:47.86\00:08:50.49
there's is someone
who can answer your need,
00:08:50.53\00:08:52.39
and that is Jesus Christ.
00:08:52.43\00:08:53.83
It is so
interesting to see this,
00:08:59.37\00:09:02.67
and I can't, this is
special privilege, you know.
00:09:02.70\00:09:05.81
And that is why what
that personal representation
00:09:05.84\00:09:10.51
and witnessing to the people.
00:09:10.55\00:09:13.92
I have used so many
techniques, method, style,
00:09:13.95\00:09:19.69
but I think the
church is so much aware
00:09:19.72\00:09:21.79
of the methods of witnessing.
00:09:21.82\00:09:24.23
First of all, is
you have, first listen,
00:09:24.26\00:09:28.56
you have to live alive.
00:09:28.60\00:09:32.60
That is so clear reflecting
00:09:32.63\00:09:37.34
of who send you there, okay?
00:09:37.37\00:09:42.58
Live a life that
is so clear and clean.
00:09:42.61\00:09:47.65
So that when you
speak to the people,
00:09:47.68\00:09:50.79
they don't even have
to think second times.
00:09:50.82\00:09:53.76
The representation,
the right representation,
00:09:57.99\00:10:00.50
that's why we ambassadors
who are called the diplomats
00:10:00.53\00:10:04.93
because we do diplomatic
styles and approaches.
00:10:04.97\00:10:10.74
Dealing with people,
learning their language properly
00:10:10.77\00:10:16.31
and always remembering that
there is someone who sent you
00:10:16.34\00:10:23.02
and that you have to
represent Him clearly, cleanly
00:10:23.05\00:10:28.12
and you happen to be
Christian that represent Him
00:10:28.16\00:10:31.03
with all clarity of your life.
00:10:31.06\00:10:35.36
So that when I visit
from one country to the other,
00:10:35.40\00:10:39.67
I make sure that I'm prepared.
00:10:39.70\00:10:42.30
I'm prepared, I
rehearse the words
00:10:42.34\00:10:44.44
that I would like to speak.
00:10:44.47\00:10:46.47
And so exciting, you know,
00:10:46.51\00:10:49.48
especially if you are going
to meet the prime minister,
00:10:49.51\00:10:52.75
if you are going to meet
the president of the country,
00:10:52.78\00:10:55.72
if you are going to
meet the king of the country.
00:10:55.75\00:10:59.79
You have to have
all those precise words,
00:10:59.82\00:11:04.26
the first words
that your mouth can open
00:11:04.29\00:11:07.90
and others in times
they reflect about us
00:11:07.93\00:11:10.97
as ministers as
layman, as lay workers,
00:11:11.00\00:11:14.20
as representatives of
God, as an ambassadors of God.
00:11:14.24\00:11:17.31
We have to be
precise with our own words
00:11:17.34\00:11:20.11
as we speak to the
people about Jesus Christ.
00:11:20.14\00:11:25.18
One time when I
made my presentation
00:11:25.21\00:11:28.62
of credential to
the president of Fiji.
00:11:28.65\00:11:32.59
I was thinking whether to bring
the letter of the president
00:11:40.63\00:11:44.53
and to bring my Bible.
00:11:44.57\00:11:47.70
So it was like, 'should I bring
my Bible and the same time,
00:11:47.74\00:11:52.07
the letter of president?'
00:11:52.11\00:11:53.74
Then later on I decided,
00:11:53.78\00:11:55.64
"Oh, these
people might think that
00:11:55.68\00:11:57.01
I'm trying to proceed
like or I'm trying not to."
00:11:57.05\00:11:59.35
So first because I'm
there to represent my country,
00:11:59.38\00:12:02.68
and of course back in my mind,
00:12:02.72\00:12:05.72
I'm going, ''I'm
representing my Lord.''
00:12:05.75\00:12:08.56
So both I rehearse.
00:12:08.59\00:12:11.79
The first
approach, "Your Excellency,
00:12:11.83\00:12:15.33
let me present to you
the letter of my president,
00:12:15.36\00:12:20.14
and I'm here to
serve your country.
00:12:20.17\00:12:22.57
I'm here as your representative,
00:12:22.60\00:12:25.47
I'm here to
cooperate and establish
00:12:25.51\00:12:29.11
stronger diplomatic relation
00:12:29.14\00:12:31.68
between my
country and your country."
00:12:31.71\00:12:34.52
Then and on and
on and on with this
00:12:34.55\00:12:36.75
and I handed my letter
of credits to the president.
00:12:36.79\00:12:42.76
But then my mind
arouses and said,
00:12:42.79\00:12:44.96
"In order to have
finish my presentation,
00:12:44.99\00:12:48.73
where can I find my
way at least for me to,
00:12:48.76\00:12:53.23
you know, it's always my blood,
it's always boiling, Jeremiah,
00:12:53.27\00:12:58.04
you know, where he is speaking
in the Book of Jeremiah,
00:12:58.07\00:13:00.98
Chapter 37 he says,
00:13:01.01\00:13:02.88
"Oh Lord, please help me
00:13:02.91\00:13:04.95
because your words is just
like a fire within my bones.
00:13:04.98\00:13:09.22
It is burning within me."
00:13:09.25\00:13:11.15
So I have that feeling,
I said, "Lord, how could I?
00:13:11.19\00:13:15.32
Please help me. You
see, I'm your servant.
00:13:15.36\00:13:18.79
I'm also your ambassador.
00:13:18.83\00:13:20.63
I know these people
deserve to hear the word of God.
00:13:20.66\00:13:24.77
So after my speech,
I was very, you know,
00:13:24.80\00:13:30.81
I was thinking that
I was presenting myself
00:13:33.27\00:13:36.01
the way my president
wants me to present my country.
00:13:36.04\00:13:40.05
I was looking at the president
and he looks at me and he said,
00:13:40.08\00:13:47.02
"So what else."
00:13:47.06\00:13:50.16
I said, "What else?"
00:13:50.19\00:13:53.33
That word what else.
00:13:53.36\00:13:55.86
You know, friends,
00:13:55.90\00:13:57.23
if you are truly the
ambassadors of Christ,
00:13:57.27\00:13:59.83
you should know your signal.
00:13:59.87\00:14:01.97
If you are a salesman
or a literature evangelist
00:14:02.00\00:14:04.94
and you sell the
books, find a way
00:14:04.97\00:14:08.58
and make sure that when
there is that buying signal,
00:14:08.61\00:14:12.15
don't let it go.
00:14:12.18\00:14:15.15
Hang on it.
00:14:15.18\00:14:17.02
So when he... when I
hit it, so what else?
00:14:17.05\00:14:19.69
"Oh, Your
Excellency, yes, of course,
00:14:19.72\00:14:22.76
the very reason I came here is,
00:14:22.79\00:14:26.63
you know, I am a
Seventh day Adventist."
