Day 1 and 2: thoughts from Kristin

Day 1: A Success!  We started out bright and early meeting together at Seneca Creek around 6:30am.  We then hopped in a few cars and drove to Shady Grove Metro where our public transportation adventures began.  After metro-ing from Shady Grove to Bethesda, we loaded on the Vamoose bus (on time) and made it to New York with very little traffic.  It was really nice being able to fellowship and get to know each other more on our bus trip.  Once in New York we bundled up and beared the 27 degree temps with wind gusts up to 34 MPH as we walked to lunch at the Tic Tock Diner, a quick visit to the beach, and then off to our first night at the African Friendship Center.    Jen did get stuck in the subway door….thankfully Dave came to the rescue to pull the doors apart…Phew!  Other than that we made it through our first day serving.

Some thoughts from Kristin…

Tonight we were given a wonderful opportunity to serve at the African Friendship Center in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood located in Brooklyn, NY.  This Center serves primarily men and women who have immigrated from the West African Fulani tribe.   The Urban Impact NYC ministry operates on a semester schedule and during the Spring/Fall semesters they offer free English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, programs for children, and bible studies.  With our team being here during “Winter Break”, we are able to offer specialized classes. Our mission at the African friendship Center is to teach Citizenship and Computer Skills classes over 3 nights.

For many of us on the team, this is our first time serving on a mission team.  For some, this is even our first time in New York City.  So as you might imagine, there was some level of apprehension and that “fear of the unknown”.  We didn’t know who, if even anyone, would show up for class since this is the “off” season with the Urban Impact Ministry.  We didn’t know how we would communicate with our “students” as many of the men and women speak very little English.   On our bus trip up to New York, we had studied the Citizenship Test Questions inside and out.  We used our cell phones to search all of the questions and information that we were a bit fuzzy on.  We looked over the Computer Class outline and remembered the basics of using a computer.   And most importantly, we prayed.

Once we arrived at the African Friendship Center, some of us got busy wrapping gifts for the children, some of us looked through our Citizenship packets, and some of us (like me) anxiously awaited next to our computer for someone to teach (and learn from).  As soon as the first student arrived, I could feel all of my anxiety melt away.   It was such an amazing experience to watch my team members connect with these men and women.  Each of us has unique gifts that we are able to offer and together it makes for a powerful team J

I was paired up with Furieu who has been in New York since 2006 and has never used a computer.  Imagine….turning on a computer that operates in a language you are just learning and beginning to understand for the first time EVER.  Frankly, as hard as I’ve tried, I can’t imagine….Wow, what a reminder of how much we take for granted.  Furieu, like most of the men and women we have met here, was so eager to learn and she soaked it all up.  The pure wonder and joy that she experienced as she learned to move the cursor and click on a song and then turn the volume up and down, type the letters of her name, use the space bar or the delete key when she made a mistake, was contagious.

We opened a Word document to practice writing/typing.  Furieu taught me some basic words in Puular and then we took turns writing sentences.  Her last two sentences before we had to pack up for the night were:

“I like to read English.

I love my teacher.”

“I love my teacher“.  This seemingly simple phrase struck me.  Although, as Furieu later told some of us, I may have made her “crazy for the computer” and I experienced a little temporary boost in my ego, what she experienced tonight had nothing to do with me.  God was at work in big ways through me.  Love them like Jesus.  I have been reminded by my team members as we have prepared for this trip that if we can show the unconditional love, compassion, and grace of Jesus, the rest will be done in and through us. The love of Jesus truly is a universal language.  English…French…Pulaar…Arabic…Urdu… The languages of love, grace, and compassion know no barriers.

I love my teacher, too! And I hope and pray that I would continue to learn and grow as He continues to minister to and through me on this journey…

__________________

We arrived back to the Ministry House around 10:30pm and spent some time talking about our experiences from the day.

Some thoughts from our group…

“If you are patient with someone, you can teach.”

