My group this week is from Toronto, Canada...and yes, they do say "eh" at the end of their sentences...they're are also super obssessed with recycling, Obama, eating healthy, and allergic reactions to peanut butter (they were shocked when I told them they could make peanut butter sanwiches and take them out in public because I guess you're not allowed in Canada in the event you're next to someone with a severe allergy...anyway...
We spent this morning/early afternoon at the Agape Soup Kitchen in Brooklyn with Brother Omar. When we started out serving lunch it was way too many cooks in the kitchen. Some of us were standing around, all of us were mostly in the way, and those serving were running back and forth trying to keep up with the steady flow of people coming in for lunch. Eventually, things slowed down a little and some of the students went across the street to the church connected with the soup kitchen and those not serving food or sent to vacuum at the church began to talk with the people left eating.
Mostly, it just amazes me every time how much of a difference just sitting and talking to someone for a little while can make. There weren't any philosophical discussions or evangelizing, just talks about life and where people were from and what they do and how great a city New York is...that's all, just simple conversations...and sometimes that's all people need...
Sometimes when we need a filler during the day because of a gap between ministry sites or something we take our groups to Grand Central. Then we hand them a paper, sending them on a scavenger hunt, giving us 30-45 mintues of sit and think about nothing time...it's wonderful...
This week's group hails from Lebanon, OH. They're a few years younger than last week's group, most of whom had just graduated from high school, whereas these kids are just beginning high school...and there is an obvious difference. I feel like I am constantly repeating myself and telling them not to stand too close to the platform edge or to move out of the way so the 13 of us aren't taking up the entire sidewalk or to split up as we enter a subway car because 13 people can't go through one door at once and the list goes on...I notice that they're leaders take charge in situations where they're supoosed to be talking to people and stepping out and I'm not upset that they're leaders are taking things away from this experience too, but so far it doesn't feel as if the students are getting anything out of it...at least they most of them enjoyed tonight's Dominican restaurant, right?...I know it's only the beginning of the week, so we'll see as we go to two ministry sites tomorrow. Hopefully, they'll be able to step out and see God working...in the meantime I'll be making sure they're not falling on to any train tracks...
I know people have been asking...so here's a picture of our team...I'll add pictures from ministry sites later on when I have some, but in the meantime here you go...
Well, we officially finished our first week as hosts. Our group, a delightful bunch from Austin, TX, was with us this week and although the week started out with some nerves it turned out to be a really good one. So thank goodness for that.
I only actually got to spend two days serving with them, but I feel like I learned a lot from watching them.
The first day I was with them went smoothly and we volunteered at a soup kitchen preparing (a.k.a making a large amount of meatloaf, which the group enjoyed mixing with their hands) and serving lunch. Then that afternoon we were at an afterschool program hanging out with some elementary school kids. The group didn't have too much of a problem jumping in and doing what they were asked at the soup kitchen or helping with homework and giving undivided attention to kids at the afterschool program. So I was happy to see they were willing to step up.
It was then a couple days before I was with them again and it was at our second ministry site that I saw God work and my group really be open to letting His love be demonstrated through them. We spent the morning and early afternoon at a ministry site called the NYC Relief Bus, which serves soup and bread out of the side of a bus to pretty much anyone who wants it. That day we were in the Bronx in a little bit of a rougher neighborhood. That didn't deter the group, though. Right away a few jumped in to start serving food and the rest spread out to begin talking to people coming by. And the whole time they invested themselves in these people who often are overlooked and ignored, but here was a group of high schoolers excited to listen to their stories.
One particular man named Angel spent the entire time at the bus and I was just so impressed as 
the students asked him questions and genuinely cared about him. Then a while later I look over to see one of our students kneeling in front of a chair in which Angel was sitting, clipping his fingernails for him. Apparently Angel has OCD and there was no way he would be able to easily do the task himself, and so one of the high school kids volunteered to clip them for him if he would like. It honestly was one of the most beautiful and precious things I have ever seen. When we discussed it later we talked about how it is almost like the washing of someone's feet. I was just so amazed at these students and in awe of what God was doing here in this little corner of the Bronx.
As I thought about it I realized that it is so important that I continually ask for God to show me what this city and the people I come in contact with look like through His eyes. I can't just go thought the motions of volunteering or I will miss out on something beautiful and wonderful and the chance for God to use me and mold me...
Today we had to walk the prayer tour..again...but we just walked it and it had to be by ourselves and we had to make sure we knew where we're going and how to get around and navigate the subway...well, today it was rainy and cold and windy and on top of that I have developed a cold in the last couple days so I was grouchy and sniffly...hopefully tomorrow will bring better weather and less congestion...
So I left off at Coney Island the last time, which was lots of fun. We didn't get to play at the amusement park, but we did have Nathan's famous hotdogs and then did some team building stuff on the beach, which earned us some weird looks. Coney Island also attracts lot of interesting people so it was fun to do a little people watching as well ha ha!
Sunday we woke up and attended church at the church we're staying at. In one Sunday our church houses a Chinese church, Norwegian church, Arabic church, Armenian church, and an English speaking church. Then after a couple of the morning services there was a cookout and there were people from the Norwegian, Chinese, and English speaking services there for lunch. We then had a free afternoon in which a couple of us ran some errands and then headed over to the Brooklyn Tabernacle where Darlene Zschech was performing with the Hillsong worship team and the Brooklyn Tabernacle choir...and it was awesome! It was just so cool to have so many people in one place together worshiping like that! It was a good night!
Monday just brought more training and 4 hours in a coffee shop mapping out subway routes and marking down ministry sites and restaurants in our guide books...it was a long day...dinner, though, = Mediterranean
Tuesday...we spent the day finding some of our actual ministry sites around the city. We volunteered at one site in the evening serving meals, playing games, and doing crafts at a ministry called Father's Heart, you'll hear more about the ministry at a later date...dinner = Polish cuisine
Today...was more office and training stuff which was long and a little boring, but then this evening we went on what is called an Immersion. We were split into groups of four and given a specific neighborhood in which to go to, ours was the Chelsea/ Lower Westside neighborhood. Each group was then given $2 per person in their group and assigned to purchase dinner for our groups and one other person. We had to hand over our phones and watches and were only able to take a subway map and our metrocard with us. We also had to stop a person on the street and ask them about the neighborhood and the changes they've seen since living there and if they knew of any food pantry or homeless shelters in the area, so we set off. Well, if you thought New Yorkers were maybe a little grouchy normally then you may be interested to know that they're extra grouchy when its cold and raining. We had a tough time getting anyone to stop and answer or questions, and the man that finally did seemed a little suspicious at first about why we had all these questions for him. It is also incredibly hard to find food to feed 5 for only $8. Many vendors or businesses refused to barter with us. We ended up finding a fruit vendor selling fruit for pretty cheap and that became our dinner. We shared the rest of the fruit with a man staying out of the rain in the subway station. The immersion is meant to give groups a chance to try and experience what it's like to try and find food on a tight budget and you definitely cannot find very much food for only $8.
It was definitely a good learning and growing experience, although I've never known true hunger and true struggle that the almost 33,000 homeless in New York City experience.
I'm sorry these have been not super detailed and few and far between. Things are crazy, but I'm learning a lot and trying not to write small novels as I try to fill you in on the going ons : )