00:14:26.66\00:14:31.73
And he opens his eyes.
00:14:31.77\00:14:34.57
And I am an ordain
pastor of the church.
00:14:34.60\00:14:38.01
And then he opened his eyes.
00:14:38.04\00:14:39.87
And Your Excellency,
00:14:42.31\00:14:46.82
it is my
intention during my term
00:14:46.85\00:14:51.12
and my tour of duty
here in your country
00:14:51.15\00:14:55.66
that I'll be able to
share the word of God.
00:14:55.69\00:14:59.89
There are beautiful
promises from the Bible.
00:14:59.93\00:15:03.37
God has promised.
00:15:03.40\00:15:05.57
With all the
trouble world we have.
00:15:05.60\00:15:08.70
He said, "Let not
your heart be troubled."
00:15:08.74\00:15:10.91
I started to recite
ethics from John Chapter 14.
00:15:10.94\00:15:15.08
"Your Excellency, the Lord said,
00:15:15.11\00:15:16.61
''Let not your
heart be troubled."
00:15:16.64\00:15:18.58
You know that country
is a little trouble now.
00:15:18.61\00:15:21.75
You believe in
God, believe also in me.
00:15:21.78\00:15:24.62
And He said,
00:15:24.65\00:15:25.99
"In My Father's
house are many mansion.
00:15:26.02\00:15:28.62
If it were not so,
I would have told you,
00:15:28.66\00:15:31.23
I go and
prepare a place for you,
00:15:31.26\00:15:33.93
and if I go and
prepare a place for you,
00:15:33.96\00:15:36.23
Jesus said I will come again
and receive you unto myself."
00:15:36.26\00:15:40.64
Then He said, "And where
he is, you can be there also."
00:15:40.67\00:15:45.24
He was listening, friends.
00:15:45.27\00:15:46.88
I was having a
one on one evangelism
00:15:46.91\00:15:49.61
and the president
was just mesmerized
00:15:49.64\00:15:52.21
and he was listening.
00:15:52.25\00:15:56.72
And he said, "Well,
you know, Mr. Ambassador,
00:15:56.75\00:16:02.96
I've so many ambassadors
that came into my country.
00:16:02.99\00:16:07.23
There was no one who ever spoke
anything about God except you.
00:16:07.26\00:16:11.87
When I heard that, that was
another buying signal for me.
00:16:14.97\00:16:19.14
You know, colporteur,
you could not fold in,
00:16:19.17\00:16:21.04
anytime they hit you, you
hit back then, all right?'
00:16:21.08\00:16:24.45
So I said,
"Well, Your Excellency,
00:16:24.48\00:16:27.98
if you don't mind,
00:16:28.02\00:16:29.98
could I offer a prayer
for you and to your--people?"
00:16:30.02\00:16:35.09
"Oh, thank you very
much, Mr. Ambassador.
00:16:35.12\00:16:37.53
I'm honored"
"Please, Your Excellency,
00:16:37.56\00:16:40.50
could you please kneel
down and we will pray."
00:16:40.53\00:16:44.93
You know what he did?
00:16:44.97\00:16:46.30
He rose up from
there where he was seated.
00:16:46.33\00:16:49.60
He asked me to
come into his chamber
00:16:49.64\00:16:52.67
and there in his chamber
a lot of his people there,
00:16:52.71\00:16:56.11
they are all standing
and waiting for the word
00:16:56.14\00:16:58.25
and the president said,
00:16:58.28\00:16:59.91
"You all people, you all
kneel down and we will pray."
00:16:59.95\00:17:04.19
Oh, man, my hair is standing.
00:17:07.39\00:17:10.16
And then I kneeled
down with my power,
00:17:10.19\00:17:15.26
I prayed, "Lord, please give
me now the power of your word,"
00:17:15.30\00:17:18.93
and then I pray
for the president.
00:17:18.97\00:17:21.34
I pray for the people.
00:17:21.37\00:17:22.74
I prayed for his health,
I prayed for his kingdom.
00:17:22.77\00:17:26.88
I prayed for his family.
00:17:26.91\00:17:31.58
After the prayer, he
shook my hand and said,
00:17:31.61\00:17:34.88
"Your
Excellency, Mr. Ambassador,
00:17:34.92\00:17:37.29
please you come
back here again."
00:17:37.32\00:17:40.12
And I told him I will, I will.
00:17:40.16\00:17:43.66
You know what I did?
00:17:43.69\00:17:45.03
I reported
immediately to the mission
00:17:45.06\00:17:47.63
and I visited the
president of other country
00:17:47.66\00:17:50.50
and that his heart is open
to listen to the word of God.
00:17:50.53\00:17:53.80
I told him please visit him.
00:17:53.84\00:17:56.10
He is a soul that is
hungry for the word of God.
00:17:56.14\00:18:00.08
Now, listen church.
00:18:00.11\00:18:02.44
Do you think, if
not for the Lord,
00:18:02.48\00:18:06.31
I can ever command a
president to kneel down?
00:18:06.35\00:18:10.12
No way.
00:18:10.15\00:18:12.09
You don't do
that to head of state.
00:18:12.12\00:18:14.39
I tell you, you can be killed.
00:18:18.36\00:18:21.73
But when you are on
the mission of Christ,
00:18:21.76\00:18:25.13
remember that
the one who send you
00:18:25.17\00:18:27.30
is more powerful
than any president,
00:18:27.34\00:18:30.41
any prime minister, or
any king in this planet earth
00:18:30.44\00:18:34.41
and that is why when
you tilt on his business,
00:18:34.44\00:18:38.61
you are on a
higher priority of life.
00:18:38.65\00:18:41.45
What a privilege?
00:18:41.48\00:18:43.18
What a privilege?
00:18:43.22\00:18:47.46
Another place I visited.
00:18:47.49\00:18:49.12
This is another place
00:18:53.96\00:18:57.17
I probably would not
mention to you in particular
00:18:57.20\00:19:01.30
but I'll tell you the incident
because we are on the air.
00:19:01.34\00:19:06.91
I visited this place.
00:19:06.94\00:19:09.11
I presented my credential.
00:19:09.14\00:19:10.98
They know I was coming,
I was met at the airport
00:19:14.38\00:19:17.55
with all the entrance
and trip protocol was there.
00:19:17.59\00:19:22.66
You know when you
visit as an ambassador,
00:19:22.69\00:19:25.13
they treat you like the
president of your country.
00:19:25.16\00:19:28.26
So the moment you
arrive, by the way,
00:19:28.30\00:19:32.57
I'm so honored to be traveling,
00:19:32.60\00:19:34.40
and when I am on
official mission,
00:19:34.44\00:19:35.90
because they would always
give me the first class seat.
