This week has been full of spending time in Brooklyn, but before I get to explaining that…let me finish telling you all about my first weekend here! On Saturday, we had orientation in the afternoon during this time we heard a couple of testimonies and watched a 90 minute video. It was part of this Compassion by Command video and bible study we will do throughout project. The video centered on a single mother and her young daughter and their life within a couple months time span. Many unfortunate things happened within a small amount of time: her apartment was getting bull-dozed and she could not find an affordable apartment, no one allowed her to stay with them while she searched, and so her daughter and she quickly became homeless. She had to find shelters to sleep in, but soon after lost her job. Eventually, she was able to get help getting housing, but being homeless had tired her so much and there were rodents in her new housing. There were many complications and at the end of the movie, she had made the decision to give up her daughter so that she would have a better life. I feel like when people are in situations such I have described, we are quick to judge. We often think, if only she had done this or that, but I don’t think it is that simple. She would have likely not been homeless if the friends she had asked for help---to stay with---would have said yes. Yet, she would still need more help. We are here to help one another—it is sad to consider reality and realize how infrequently we do help one another. We look at our own situation and say, I can’t, I won’t, etc., because it is easier. This video really set the tone for the weeks to come.
The day after, Sunday, we attended a church near Broadway. It was quite contemporary, but it was fun and a great reminder. The main message was to have FAITH. To have faith that God will do great things that He keeps His promises; to have faith in Him. After attending church, a small group from my track went to S’Mac, a restaurant solely focused on serving delicious, various types of mac and cheese. Then we did a little browsing in that area and later on I went to a grocery store…Trader Joe’s. It was the busiest grocery store I had ever seen; there were lines back around the store, but I got my groceries. That night, we were put into our ministry teams. Most teams consist of five people, but ours is six. The staff chose our roles and discussed with us what those roles would mean. I was surprised by my role, not because I thought I could not fulfill it (although, sometimes I am self-conscious), but because recently I have been recognizing my shy and quiet tendencies. I was made team leader of my ministry team. This means that I introduce the group at the site and focus on our team serving as well as we can. I think this role will allow me to grow a lot, but also give me opportunities to be an encourager to others.
The next day we were at our site for the first time! It is called Beulah Church/ Agape Ministries and it is located in Brooklyn. We left early the first day to make sure we made it on time and were about twenty minutes early. We were greeted by some of the warmest personalities I have ever met. The first day we were given a tour of parts of Brooklyn both by foot and by car. We were also told information about Agape and some of the men’s testimonies/life stories. It was really great just to hear and see what God had done in their lives as well as with the ministry. As a group, we went to several different parts of the burrow. One of the most memorable parts of the tour was seeing an area where the projects and a small church were. The church is called New Breed Church and the pastor and his wife were wonderful. We may even attend church there some Sunday.
The next few days were filled with cleaning, packing food to give away, lots of prepping, and also organizing. I even shucked corn. The main three men we worked with were very sweet. They had such a kindness in their demeanor. It was really neat to share joy with them and spread love to those in the neighborhood. Our ministry team had some fun moments—at one moment a few of us were singing gospel songs. When we took breaks, we would sit and talk or play games. Sometimes it was tiring, sometimes peaceful, but most of all it reminded me to serve others with love. Today was our last day at Beulah, although it was bittersweet, it was a gift to my soul to learn from those men and to serve Brooklyn. It will be exciting to see what is in store for us next week, and I pray that God prepares our hearts to give again.
Some side notes of exciting things that happened this week. On Wednesday, we attended Mary Poppins on Broadway and ate out for Amy’s birthday (one of the fellow sp girls). The play was enjoyable, fun, and full of life lessons. It was nice to spend some quality time with the other girls on my track. Tonight, we had a meeting in Queens about reconciliation and although it was hard, it was really good to talk and be honest with one another (although, to be honest-ha-I didn’t speak much at the meeting). We spoke of racism and how much it still exists today. What should be done about it? What do we feel about it? It can be very difficult for people to come out and say what they really think. I appreciated hearing what others had to say and reflecting on my own thoughts. I have been trying to think about it and have realized that God is the ultimate reconciler. It is my hope that He will work through me to love those I encounter so that prejudices and expectations can be worked through. The world needs a lot of adjustments. God knows what those are and I am praying I can be a part of them.
