DAY 6
Today was the field trip day! The challenge of the day was to safely escort ~80 kids from Inwood (the neighborhood where the program is located) to the Bronx Zoo! That trip is about 90 minutes of herding 5-14 year-olds on and off at least 10 subway platforms, innumerable head counts, street crossings, selfies with kids, megaphones, walkie-talkies, backpacks, sack lunches, and several extraneous conversations with other train passengers about who we are, why we are in the city, and what we were doing with the gaggle of chattering children.
After a long, warm day at the zoo, everyone made it back to the school safely and we closed out the day with a short lesson on the importance of giving our hearts to God.
Because this weekend is the 4th of July, most families are also taking tomorrow off, which means we expect a much smaller group of children tomorrow (apparently maybe none at all!) This news has been a bit of a surprise to us all--it meant an early goodbye between our team and the children, and truncates our window of opportunity to bond with them and share the gospel. It is also forcing us to be flexible with our plans, and do a little more flying by the seat of our pants.
As the end of our our trip draws near, we spent our evening devotional time reviewing how God has provided for the team, stretched and grown us as His children, and revealed Himself to us through the people of Washington Heights and Inwood, and blessed us with an opportunity to work with the wonderful staff of Operation Exodus.
God is good!
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Prayers and Answers
Day 5
The theme for today was "Listen to the Lord." The Bible story was Naaman learning to listen to the word of the Lord and being healed of his leprosy when he bathed in the Jordan.
Yesterday (Tuesday) was tough for us. Our attempts to build relationships with the children seemed to hit a brick wall. Today (Wednesday) was marked by God's grace and we began to see the children respond to our outreach. Difficult kids began to soften, aloof kids began to communicate, and the good kids got even better!
This week is the first week of the entire summer program. As we get used to the routine, so too, the staff and children are adapting. After three days acclimating, we all began to hit our stride. God is good!
The theme for today was "Listen to the Lord." The Bible story was Naaman learning to listen to the word of the Lord and being healed of his leprosy when he bathed in the Jordan.
Yesterday (Tuesday) was tough for us. Our attempts to build relationships with the children seemed to hit a brick wall. Today (Wednesday) was marked by God's grace and we began to see the children respond to our outreach. Difficult kids began to soften, aloof kids began to communicate, and the good kids got even better!
This week is the first week of the entire summer program. As we get used to the routine, so too, the staff and children are adapting. After three days acclimating, we all began to hit our stride. God is good!
Pinatas & Pupils
DAY 4
Today's theme was "God sees our hearts." The Bible story was God choosing David as king (and Samuel thinking that Jesse's older brothers were better choices due to their outward appearance). The day began with a bash and an explosion of sugary goodness; as Adam (blindfolded), Jason, and Katie smashed open a pinata. After which, all the children rush toward the front of the stage to grab their pieces with smiles and laughter.
From there the day flowed pretty smoothly. The team worked hard, and the kids kept us moving. The challenge today was to develop relationships with the students and settle into our roles as leaders. This stretched all of us (especially the younger members of the team), but God is faithful and we were blessed to see the Lord working in the hearts of the students as we prayed and worked.
Today's theme was "God sees our hearts." The Bible story was God choosing David as king (and Samuel thinking that Jesse's older brothers were better choices due to their outward appearance). The day began with a bash and an explosion of sugary goodness; as Adam (blindfolded), Jason, and Katie smashed open a pinata. After which, all the children rush toward the front of the stage to grab their pieces with smiles and laughter.
From there the day flowed pretty smoothly. The team worked hard, and the kids kept us moving. The challenge today was to develop relationships with the students and settle into our roles as leaders. This stretched all of us (especially the younger members of the team), but God is faithful and we were blessed to see the Lord working in the hearts of the students as we prayed and worked.
Monday, June 29, 2015
Jesus is the Rock
DAY 3
Today was the first actual day working with Operation Exodus. You could say it was a test of patience and confirmation; the children will really do you in! We arrived at Operation Exodus at around 8, in the morning everyone was very comforting and respectful. Ms. Jennifer our director was a very energetic and delightful young lady, it turned it was also her first day at Operation Exodus Inwood. She had recently worked for the missionary group in Washington Heights. It was amazing to her as a reference for everything throughout the day. The children by surprise adapted very well to having us. Everyone was very loving you could definitely call it a community that's inviting. Team 1 had prepared an arts and craft for the children explaining the skeleton, which metaphorically stood for how God created our foundation. God is the foundation of our lives and should build our house on him cause "Jesus is the Rock." A foundation on built on anything but Jesus will eventually collapse, and a life built on Jesus will hold together under any circumstance.