00:19:35.94\00:19:39.61
I tell you.
00:19:39.64\00:19:40.98
Even if you buy an
economy, economy seat,
00:19:41.01\00:19:44.71
the moment the crew learn
that you are the ambassador,
00:19:44.75\00:19:48.82
they would, "Could you
please seat in the first class?"
00:19:48.85\00:19:52.29
Sometimes "No,
that's all right."
00:19:52.32\00:19:53.76
"No, no, no. Please, please."
00:19:53.79\00:19:56.32
But my heart,
"Come on, come on."
00:19:56.36\00:19:59.59
So I have all
these special privilege
00:19:59.63\00:20:03.43
that I never had in my life
during or ministry of 18 years,
00:20:03.47\00:20:07.50
that's where I wish
00:20:07.54\00:20:10.07
you can be an
ambassador one day.
00:20:10.11\00:20:11.74
You are already an ambassador
00:20:11.77\00:20:13.27
but these are the
special privileges,
00:20:13.31\00:20:14.74
I'm just trying to
share with you, you know.
00:20:14.78\00:20:16.61
We as a family you
understand where I am now,
00:20:16.64\00:20:18.95
so I went there
00:20:18.98\00:20:22.98
and when the door
opens of the plane,
00:20:23.02\00:20:28.56
I was the first one to come out
00:20:28.59\00:20:30.33
and this court was
there to meet me and said,
00:20:30.36\00:20:35.30
"Mr. Ambassador, can
I have your passport?"
00:20:35.33\00:20:38.53
So I have to give my passport.
00:20:38.57\00:20:41.00
"Uh, you document
for your luggage?"
00:20:41.04\00:20:43.57
So I have to give my
document for the luggage.
00:20:43.61\00:20:45.97
And they said, "Mr. Ambassador,
00:20:46.01\00:20:48.04
would you please stay at
the presidential lounge?"
00:20:48.08\00:20:50.88
So I have to
sit there, you know,
00:20:50.91\00:20:52.95
while they work on
my papers, my visa,
00:20:52.98\00:20:55.78
with this customs
and all this luggage.
00:20:55.82\00:20:58.15
As soon as they have
collected, "So, Ambassador,
00:20:58.19\00:21:00.69
is that all your luggage?"
00:21:00.72\00:21:02.16
I said, "Yes."
00:21:02.19\00:21:03.96
And I said to myself,
I confided upon myself,
00:21:03.99\00:21:08.36
like a widow but you know,
00:21:08.40\00:21:09.86
I pretended to
be real diplomatic,
00:21:09.90\00:21:13.13
but my hands
really wanted to work.
00:21:13.17\00:21:16.47
And I feel just, you
know, a little bit awkward
00:21:16.50\00:21:19.04
because I'm not used to this.
00:21:19.07\00:21:20.68
You let me carry whatever.
00:21:20.71\00:21:22.31
I mean, I can do that
00:21:22.34\00:21:24.71
because I'm a graduate
of Mountain View College,
00:21:24.75\00:21:26.82
I'm trained to work
hard work in the muddy place.
00:21:26.85\00:21:30.75
We sleep on the
makeshift on the floor.
00:21:30.79\00:21:35.62
But these people,
they treated me like the,
00:21:35.66\00:21:37.46
of course, there is the
respect for the country.
00:21:37.49\00:21:39.83
They did that because
they honored my country
00:21:39.86\00:21:42.60
and they respect my president.
00:21:42.63\00:21:45.00
So I was brought to
the presidential lounge
00:21:45.03\00:21:50.01
and I went to
there then later on
00:21:50.04\00:21:53.27
that trip
protocol came in and said,
00:21:53.31\00:21:56.81
"Mr. Ambassador,
00:21:56.85\00:21:58.45
the limousine is
waiting for you."
00:21:58.48\00:22:01.68
So you know, I acted like
00:22:01.72\00:22:04.19
really willing to ride
a limousine, as if I know.
00:22:04.22\00:22:08.82
But I practice
many times you know,
00:22:12.19\00:22:14.96
many times, many
times I practiced all this.
00:22:15.00\00:22:17.70
So I pretended to stay
sitting out there, you know,
00:22:17.73\00:22:21.37
without talking and
not opening my mouth,
00:22:21.40\00:22:23.57
just be watchful and
my eyes just turning like,
00:22:23.61\00:22:27.11
but I never moved my
head but only my eyes.
00:22:27.14\00:22:31.28
You have to be very
diplomatic, you know,
00:22:31.31\00:22:33.35
you don't have to show
your ignorance at all times.
00:22:33.38\00:22:35.82
So I'm sorry I have
to tell you this well.
00:22:40.42\00:22:45.93
Why did I say this?
00:22:45.96\00:22:47.73
Anyway, so I was, you know...
00:22:47.76\00:22:52.40
the trip protocol wanted to
talk to me more about dinner.
00:22:52.43\00:22:57.47
I don't want to talk so
much so I was so serious
00:22:57.51\00:23:01.64
then driver doesn't
open his mouth so yeah.
00:23:01.68\00:23:06.58
"How's the president?"
00:23:06.61\00:23:09.48
"Oh Your Excellency, he is okay.
00:23:09.52\00:23:11.69
He is excited to see you.
00:23:11.72\00:23:13.86
In fact we have a
good preparation."
00:23:13.89\00:23:16.19
"Okay."
00:23:16.22\00:23:20.20
Then I was brought to
their compound, the palace
00:23:20.23\00:23:25.33
and there I saw
all in white uniform,
00:23:25.37\00:23:28.77
all this honored
guards under president.
00:23:28.80\00:23:34.11
My heart started to pump.
00:23:34.14\00:23:38.01
I said, "Boy."
00:23:38.05\00:23:41.05
So I stepped out from, you know,
00:23:41.08\00:23:43.89
I wanted to open, you
know, as I used to open the door
00:23:43.92\00:23:47.89
but you don't do that.
00:23:47.92\00:23:50.53
You wait for all those
people to work and they open.
00:23:50.56\00:23:53.50
"Excellency."
00:23:53.53\00:23:55.33
So, you know, I step
up with all formalities.
00:23:55.36\00:24:00.87
And then they escorted me
to the dais, it's in the stage
00:24:05.67\00:24:13.11
where I have to face
all these honored guards
00:24:13.15\00:24:17.15
and then all of a sudden
00:24:17.19\00:24:19.45
when I look up to my right side,
00:24:19.49\00:24:21.66
they raised the Philippine flag
00:24:21.69\00:24:24.49
while someone sang
00:24:24.53\00:24:27.90
the national anthem of the
Philippines, Bayang magiliw.
00:24:27.93\00:24:31.40
And I put my hands on my
purse and then and some of them
00:24:31.43\00:24:35.20
they followed, they are
not supposed to do that.