“You have to just jump right in.”

“I am an expert at things I take for granted”

“When you realize you have options, you can choose to do things differently”

Please continue to pray for each of us as we continue our ministry in New York.

____________________

We met a Sufi singer/performer from Kashmir in Jackson Heights, Queens today. Hear him sing:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150462267939790&set=vb.509884789&type=2&theater

December 28-30: photos

December 27: Getting Ready to Serve

Our 12 person team from Seneca Creek Community Church prepares to leave for NYC Weds, Dec 28 @ 6:30 am. We’ll be teaching Citizenship and Computer Classes in 2 different locations (Brooklyn & Queens) both morning & evening. Our 3 day trip will give us an opportunity to partner with Urban Impact NYC Ministry, as we show Christ’s love in practical ways to immigrants who have recently arrived to the US.  The people attending these classes are coming from countries that are “closed” to the Christian faith. Many have never heard the gospel before nor interacted with Christians. We’re excited to have this opportunity to ignite HOPE together.

Please pray for us as we serve. We’ll keep you updated as we learn and grow together!

http://www.wix.com/urbanimpact/urbanimpactny

Many smiles and many thanks – by Jen Hawley

We made it safely home.  As we were traveling back from the bus stop in Baltimore, seeing all the space and all the green made me realize that our experience this week felt very much like an overseas experience.  Life is so much different there.  In many ways, so much harder.

And then I remembered the many people I talked to who had come from their country (Bangladesh, Tibet, Indonesia, India, Senegal…) and who didn’t realize how hard it would be where they live now.  Many missing home, but knowing the hard work in Brooklyn will help provide for their families. Many, even though it’s hard, are grateful for the opportunity they have.  Some wish they could go home, but it is too much money and time invested and they can’t afford it. Each with their own story.

The South Asian Community Center (SACC)  – where we taught English to many from Bangladesh, Tibet, Nepal, India – is a light there in that community. In the midst of the hard core life that many of these precious people live, this hour and a half a day is a breath of fresh air, even with smell coming in from the street and the subway train roaring overhead every 10 minutes.  The smiles during these times are too many to count.  The light bulbs keep flicking on as each student picks up something new in their quest to learn English.  And for many of these people (especially the women) this is and may be the only place EVER that they are learning about their “prophet” Isa (Jesus) and his love for them, his deity, and his sacrifice. One woman wrote this week on her paper, “I like the Jesus stories.”  God is doing something there.

So thank you to each of you who followed our trip, prayed for God to show up in Brooklyn, and prayed for our Seneca Creek team.  We saw God’s hand at work.  And we can’t wait to share it with you.   Thanks to each of you who gave financially, and for each family member who sacrificed as their spouse/father/mother took a week to do this.

And I personally want to thank each of you in my new Rockaway family – Dianne, Dave, Jose, Tom, Keith, Paul – thank you for the moments of prayer, laughter, serving together, pure exhaustion, and for challenging me in my faith. I learned so much from each of you and I miss you already.

See you ALL on Sunday!

May 26: Thoughts worth repeating

You can never be too encouraging.

We believe that celebrating people’s accomplishments is invaluable. We saw this modeled over and over again.

After visiting a large mosque in Jamaica, Queens, NY today, and participating in a question and answer session with their Director of Education Services: We will never take for granted Jesus’ gift which canceled the debts we cannot pay, and toppled the scale of “good works vs. sin.”  The burden is not on us… He took it.  Praise our Lord!

Relationships matters.

A man from Tibet shared his passion for Yoga- his primary spiritual practice as a Buddhist. He demonstrated how he practices it and described how it benefits him personally. What are you passionate about?

When acquiring a henna tattoo, be careful of what you touch… or who you touch.  Let’s just say, Dianne and Jen left their (henna) marks.

There is no better food in Queens than the Jackson Heights’ Halal food cart 2006 Vendi Winner: Sammy’s.