May God continue to change me and show me how to love more deeply and give more fully. Until next time…love.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
A Few Days In
So, summer project has been a whirlwind of activity so far. Just like I expected. God has brought so many wonderful people to this city to do many things here. I just want to share what has happened in the past few days since I have arrived:
The night I arrived, I rode in a taxi to the city with another project person. We checked in and soon went to where the other project people were having dinner. We had a project overview following yummy pizza. Afterwards we broke up and headed back to our residences. I went with my roommate and her friends to get frozen yogurt.
On the 16th, we went to a meeting in the morning where the whole project met to have a devotional time and learn more about the city. There were over one hundred people together. After we had some more time to process where we were and what we were going to be doing, we were given some insight about the subway. After which, we were put into our “dinner groups” which mixes all the tracks…Our group decided to go to get lunch quickly and then head to China Town and Little Italy. It was great to just walk and look around. We walked to the Village and stopped here and there; just taking it all in. It was great to get to know some other students…well I’m not a student anymore and to enjoy that time with them. At about 4:30 we went to Rockefeller Center and took it to the top (67 flights)! Beautiful.
We were able to overlook the city, its pulse, and be in wonder about what God has for us all this summer. Afterwards, our “dinner group” went to a small Thai restaurant on the lower side of Manhattan and it was delicious. Our group seems to be a little adventurous when it comes to food so hopefully when we come together we can try lots of new foods. At the end of the night, we stopped at a three story 99 cents store and picked up some essentials, returned to our residences, and said goodbye to our first full day.
On the 17th, we FINALLY got to visit some of the ministry sites we could be working with (Before which we had some cross cultural training and some practice evangelizing). Unfortunately, not all the students in our group will get to go to the sites we visited. It was inspiring to see how the Holy Spirit had worked in these communities and people’s lives. We saw a local church and then a local ministry that are centered in the lower east side. The church helps supplement education in the community by offering after school programs, GED prep classes, and other such needs. It first started in one room and now is in a redone synagogue. The ministry we visited has children ministries, adult ministries, and other types. What was most awesome to me was their gang ministry. The pastor there has often worked with the police to avoid and calm gang violence. It was amazing to me, not because it’s not possible, but that God had worked in that man and his family so much for them to give sacrificially to others to help them. After visiting that ministry, we went to a mission homeless shelter that has existed for over 100 hundred years!
They offer three meals a day, living quarters, and educational classes within a Christian setting. We had the joy of getting to eat dinner with men that lived or worked there. Here I was going to this mission thinking I had something to offer the men there, but instead the men we spoke with gave us wisdom. It was humbling to remember it is not always about what I am bringing, but also what is coming from the people I encounter. We are on the same level. Sure, some of these men have economic needs and other needs, but I as well have needs of my own. We all have a need for Jesus.
Yesterday, just our track went to Here’s Life Inner City’s main office for orientation. We learned more about our schedule and what to expect this summer. The part of orientation that felt most impactful to me was when we had an exercise to complete in groups. We were put in families and were given “money” to pay for a month of expenses. Our family was composed of five people, two parents and three children, living on $2300 a month. We had situations we encountered along the way that made it difficult for us to cover all of our expenses. We were not able to receive health care through our employment and had to get private health care, but then could not afford childcare or clothing for our family. It was certainly eye-opening and heart-breaking. Additionally, we were being as safe as possible with our money and did not spend any on entertainment or extra things. In the process, our “daughter”, found $20 and we had to keep it to pay for family expenses. I think people often have the assumption that families are in bad financial situations because they are frivolous with their money. However, I am probably more frivolous with my money than “our family” was being during the exercise. I’m excited that we will be working with families in these types of situations offering our skills, love, and the compassion of Christ. However, I also know they will have so much to offer us at the same time. I know I will appreciate more of what God has blessed me with in my life and be reminded that I was blessed so that I could help others more. After our orientation, we hopped on the subway to MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) and got in our “dinner groups” again. I love art. We saw photography, paintings, drawings, design, and architecture. I have included both a famous painting and a fave of last night below. We went to the lower east side again and had Indian food at this great place…the food was delicious. No, I did not get anything spicy.