00:24:35.24\00:24:38.41
Some of them do like that,
00:24:38.44\00:24:41.24
I think later on at
the middle of the singing,
00:24:41.28\00:24:43.18
they realized that this
is not their national anthem.
00:24:43.21\00:24:45.95
But we do put our
hands right here, right?
00:24:48.95\00:24:51.35
Correct? You Filipinos people.
00:24:51.39\00:24:53.62
I mean, this is a sign
of our love and respect
00:24:53.66\00:24:56.09
to our national
flag and our country
00:24:56.12\00:24:59.03
so it's supposed
like, I'm nervous
00:24:59.06\00:25:00.90
and I was laughing inside me.
00:25:00.93\00:25:02.86
I said they are
also confused like me,
00:25:02.90\00:25:06.60
so I was singing
my national anthem
00:25:06.63\00:25:10.27
and you know, when
you are in a foreign land
00:25:10.31\00:25:13.81
and when you hear your
national anthem being sung,
00:25:13.84\00:25:16.95
and your hear your flag
and you hear these big band,
00:25:16.98\00:25:20.48
you know, this
orchestra and the people there,
00:25:20.52\00:25:23.55
you cannot hold it,
your tears will roll down
00:25:23.59\00:25:25.79
from your cheeks.
00:25:25.82\00:25:27.16
So I was there
singing with all my heart
00:25:27.19\00:25:31.79
and after the national anthem,
00:25:31.83\00:25:34.66
the commander came to me
and said, "Your Excellency,
00:25:34.70\00:25:39.20
the guard is waiting
for your inspection."
00:25:39.23\00:25:41.34
I almost retorted, "What?
00:25:45.87\00:25:49.98
I didn't come here
to inspect you guys."
00:25:50.01\00:25:53.01
But you know, "Okay, let's go."
00:25:53.05\00:25:56.42
So we move on and he
guided my one by one.
00:25:56.45\00:26:00.16
I wasn't actually...
00:26:00.19\00:26:02.72
Don't tell anyone.
00:26:02.76\00:26:04.09
I wasn't that
actually looking at him,
00:26:04.13\00:26:05.76
I was just submissive of.
00:26:05.79\00:26:07.16
"What am I
doing here now, Lord?"
00:26:07.20\00:26:09.66
So I was just looking at them,
00:26:09.70\00:26:11.80
glancing at them once in a while
00:26:11.83\00:26:13.44
you know and we
went around all those
00:26:13.47\00:26:17.44
lines of platoons up
and down, up and down.
00:26:17.47\00:26:20.64
And then some of them,
well, they acknowledge me
00:26:20.68\00:26:23.04
and give them my, wink my eyes
a little bit once in a while,
00:26:23.08\00:26:27.78
to acknowledge.
00:26:27.82\00:26:29.15
Then we came back
00:26:29.18\00:26:30.85
and then they played
again the national anthem
00:26:30.89\00:26:34.69
and after that,
they made a salute.
00:26:34.72\00:26:38.03
Of course I
responded with a salute
00:26:38.06\00:26:41.26
that I practiced many times.
00:26:41.30\00:26:45.33
Many times.
00:26:45.37\00:26:47.80
Then they guided me
00:26:47.84\00:26:49.74
where the
president was waiting for me.
00:26:49.77\00:26:54.21
I went up there.
00:26:54.24\00:26:58.08
While I was walking,
again it crossed into my mind,
00:26:58.11\00:27:01.22
"Lord, this is the
head of the country.
00:27:01.25\00:27:05.29
I might not see him again.
00:27:05.32\00:27:08.16
What would you have me to do?
00:27:08.19\00:27:09.96
Please give me the word.
00:27:09.99\00:27:12.39
Of course I know what to
do with my either presentation
00:27:12.43\00:27:17.07
of my president,
the introducing letter
00:27:17.10\00:27:21.00
but how about you, Lord?
00:27:21.04\00:27:22.37
What should I say?"
00:27:22.40\00:27:23.74
You know all this
questioning in my mind.
00:27:23.77\00:27:25.94
"Remember Lord, you sent
me here as your ambassador."
00:27:25.97\00:27:30.15
So I was thinking how
would I be able to relate,
00:27:30.18\00:27:33.78
because in this situation,
00:27:33.82\00:27:35.15
you cannot make it
like a robot you know,
00:27:35.18\00:27:37.42
that's automatic the
same word you are going to say
00:27:37.45\00:27:39.45
to the president of one country
so you have seven countries.
00:27:39.49\00:27:42.82
You cannot have because
00:27:42.86\00:27:44.26
everyone have
different responses
00:27:44.29\00:27:46.63
and different tastes.
00:27:46.66\00:27:48.66
So I said, "Lord,
how does it look like,
00:27:48.70\00:27:52.47
you know, what will be his...
00:27:52.50\00:27:53.84
would he accept my presence?"
00:27:53.87\00:27:56.97
So I was thinking
00:27:57.01\00:27:59.31
when I finally saw him and said,
00:27:59.34\00:28:01.04
"Oh Excellency, come inside."
00:28:01.08\00:28:03.78
And he asked me to sit down
00:28:03.81\00:28:06.21
but my mind was rushing already.
00:28:06.25\00:28:08.35
No, I did not
sit down immediately
00:28:08.38\00:28:09.95
but what I did was
00:28:09.98\00:28:11.42
I was bringing
my letter of credits
00:28:11.45\00:28:16.42
and I started to
set a litany again.
00:28:16.46\00:28:20.86
"Your Excellency, I would
like to present you the letter."
00:28:20.90\00:28:25.47
Just have way of my memorized,
you know, presentation,
00:28:25.50\00:28:30.51
all of a sudden the
president, "No, no no, Bien.
00:28:30.54\00:28:32.81
Come on, come on,
you sit down here,
00:28:32.84\00:28:34.31
sit down here."
00:28:34.34\00:28:35.81
So I was surprised.
00:28:35.84\00:28:38.51
He just stopped
all his formalities.
00:28:38.55\00:28:39.88
"Come on. Let's be friends."
00:28:39.91\00:28:42.42
So I relax, I started
to relax, said, "Oh, God.
00:28:42.45\00:28:46.99
Thank you very much.
00:28:47.02\00:28:48.69
At least you save me
one of my presentation."
00:28:48.72\00:28:51.49
Then he started to say.
00:28:51.53\00:28:53.46
"You know what?
00:28:53.50\00:28:55.86
Now listen, I, you know,
just want to be friend with you
00:28:55.90\00:28:59.20
because this Filipino friend,
00:28:59.23\00:29:03.37
this Filipino guy
is a friend of mine."
00:29:03.41\00:29:06.07
And I said, "Who is he?"
