2009: Part Deux

And so, 2009 continued to be astronomically amazing! Can i just say that my brother Jesus held me down, like foreal forreal.

A lil bit outta sequence, but in 2009 part I, the kid grew up a bit to 24 jack bauer age. Had a gathering for the first time at the crib in norweezy and a few close friends came out to celebrate. I thank God for friends like those that came thru. Its crazy how many close friends I have that truly care about a brotha. ok back to 2009.2


International travels yet again for tha kidd. This time the destination was the motherland, the 2nd largest continent, the supreme.....AFRICA! Ya boy went from NYC to Accra, Ghana straight...no layovers...check the testimony though.
When I get to the airport roughly 2.5hrs before my flight, I completely forgot about having the card that I used to purchase my tickets with on my person, but I didn't think it'd be a big deal. I mean I went to Singapore wit less. But this time Delta was not playing. I promise you three representatives told me I'm sorry but you're not going to Ghana today. I nearly cried each and every time. I went from a ticket agent to her supervisor to his boss and they all wasn't saying anything I wanted to hear. While they would go walk to get their manager or walk away to consult with other reps i was praying. At one pt i just kept saying jesus...yo i was mad scared. I came too far to be turned around...I mean i might could have went home to CT and tried to get on a flight the next day, but it was a near $2,000 ticket, who knows if they'd just let me get on another flight. In any case, finally the last supervisor decided he'd try something different after me just standing there in front of him repeating "there has to be something you can, anything"...he refunds and repurchases my ticket with another card that I had on me. This left me roughly 15mins to get my gate for an international flight at the back of hte line in JFK. So i ran like hell and upset many ppl behind me cutting them in line.

well, i made it. and it was great! justin showed me what he knew of Ghana and I explored some other parts and i really feel like i came back enlightened. not so much with a majestically understanding, but more so an experience, a time shared with a close friend overseas in Africa. And a lil icning on the cake (yeah vince i said icning), I shook the hands of the first lady and the president, wow. If i didn't do anything else in 2009 but this one trip it would have all been worth it, but God had much more blessings in store and for this and without this I continue to praise him.


And then there was Mexico....the first vacation with my best of all friends (she would cut me if i didn't mention this)...young shonia. This vacay was more than relaxing, it was packed with fun filled excitement and really topped off my 2009 year. I just can't get over that water! I'm used to the water at Jones beach, where can catch diseases if you stay in too long...lol...but seriously tranquility was an understatement while being there. And certainly being there with someone special has its pluses. Overall it was something I hadn't experienced, it was something new and different, it was me and jay in another country, in a different vibe, relaxing to a different beat. the cool's cool.


and finally Aug 24th, I resign from UBS and accept a position at Morgan. How is it that I am changing positions in a horrible economy, when ppl are trying to keep their jobs. I HAVE NO CLUE! I honestly wasn't looking or searching for anything new. This jobs literally fell into my lap. God really has some plans for me and I plan to do his will throughout. But geezzz, 09 was insanely divine! Onto new beginnings, hopefully before the year is out I will have rented out the pad in CT, saved a significant amount of emergency savings and preparing to sign a new lease in qb with a roomie.


i can't wait to see what else 09 has to offer...
-Mc JR.

2009: Part 1

WWWWWOOOOOOWWWWW!!!!


2009 has been absolutely incredibly...majestic...glory-filled...raining upon raining of blessings.


I started off the year with the Impact Conference. 2nd time around, it felt very different. All new roomies...new cornellians that came out...and new found understandings of where I need to take my faith.





About a year back myself, Jay, Justin and Max started a mini campaign to raise funds for our now 1st Black President. 50 for Change. With too much time own our hands, we managed to build a website and coerce our friends and family to donate to political campaign of President Barack Obama. We intently watched the polls and primaries/caucuses to see the outcomes and victories of Obama. After winning the democratic ticket, 50 for change lost its funding and the site was dismantled. (i.e. I stopped paying that GoDaddy bill cuz we figured Obama could handle it from here). Little did we know, we just contributed a small collective donation to our first black president which happened in 2009! Unfortunately I couldn't go to the inauguration, but yet in still I feel this is a major blessing in 2009 for me to see the fruits of our labor and even more so the promise of America on a new course and striding on a distinctive path to change!

Somewhere along the lines my mentor and I started a bible study at UBS. What started off in the cafeteria of UBS with two guys, progressed into 4 guys meeting at my mentors apt in some common area space. We started and finished Romans and along the way managed to memorize 14 bible verses that we hand picked throughout the weeks. This weekly group mtg alone has been a high point in this year. Since I haven't found too many close close friends in CT, this group has been somewhat of a haven...that mid week re-up that I need to continue going and stay focused on HIM.

Fast Forward to April 09. Ann Arbor, Michigan. RDW Part Deux....tradition is reborn and 6 of 9 brothers meet up to re-up and parlay in the abandoned, scary movie like, cabin near some lake in Michigan. We went from roughin it in NJ eastern tropical storms to slightly upgraded accommodations in the Lake Heron-side home of Detroit native, Adam. We prolly still dont realize yet the type of impact we're having on each other's lives but it is truly amazing to keep the torch burning. Kudos to a young Guggenheim for setting up and setting out this years RDW. Honestly, I can't wait till the next one. These cats motivate me like no other to push myself further and farther.


-Ray Jr.

P.S. Justin comments on this photo of RDW "gonna lay down my burdens..." which is absolutely hilarious to me, thus its inclusion.