Today was the first actual day working with Operation Exodus. You could say it was a test of patience and confirmation; the children will really do you in! We arrived at Operation Exodus at around 8, in the morning everyone was very comforting and respectful. Ms. Jennifer our director was a very energetic and delightful young lady, it turned it was also her first day at Operation Exodus Inwood. She had recently worked for the missionary group in Washington Heights. It was amazing to her as a reference for everything throughout the day. The children by surprise adapted very well to having us. Everyone was very loving you could definitely call it a community that's inviting. Team 1 had prepared an arts and craft for the children explaining the skeleton, which metaphorically stood for how God created our foundation. God is the foundation of our lives and should build our house on him cause "Jesus is the Rock." A foundation on built on anything but Jesus will eventually collapse, and a life built on Jesus will hold together under any circumstance.
Sunday, June 28, 2015
A "NO ONE BEHIND THIS POINT" type of day
Day 2
The day began with an outstanding lesson at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church by Pastor Charles Drew on Acts 20:17-38. Although these children may never see our faces again, we all hope that we can plant as many seeds as possible. Our main goal is to teach and show these children the way of God through example. If we leave here weeping we all know that it's our sign of love and affection for them. Ms.Shannon had also stated the day before that crying when it is time to go is a sign of being fully engaged. After church, we went on a tour of Riverside community church which is said to be the tallest church in the United States. Riverside also has 74 bronze bells with the largest tone bell in the world! We were blessed enough to actually get a tour of the bell tower. Towards the end of the tour, Alison played us Amazing Grace in the art room surrounded by Heinrich Hoffmann's paintings of Jesus on one the old concert grand pianos. Riverside Church most definitely has that "wow" effect, it was an amazing beauty to see!
The day began with an outstanding lesson at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church by Pastor Charles Drew on Acts 20:17-38. Although these children may never see our faces again, we all hope that we can plant as many seeds as possible. Our main goal is to teach and show these children the way of God through example. If we leave here weeping we all know that it's our sign of love and affection for them. Ms.Shannon had also stated the day before that crying when it is time to go is a sign of being fully engaged. After church, we went on a tour of Riverside community church which is said to be the tallest church in the United States. Riverside also has 74 bronze bells with the largest tone bell in the world! We were blessed enough to actually get a tour of the bell tower. Towards the end of the tour, Alison played us Amazing Grace in the art room surrounded by Heinrich Hoffmann's paintings of Jesus on one the old concert grand pianos. Riverside Church most definitely has that "wow" effect, it was an amazing beauty to see!
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Adventure Begins
DAY 1
God granted us with safe travels, "amazing" weather, and memorable moments. Although it was raining throughout the entire day, it humbled the entire team; for the week coming ahead working with the children. During the first moments in New York, we as a team had a great laugh getting on our first train together. Of course, we all looked like tourists, leaning and swaying every time the train moved back and fourth. Adam actually ended up missing this moment with us because he had gotten lost during transit. God was with him and brought him back to us in a safe and timely manner. I can speak for all of us that Adam in away was a headstrong guardian leading through the city. Our first team dinner in China Town was paid for by Ms. Shannon's group, MTW, which was a blessing in itself! The accommodations put aside for us are beautiful and fully stocked with the resources we may need throughout the week. During the first devotion we covered some challenges we may face in the upcoming week. A main struggle we all agreed upon will be adapting to the cultural distance. There are a lot of cultural barriers we will come in contact with in New York City due to the wide variety of people. So we ask as a team that you'd keep us in your prayers throughout the trip for patience.
God granted us with safe travels, "amazing" weather, and memorable moments. Although it was raining throughout the entire day, it humbled the entire team; for the week coming ahead working with the children. During the first moments in New York, we as a team had a great laugh getting on our first train together. Of course, we all looked like tourists, leaning and swaying every time the train moved back and fourth. Adam actually ended up missing this moment with us because he had gotten lost during transit. God was with him and brought him back to us in a safe and timely manner. I can speak for all of us that Adam in away was a headstrong guardian leading through the city. Our first team dinner in China Town was paid for by Ms. Shannon's group, MTW, which was a blessing in itself! The accommodations put aside for us are beautiful and fully stocked with the resources we may need throughout the week. During the first devotion we covered some challenges we may face in the upcoming week. A main struggle we all agreed upon will be adapting to the cultural distance. There are a lot of cultural barriers we will come in contact with in New York City due to the wide variety of people. So we ask as a team that you'd keep us in your prayers throughout the trip for patience.
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