00:29:06.11\00:29:07.74
He said Mr. "Henry Sy."
00:29:07.78\00:29:10.41
Mr. Henry Sy is
the wealthiest man
00:29:10.45\00:29:12.41
in the whole Asia
and he is a Filipino.
00:29:12.45\00:29:15.38
The one who owns
the SM Mall of Asia,
00:29:15.42\00:29:19.52
and now he owns the big
00:29:19.55\00:29:21.46
and even much more
richer than Lucio Tan,
00:29:21.49\00:29:24.33
who owns the
Philippine Airlines.
00:29:24.36\00:29:26.49
And he told me he
is a friend of mine.
00:29:26.53\00:29:28.70
So I become comfortable because
Henry Sy was my friend also.
00:29:28.73\00:29:32.43
And we talked
together about Henry Sy.
00:29:32.47\00:29:34.77
I forgot about my president.
00:29:34.80\00:29:38.07
We talk about very long,
long talk about Mr. Henry Sy
00:29:38.11\00:29:41.68
and how we met in Hong Kong,
00:29:41.71\00:29:43.51
we met in Europe
and all these so.
00:29:43.55\00:29:46.98
We had very kind
and nice conversation.
00:29:47.02\00:29:51.39
And then started to think on
00:29:51.42\00:29:54.16
how I could again
share the word of God.
00:29:54.19\00:29:57.63
I said, "Lord,
please let me tell this man
00:29:57.66\00:30:01.03
that I am a pastor of
the Seventh Adventist church.
00:30:01.06\00:30:04.83
Let me share to this guy
00:30:04.87\00:30:06.80
that you have
sent me for a purpose.
00:30:06.84\00:30:10.04
You know this is my mission,
00:30:10.07\00:30:11.64
where I even
have the opportunity.
00:30:11.67\00:30:13.88
I don't have any other
plan to do it next time."
00:30:13.91\00:30:18.65
Next time I don't have
that language in my ministry
00:30:18.68\00:30:22.88
because I always think that
00:30:22.92\00:30:24.99
this might be my
first and my last
00:30:25.02\00:30:26.82
to meet these people,
00:30:26.86\00:30:28.56
although I have met
them several times later on
00:30:28.59\00:30:30.43
because of some
incidents that happen.
00:30:30.46\00:30:33.60
And during our
conversation, I glance at one...
00:30:33.63\00:30:40.97
like stone.
00:30:41.00\00:30:43.27
It cracks in all
around and I look at it.
00:30:43.30\00:30:49.61
"Your Excellency, you have
this in a very conspicuous..."
00:30:49.64\00:30:56.58
He said, "Oh, yes, yes.
00:30:56.62\00:30:58.99
You know what is it?"
00:30:59.02\00:31:01.22
I get that about just...
00:31:01.26\00:31:04.13
It's a little bit
secret but you know,
00:31:04.16\00:31:05.99
I'm not telling
anyone in the country
00:31:06.03\00:31:09.56
and the president
said, "You know what,
00:31:09.60\00:31:14.24
that one is from the
temple in Jerusalem."
00:31:14.27\00:31:19.41
It's just a stone, you know,
as if it was chiseled around.
00:31:19.44\00:31:24.31
I said "What do you even think?"
00:31:24.35\00:31:27.22
"Kind of a piece of you know..."
00:31:27.25\00:31:31.45
And then he started to
talk to me about his story.
00:31:31.49\00:31:34.66
You know the piece of
stone like this, a piece of,
00:31:34.69\00:31:38.19
a part of a tile on the floor.
00:31:38.23\00:31:44.60
And I said,
"Yeah, very interesting."
00:31:44.63\00:31:47.80
But to me it
doesn't make any appeal.
00:31:47.84\00:31:50.07
It just kind of ''why did
he put that dirt on the wall?'
00:31:50.11\00:31:54.11
' You know, so I just
kind of curious about it.
00:31:54.14\00:31:59.68
Then he told me.
00:31:59.71\00:32:01.85
It's a big story on that.
00:32:01.88\00:32:03.75
When I was in the temple,
he said I was so impressed
00:32:03.79\00:32:07.32
with the massive all this
and then I saw the beautiful,
00:32:07.36\00:32:13.80
was this a cane or
stick, of St. Peter.
00:32:13.83\00:32:19.60
And I said, "Boy, I hope I
could find a replica on this
00:32:19.63\00:32:24.77
and I'll bring
it to my country."
00:32:24.81\00:32:27.28
So he talked to
one of his people
00:32:27.31\00:32:29.34
around the church.
00:32:29.38\00:32:30.71
I said, "Could you buy
me a replica like that?
00:32:30.75\00:32:35.42
Could you buy me something
like the same like that
00:32:35.45\00:32:37.55
to remember St. Peter?"
00:32:37.59\00:32:40.22
And the boy said, "All
right, I'll go around."
00:32:40.26\00:32:43.22
But then he did not find any.
00:32:43.26\00:32:46.39
So when he left there,
00:32:46.43\00:32:48.03
when he was
already in the airport,
00:32:48.06\00:32:50.90
this boy went to the airport
with a package and he said,
00:32:50.93\00:32:56.77
"Hey, Mr. President.
00:32:56.81\00:32:59.94
I wasn't able to find the
stick or the replica of the cane
00:32:59.97\00:33:07.85
of St. Peter but you know what,
00:33:07.88\00:33:11.99
I just chiseled the floor
00:33:12.02\00:33:17.46
and maybe you can have
this as your remembrance."
00:33:17.49\00:33:20.96
Then I realized that he has
an interest, anything about God.
00:33:21.00\00:33:25.83
And I started talking to him.
00:33:25.87\00:33:27.44
"Oh, St. Peter is a very
good disciple of Christ."
00:33:27.47\00:33:31.71
"Oh yes.
00:33:31.74\00:33:33.11
Although I did not meet him
00:33:33.14\00:33:34.48
but I hear the
story about him," he said.
00:33:34.51\00:33:36.44
I said, "Well, I met him."
00:33:36.48\00:33:39.35
"Did you?" I said.
00:33:39.38\00:33:41.28
I said jokingly,
"Your Excellency,
00:33:41.32\00:33:43.39
I met him in the Bible.
00:33:43.42\00:33:45.82
I read a Bible.
Do you read a Bible?"
00:33:45.85\00:33:48.46
"Once in a while."
00:33:48.49\00:33:49.82
"Oh, there are great
promises in the Bible."
00:33:49.86\00:33:52.03
Then I come again
to recite on the Bible
00:33:52.06\00:33:56.00
it says in John Chapter 3:16,
00:33:56.03\00:33:59.10
"For God so loved the
world that He gave his..."
00:33:59.13\00:34:02.27
And he was listening to me
00:34:02.30\00:34:04.74
and then while I
was in my recitation,
00:34:04.77\00:34:06.68
he said, "Do you
care for some liquor?"