Today, we will delve deeper into our track and learn more about the plans for us. We are also going to work on our testimonies. I will end this by sharing a verse my dear friend and previous discipler encouraged with me recently.
“Preach the good news. Be ready at all times and tell people what they need to do. Tell them when they are wrong. Encourage them with patience and careful teaching, because the time will come when people will not listen to the true teaching, but will find many more teachers who please them by saying the things they want to hear. They will stop listening to the truth and will begin to follow false stories. But you should control yourself at all times, accept troubles, do the work of telling the good news, and complete all the duties of a servant of God.” 2 Timothy 4:2-5.
Too often I get caught up in things that ultimately do not matter---like material things. Focusing on others, offering support, and loving them---sharing Christ, is what is important.
The night I arrived, I rode in a taxi to the city with another project person. We checked in and soon went to where the other project people were having dinner. We had a project overview following yummy pizza. Afterwards we broke up and headed back to our residences. I went with my roommate and her friends to get frozen yogurt.
On the 16th, we went to a meeting in the morning where the whole project met to have a devotional time and learn more about the city. There were over one hundred people together. After we had some more time to process where we were and what we were going to be doing, we were given some insight about the subway. After which, we were put into our “dinner groups” which mixes all the tracks…Our group decided to go to get lunch quickly and then head to China Town and Little Italy. It was great to just walk and look around. We walked to the Village and stopped here and there; just taking it all in. It was great to get to know some other students…well I’m not a student anymore and to enjoy that time with them. At about 4:30 we went to Rockefeller Center and took it to the top (67 flights)! Beautiful.
We were able to overlook the city, its pulse, and be in wonder about what God has for us all this summer. Afterwards, our “dinner group” went to a small Thai restaurant on the lower side of Manhattan and it was delicious. Our group seems to be a little adventurous when it comes to food so hopefully when we come together we can try lots of new foods. At the end of the night, we stopped at a three story 99 cents store and picked up some essentials, returned to our residences, and said goodbye to our first full day. On the 17th, we FINALLY got to visit some of the ministry sites we could be working with (Before which we had some cross cultural training and some practice evangelizing). Unfortunately, not all the students in our group will get to go to the sites we visited. It was inspiring to see how the Holy Spirit had worked in these communities and people’s lives. We saw a local church and then a local ministry that are centered in the lower east side. The church helps supplement education in the community by offering after school programs, GED prep classes, and other such needs. It first started in one room and now is in a redone synagogue. The ministry we visited has children ministries, adult ministries, and other types. What was most awesome to me was their gang ministry. The pastor there has often worked with the police to avoid and calm gang violence. It was amazing to me, not because it’s not possible, but that God had worked in that man and his family so much for them to give sacrificially to others to help them. After visiting that ministry, we went to a mission homeless shelter that has existed for over 100 hundred years!