Philippians 4:4-8: When rejoicing in the Lord and letting gentleness be evident to those we are with, the peace of God helps us transcend our own understanding (and misconceptions) of not only race and cultures, but languages and generations. (Ask Paul for the full story.)

Mission accomplished: The Construction Team completed their last project @ 12:50 am. Bathroom tile. Wahoo!

Does my life help create an environment of integrity in our community?

May 25: Thoughts worth repeating

“Thank you teacher” are three beautiful words.

Never size up a person before hearing their story: We talked to a passionate ESL Volunteer from the Bronx:  -This petite Puetro Rican New Yorker has developed deep relationships with and visited Muslim Egyptians in Egypt in order to love them like Jesus.  She also mothered a 11 foot long Burmese boa constrictor snake!

After meeting a group of college students in NYC and hearing their passion for the world, we were struck by this generation’s commitment to think globally and live out their faith globally.

“I like the Jesus stories” – A Bangladeshi woman wrote this on her paper in English class.

If people truly love your ministry, they will bring their friends – The evening computer classes have grown from 1 person to 10 in two nights.

Jackson Heights street vendor table

Ask any stranger to tell you their story, and they will most likely share it with you.  -  We talked to a Muslim street vendor today who shared his story, taught us a little Bengali, and freely discussed the differences and similarities between our faiths.

Not all pastors are healthy. On the bus, we met a doctor who specializes in treating clergy whose ministry lifestyles led to severe health issues. His passion came out of his own family in ministry who suffered from poor health issues.

If you see a need, meet it.  If you see someone drinking coffee dregs out of a trash can, buy them a fresh cup of coffee (this morning). If a South Asian woman on the street corner asks you for marijuana, invite them to a free English class and buy them a hamburger for dinner instead (this evening).

Labors of Love – by Tom Rotella

You have likely read previous blog posts regarding our trip, so I will keep it short.  The week did start out with jaw dropping services at the Brooklyn Tabernacle and Times Square Churches- just amazing and powerful praise and worship.  My personal take-away was: the more hearts together focused on praising God in the same room at the same time the better… maybe that’s what heaven will be like.  Some of my notes from these events to think about and chew on:

• Look for the need and act if possible, don’t wait.
• God’s heart breaks for the hurting or lost or down, and He’s counting on us to be his hands and feet, especially in these circumstances.
• Satan uses “weapons of mass distraction”
• When people say or act as if they don’t love you because they can see right through you, you can note that God sees all and He still loves you.
• God can fix anything
• God can heal anything
• God can do anything
• God can save large numbers of people on any given day, anywhere, as I witnessed 40+ be saved in one service including a young couple and their new born. It was a privilege and blessing to be there.

A tight spot!

So, for the last three days, I have spent the majority of my time remodeling a kitchen and a basement bathroom at the Lighthouse Inn where Urban Impact missionaries stay.  I feel great about being able to contribute to the mission homestead, making mission service a little less difficult for those who choose to serve here.  Each day has been followed by an evening of teaching a computer class for the few people assigned to me, who are barely able to speak English, much less navigate a desktop.  It is not easy to explain computer jargon to someone totally unfamiliar with things you and I take for granted everyday, especially communicating electronically the way we do.  I’ll admit, it is good to see them “get it” and many are surprisingly quick learners.  ALL are hard working in their efforts.  My take-away on this is still cooking in my head but I think, when it comes right down to it, we are all the same.  If we want something bad enough, we’ll be heroic in trying to get it.

My helper, Keith. ha. ha.

Lastly, one pleasant extra bonus for me; having had grandparents on both sides of my family of origin immigrate to this country through Ellis Island and settle in Brooklyn, NY, I grew up in these parts and spent many holidays in NYC.  It’s like a homecoming for me and enjoying real Italian Ices is just great.  ..and the pizza is..  well, fa-get-a-bout -it.

A little tired but loving it,  praise God!!