00:34:06.71\00:34:08.81
I said, "Well, I'm fine."
00:34:08.84\00:34:10.81
"Your Excellency, some wine?"
00:34:10.85\00:34:14.58
"I'm okay, I'm okay.
00:34:14.62\00:34:16.05
Could you give me
orange juice please?"
00:34:16.08\00:34:18.95
And then we
interrupted our conversation
00:34:18.99\00:34:22.52
and then he told me, he told me,
00:34:22.56\00:34:25.49
"I want to invite
you for a dinner."
00:34:25.53\00:34:29.40
I said," Oh, that's an
honor, Your Excellency."
00:34:29.43\00:34:33.23
And he said, "Since there
are other guests that are here,
00:34:33.27\00:34:37.04
that so happen that are here.
00:34:37.07\00:34:39.14
The President of Samoa,
00:34:39.17\00:34:41.54
the Vice
President of Fiji is here,
00:34:41.58\00:34:45.48
the Speaker of the
Parliament of Australia is here
00:34:45.51\00:34:50.42
and some Cabinet
members of New Zealand are here.
00:34:50.45\00:34:53.69
I would like to invite you
to join us on that dinner."
00:34:53.72\00:34:56.93
Oh, I said.
00:34:56.96\00:34:58.29
"Your Excellency, I'll
be honored to do that."
00:34:58.33\00:35:00.43
'8 o'clock tonight."
00:35:00.46\00:35:02.03
I said, "yes."
00:35:02.06\00:35:03.67
So I made pray will and I leave.
00:35:03.70\00:35:06.30
Before 8 o'clock
about 15 minutes,
00:35:06.33\00:35:09.20
you know, not
really that Filipino time,
00:35:09.24\00:35:11.37
really on 15 minutes, I
watched their 15 minutes.
00:35:11.41\00:35:14.98
You know when I arrived, he
was still on his night gown.
00:35:15.01\00:35:20.82
He was asleep.
00:35:20.85\00:35:22.48
And then he came to the
door and then he met me.
00:35:22.52\00:35:25.29
"I'm sorry.
00:35:25.32\00:35:26.72
Oh yeah, we have
a dinner tonight,
00:35:26.76\00:35:28.12
I understand."
00:35:28.16\00:35:29.49
I said it's
already 8 o'clock." Yeah.
00:35:29.52\00:35:32.99
"Well, Excellency just
sit down and in few minutes
00:35:33.03\00:35:35.93
our guests will be coming here."
00:35:35.96\00:35:37.63
So sure enough in few minutes,
all those guests arrived.
00:35:37.67\00:35:41.87
There were there and
we have pleasantries,
00:35:41.90\00:35:44.47
we shook hands out there,
00:35:44.51\00:35:45.84
and some they might
know, and some I don't.
00:35:45.87\00:35:49.68
Then we waited, we talked.
00:35:49.71\00:35:51.81
They served the
wine, all kinds of liquor,
00:35:51.85\00:35:54.75
all kinds of
finger foods they served.
00:35:54.78\00:35:58.75
We waited.
00:35:58.79\00:36:00.12
The dinner was at 8 o'clock.
00:36:00.16\00:36:02.56
It was already 10
o'clock, no dinner...
00:36:02.59\00:36:05.79
and I cannot see
the president around.
00:36:08.66\00:36:12.13
11 o'clock he
appeared, he was already drunk.
00:36:12.17\00:36:17.17
I said, "Oh, man.
00:36:17.21\00:36:18.61
I hope you understand,
you are always, you know,
00:36:18.64\00:36:20.91
I hope you are
enjoying your life here."
00:36:20.94\00:36:22.74
And of course these
people would drink alcohol.
00:36:22.78\00:36:26.48
They didn't feel
so much to hunger.
00:36:26.51\00:36:28.12
I was so hungry and
I tell you, friends,
00:36:28.15\00:36:32.65
while they served
this alcohol, this liquor,
00:36:32.69\00:36:35.79
I continued to
drink alternatively,
00:36:35.82\00:36:38.53
water and
orange, orange and water.
00:36:38.56\00:36:41.10
When you combine this all,
your tummy will bulge you know.
00:36:41.13\00:36:46.90
And I kept going to the toilet
00:36:46.94\00:36:50.01
while these
people are just enjoying.
00:36:50.04\00:36:51.57
I said, "Oh, have mercy on
me. When is this going to stop?"
00:36:51.61\00:36:55.54
And I thought when
the head of the state came
00:36:55.58\00:36:59.85
that we're about to eat.
00:36:59.88\00:37:02.62
He just came and mingled with us
00:37:02.65\00:37:04.62
and enjoyed the drinking.
00:37:04.65\00:37:07.42
So everybody was
really getting quite
00:37:07.46\00:37:11.13
and I know we were all hungry.
00:37:11.16\00:37:13.70
12 o'clock, there was no dinner.
00:37:13.73\00:37:17.70
12.30, this president went out
00:37:17.73\00:37:23.57
and then after about 15 minutes,
00:37:23.61\00:37:27.84
he came and he said,
00:37:27.88\00:37:29.78
"All right, we are
going to have our dinner."
00:37:29.81\00:37:34.62
And everybody's smiling on.
00:37:34.65\00:37:37.02
I said, "At last, at last."
00:37:37.05\00:37:41.36
Now I was so happy
because I was so hungry,
00:37:41.39\00:37:43.86
I was terribly
hungry but he said,
00:37:43.89\00:37:47.40
"You know, you
will enjoy our food
00:37:47.43\00:37:51.03
because I chose the
best part of the pig."
00:37:51.07\00:37:57.21
And I thought, 'I'm
not hearing I think right.'
00:38:05.38\00:38:07.95
I said, "What was that, pig?"
00:38:07.98\00:38:12.25
"It's really the
choicest part of the pig,
00:38:12.29\00:38:14.72
you will enjoy it."
00:38:14.76\00:38:17.39
Man, it's just
like a bomb that hit me.
00:38:17.43\00:38:22.16
You know when you are so hungry,
00:38:22.20\00:38:24.47
and you are so much
excited to eat that food
00:38:24.50\00:38:29.60
prepared by the
president in a palace,
00:38:29.64\00:38:33.17
you kind of
anticipate you know to some--
00:38:33.21\00:38:38.45
And I saw, I said,
"Lord, I'm not hungry anymore."
00:38:38.48\00:38:44.19
But how can you sit
and be there on the table
00:38:44.22\00:38:50.49
and watch them
eat and you yourself.
00:38:50.53\00:38:53.93
They know that you are hungry
and all this I was so worried
00:38:53.96\00:38:58.50
and I started
praying, "Lord, please."