They offer three meals a day, living quarters, and educational classes within a Christian setting. We had the joy of getting to eat dinner with men that lived or worked there. Here I was going to this mission thinking I had something to offer the men there, but instead the men we spoke with gave us wisdom. It was humbling to remember it is not always about what I am bringing, but also what is coming from the people I encounter. We are on the same level. Sure, some of these men have economic needs and other needs, but I as well have needs of my own. We all have a need for Jesus. Yesterday, just our track went to Here’s Life Inner City’s main office for orientation. We learned more about our schedule and what to expect this summer. The part of orientation that felt most impactful to me was when we had an exercise to complete in groups. We were put in families and were given “money” to pay for a month of expenses. Our family was composed of five people, two parents and three children, living on $2300 a month. We had situations we encountered along the way that made it difficult for us to cover all of our expenses. We were not able to receive health care through our employment and had to get private health care, but then could not afford childcare or clothing for our family. It was certainly eye-opening and heart-breaking. Additionally, we were being as safe as possible with our money and did not spend any on entertainment or extra things. In the process, our “daughter”, found $20 and we had to keep it to pay for family expenses. I think people often have the assumption that families are in bad financial situations because they are frivolous with their money. However, I am probably more frivolous with my money than “our family” was being during the exercise. I’m excited that we will be working with families in these types of situations offering our skills, love, and the compassion of Christ. However, I also know they will have so much to offer us at the same time. I know I will appreciate more of what God has blessed me with in my life and be reminded that I was blessed so that I could help others more. After our orientation, we hopped on the subway to MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) and got in our “dinner groups” again. I love art. We saw photography, paintings, drawings, design, and architecture. I have included both a famous painting and a fave of last night below. We went to the lower east side again and had Indian food at this great place…the food was delicious. No, I did not get anything spicy.
Today, we will delve deeper into our track and learn more about the plans for us. We are also going to work on our testimonies. I will end this by sharing a verse my dear friend and previous discipler encouraged with me recently.
“Preach the good news. Be ready at all times and tell people what they need to do. Tell them when they are wrong. Encourage them with patience and careful teaching, because the time will come when people will not listen to the true teaching, but will find many more teachers who please them by saying the things they want to hear. They will stop listening to the truth and will begin to follow false stories. But you should control yourself at all times, accept troubles, do the work of telling the good news, and complete all the duties of a servant of God.” 2 Timothy 4:2-5.
Too often I get caught up in things that ultimately do not matter---like material things. Focusing on others, offering support, and loving them---sharing Christ, is what is important.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
100% Supported and Anticipations.
Today I had the joy of meeting with a friend for coffee. I got the opportunity to ponder and discuss what I was feeling pre-summer project. Yesterday I sent in my last support for summer project. (Raising support is when an individual shares with others the mission work they will be doing for the purpose of simply telling, asking for prayer, and donations.) I keep thinking how awesome it is for at least a few reasons. One, people would be moved enough to see value in me going to the city. Two, that God would provide (not because I did not expect promises to be fulfilled) so abundantly for this project. This is true not only for me, but for my other fellow projecters. I have heard other encouraging stories about support-raising. That funds were raised should not be surprising since I have known I was meant to go somewhere since last summer. However, until promises are fulfilled, I think there are moments of doubt between the confidence in God following through. Certainly, God does not break promises, He just does not do everything when we expect or desire Him to. I know I am frequently waiting for answers to prayers…
As I prepare to leave for summer project, I am giving up things of security. I am leaving a place I have known my whole life, quitting a part time job, and am going to be with people I have never met (some I have spoken to). At the surface this could appear irresponsible or naïve. But… I know how long this trip has been in my heart; months and months. This is not my own doing—God has allowed me to feel secure with this plan. I may be scared later. Stay tuned. For now, I am confident in what God is doing.
I am looking forward to meeting the people on project- those who are there to serve and those we are serving! It will be fun to learn about them, speak with them and laugh with them. I know I will have jokey times—I like being silly. I want to relish in the places and people I will encounter; taking every moment as valuable.
As I prepare to leave for summer project, I am giving up things of security. I am leaving a place I have known my whole life, quitting a part time job, and am going to be with people I have never met (some I have spoken to). At the surface this could appear irresponsible or naïve. But… I know how long this trip has been in my heart; months and months. This is not my own doing—God has allowed me to feel secure with this plan. I may be scared later. Stay tuned. For now, I am confident in what God is doing.
I am looking forward to meeting the people on project- those who are there to serve and those we are serving! It will be fun to learn about them, speak with them and laugh with them. I know I will have jokey times—I like being silly. I want to relish in the places and people I will encounter; taking every moment as valuable.
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