00:38:58.53\00:39:01.24
Then I started to
reflect what was in the Bible.
00:39:01.27\00:39:04.97
I started to look up.
00:39:05.01\00:39:06.98
All the
experiences of those people
00:39:07.01\00:39:08.58
who served in the
palace of the king.
00:39:08.61\00:39:13.15
I started to think on how
these people were able to stand
00:39:13.18\00:39:16.62
and maintain and
present themselves
00:39:16.65\00:39:18.65
as the representative
and ambassador of Christ
00:39:18.69\00:39:21.86
How they themselves
behave on that situation?
00:39:21.89\00:39:25.36
Did they compromise?
00:39:25.39\00:39:27.10
They defy to, you know,
00:39:27.13\00:39:29.76
just let them heal and they are.
00:39:29.80\00:39:32.00
Did they try to
just please the host?
00:39:32.03\00:39:34.47
But then you reflect
from the Book of Daniel
00:39:38.01\00:39:40.41
when it says,
00:39:40.44\00:39:42.28
"Daniel, before he arrived
00:39:42.31\00:39:44.68
in the palace of
King Nebuchadnezzar,
00:39:44.71\00:39:47.28
he made up his mind,
00:39:47.32\00:39:50.22
not to defile
himself with the king's meat.
00:39:50.25\00:39:54.82
And that bounce back
in my heart and in my mind
00:39:54.86\00:39:57.13
I said, "No
matter what happens."
00:39:57.16\00:39:59.66
I immediately called,
I immediately declared
00:39:59.69\00:40:02.53
Persona non grata, but I
will stand for you, Lord.
00:40:02.56\00:40:05.77
I will stand for you."
00:40:05.80\00:40:08.84
Of course your stomach
was complaining, you know,
00:40:08.87\00:40:10.57
you can hear the
bubbles and all the...
00:40:10.61\00:40:12.47
"And, Lord, if this is the way
00:40:15.98\00:40:17.55
I can be a
testimony to these people,
00:40:17.58\00:40:21.98
if this will be
an opportunity for me
00:40:22.02\00:40:24.75
to witness for you,
Lord, please help me,
00:40:24.79\00:40:29.32
with all these
dignitaries, these people."
00:40:29.36\00:40:31.93
Then I thought,
00:40:34.76\00:40:38.33
''I think I'll talk to
this head of the state.'
00:40:38.37\00:40:44.44
' So I get the courage.
00:40:44.47\00:40:45.81
I was watching him, he
was walking around, you know,
00:40:45.84\00:40:48.88
talking to all issues
like economy, like politics,
00:40:48.91\00:40:53.52
like about issues
about crimes and all this.
00:40:53.55\00:40:58.02
I was listening so that
anytime I can come close to him,
00:40:58.05\00:41:00.82
I can join the issue.
00:41:00.86\00:41:02.56
My ears just...
00:41:02.59\00:41:05.49
I zoom it to his mouth
even I'm not looking at him.
00:41:05.53\00:41:09.23
So that anytime I can get
near to him, I just can connect.
00:41:09.26\00:41:12.60
You know, if you are
a literature evangelist,
00:41:12.63\00:41:14.77
you know where to approach
and when to hit the target.
00:41:14.80\00:41:18.81
You don't talk anything
so far away from the minds
00:41:18.84\00:41:21.88
on your customer
00:41:21.91\00:41:23.24
because you will not
be able too sell the book.
00:41:23.28\00:41:26.48
But if you know, if you
are a very diplomatic guy,
00:41:26.51\00:41:31.85
you know where to
come in, you know.
00:41:31.89\00:41:34.69
So I was listening
even if I was at a distance,
00:41:34.72\00:41:37.43
they did talk about politics,
00:41:37.46\00:41:39.39
they talked about
corruptions and crimes.
00:41:39.43\00:41:41.70
I said, "I know
all these subjects.
00:41:41.73\00:41:43.77
I have also my
story about that."
00:41:43.80\00:41:46.57
I said.
00:41:46.60\00:41:47.94
And finally I
caught him in a corner.
00:41:47.97\00:41:50.21
I went just right there.
00:41:50.24\00:41:52.74
"Oh, Your Excellency,
your country is so peaceful.
00:41:52.77\00:41:59.41
I understand you have
a very sound economy."
00:41:59.45\00:42:02.45
"Oh, yes.
00:42:02.48\00:42:04.02
With the help of
my technical people,
00:42:04.05\00:42:05.62
we are doing all right."
00:42:05.65\00:42:07.42
I said, "Good.
00:42:07.46\00:42:09.59
Oh by the way, Your Excellency."
00:42:09.62\00:42:11.83
And this is how the Lord
comes in with the problem I have
00:42:11.86\00:42:18.33
in few minutes they are
going to bring us to the table.
00:42:18.37\00:42:22.57
"Hey, here Excellency."
00:42:22.60\00:42:25.97
I was praying to the Lord
00:42:26.01\00:42:27.34
what word do I
say if I would it.
00:42:27.38\00:42:29.28
Should I tell him I
don't like to eat your pig?
00:42:29.31\00:42:32.45
He would slap me right
there or he can even, you know,
00:42:32.48\00:42:36.25
the head of a state can
even declare immediately
00:42:36.28\00:42:39.99
a Persona non
grata and move you out.
00:42:40.02\00:42:42.22
I told him, "Your Excellency,
00:42:46.26\00:42:48.73
I like to eat fish."
00:42:53.03\00:42:56.44
That's the word
that came from my mouth.
00:42:56.47\00:42:58.84
You know, of all list
of, you have to think,
00:43:01.38\00:43:04.01
I wanted to be
a full vegetarian,
00:43:04.05\00:43:06.35
but at least more or less
you have all this, you know.
00:43:06.38\00:43:10.69
And he looked. "No, no, no."
00:43:10.72\00:43:12.32
He said there, we have the pig.
00:43:12.35\00:43:13.69
It's nicely cooked.
00:43:13.72\00:43:15.72
I want to eat fish.
00:43:15.76\00:43:18.09
No, we have the...
00:43:18.13\00:43:19.46
Your Excellency, I
hear that the fish you got
00:43:19.49\00:43:22.26
is so beautiful,
it tastes too good.
00:43:22.30\00:43:24.50
Oh, we have the pig.
00:43:24.53\00:43:25.87
Your Excellency, you
know, I want to eat the fish.
00:43:25.90\00:43:28.57
And he just looked at me
and said, "We have the pig."
00:43:28.60\00:43:32.01
"Excellency, your fish
are good here, really good.
00:43:32.04\00:43:34.94
I admire, you
know I would feel sick
00:43:34.98\00:43:38.98
if I leave this country
without tasting your fish.
00:43:39.01\00:43:41.52
And I want it now, please."
00:43:41.55\00:43:44.45
And he looked at me
00:43:44.49\00:43:46.42
and turns back and
waved to the kitchen
00:43:46.45\00:43:49.26
without saying a word and
it took another 40 minutes.
00:43:49.29\00:43:54.76
Think of it, was it really like
about 1 o'clock in the morning.
00:43:54.80\00:43:59.33
That was a dinner.
00:43:59.37\00:44:01.04
He came back, he was
so perspiring with all,
00:44:04.21\00:44:09.34
it was so wet all
around and I said, "All right."
00:44:09.38\00:44:13.42
And he came to me, you
know you have your fish
00:44:13.45\00:44:16.89
I cook it myself.
00:44:16.92\00:44:18.25
Church, you might laugh
but I have it as an answer,
00:44:22.76\00:44:29.93
a direct answer from the Lord.
00:44:29.96\00:44:32.93
The message that
I got here is this
00:44:32.97\00:44:35.74
and this is still true
with Daniel's experience.
00:44:35.77\00:44:39.67
You stand for him
and be true to your God
00:44:39.71\00:44:46.05
and he will have all
the answer that you need.
00:44:46.08\00:44:48.68
Who would ever think
that God would give in us
00:44:51.62\00:44:53.99
the president to cook for you,
00:44:54.02\00:44:57.93
that's impossible in this world.
00:44:57.96\00:45:00.46
It cannot happen,
00:45:00.50\00:45:02.43
but when the Lord
give the answer to those
00:45:02.46\00:45:07.14
who remain
faithful and loyal to him,
00:45:07.17\00:45:09.30
friends there is
nothing impossible.
00:45:09.34\00:45:12.54
We were ushered to the table,
I was the only one with fish
00:45:12.57\00:45:16.71
and vegetables and
fruits and while we were eating,
00:45:16.75\00:45:20.92
all the eyes of all
those who were there
00:45:20.95\00:45:23.65
were just all focusing on me
00:45:23.69\00:45:25.92
and he said, "Oh,
you have a healthy food."
00:45:25.95\00:45:30.29
To those that were
seated on my right and my left
00:45:30.33\00:45:33.80
and they whisper,
"Can I share some?"
00:45:33.83\00:45:35.63
"Of course."
00:45:35.66\00:45:37.00
So I did a ministry
00:45:37.03\00:45:41.40
and I had the privilege
to pray before we started.
00:45:41.44\00:45:45.21
Amen.
00:45:45.24\00:45:47.18
These are some
of the experiences
00:45:47.21\00:45:50.91
that I wish I could share to you
00:45:50.95\00:45:52.38
and this is not the
only one I tell you.
00:45:52.41\00:45:54.55
One time, I think
time is running out.
00:45:54.58\00:45:58.62
We will have another round
00:45:58.65\00:46:00.09
because we have
another topic to move on this,
00:46:00.12\00:46:01.92
but truly friends,
the best thing for us
00:46:01.96\00:46:05.69
to be an effective
witnesses for the Lord
00:46:05.73\00:46:08.36
is for you yourself to
stand firm on your belief.
00:46:08.40\00:46:12.43
Make yourself a presentable,
00:46:12.47\00:46:14.37
something when you do
approach people about Christ,
00:46:14.40\00:46:17.67
prepare yourself.
00:46:17.71\00:46:19.07
Please don't approach
anyone when all your mouth
00:46:19.11\00:46:22.28
and all your
mouth here are so dirty,
00:46:22.31\00:46:24.55
you do not comb yourself.
00:46:24.58\00:46:25.91
I say, "You know what,
the Seventh-day Adventists
00:46:25.95\00:46:28.28
are very good.
00:46:28.32\00:46:29.78
They are really
good, healthy people
00:46:29.82\00:46:32.89
and then they look
at you, you are so pale
00:46:32.92\00:46:34.59
and you haven't
brushed your teeth.
00:46:34.62\00:46:35.96
Do you think
someone will join you?
00:46:35.99\00:46:38.46
Please don't
invite me to your church,
00:46:38.49\00:46:40.83
I don't want to
be a part of you.
00:46:40.86\00:46:44.27
But I tell you, friends,
00:46:44.30\00:46:46.30
when you have all the
excellent representation,
00:46:46.33\00:46:49.97
I see if you really are
bringing the image of the one
00:46:50.01\00:46:53.38
who sent you, being
the ambassadors of Christ,
00:46:53.41\00:46:57.11
friends, there is no way that
these people can turn you back.
00:46:57.15\00:47:00.35
They will accept
the one whom you believe
00:47:00.38\00:47:04.32
and that is
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
00:47:04.35\00:47:06.82
I challenge to this church.
00:47:06.86\00:47:08.72
I mean, I challenge
you with all my heart,
00:47:08.76\00:47:11.29
with all the humble
experiences that I have.
00:47:11.33\00:47:14.86
Friends, let us represent Christ
00:47:14.90\00:47:17.47
if we really are
going to be witnesses
00:47:17.50\00:47:20.37
for His kingdom.
00:47:20.40\00:47:22.24
May the Lord bless
us. This is my prayer.
00:47:22.27\00:47:25.61
Let's have a break for a while
and just before we do that,
00:47:25.64\00:47:29.18
could we bow our
heads for prayer?
00:47:29.21\00:47:31.98
Our Heavenly Father,
00:47:32.01\00:47:33.75
what a privilege
to witness for You.
00:47:33.78\00:47:37.09
What an honor to bring
your name in our hearts,
00:47:37.12\00:47:40.89
in our minds and
mumble it with our lips
00:47:40.92\00:47:43.26
that You are the one sent us.
00:47:43.29\00:47:45.89
Yes, we accept that
we are Your ambassadors,
00:47:45.93\00:47:50.13
ambassador for the
kingdom, for Your kingdom.
00:47:50.17\00:47:53.64
We can hardly describe
the kingdom where You belong,
00:47:53.67\00:47:58.47
so far away in comparison
with the kingdom in this earth.
00:47:58.51\00:48:05.38
And yet, Lord,
sometimes we misrepresent You.
00:48:05.41\00:48:09.72
Could You please
give us that courage?
00:48:09.75\00:48:13.39
From this time on,
Lord, speak in Your behalf
00:48:13.42\00:48:16.96
and to present
ourselves as truly we are,
00:48:16.99\00:48:20.70
Your representative and
we are Your ambassadors.
00:48:20.73\00:48:25.57
Thank you so
much for the privilege
00:48:25.60\00:48:27.97
and being a part of the family
00:48:28.00\00:48:31.11
and the
workforce of your kingdom.
00:48:31.14\00:48:33.44
All this we ask in
the name of Your Son,
00:48:33.48\00:48:36.48
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
00:48:36.51\00:48:37.91
Amen. Amen.
00:48:37.95\00:48:39.75