More of NYC. I’ll be celebrating the 4th in NYC! I’ve decided to postpone my return by a week. Why? To continue ministry and the good work being done here. Read on...

Addicted to SWAD. I’m hooked on ready-to-eat Indian food. SWAD is among the many great discoveries I’ve made in the South Asian community where I teach. I’ve stocked my pantry full of this tasty food. Garlic naan and eggplant micro-curry are among my favorites. It has become a staple to my diet along with 50 cent samosas! I’m lovin’ it!

The Veil. Sam (code name) pulled out a bible from the shelf and began to probe me, “Can I ask you some questions about this holy book? I believe it is good to know such things.” I soon found myself in a deep conversation with a devout and knowledgeable Muslim man who wanted answers to some very deep questions. We discussed much about piety and righteousness about right and wrong and about God as judge. As I was talking with him, I couldn’t ignore how incomplete his understanding of God is. I pray that his heart may be enlightened to see that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. If only he can see that JC demonstrated his passionate love on the cross for us and that grace prevails.

I believe that when immigrants such as Sam enter the US, walls come down. I'm often surprised by their receptivity (especially to me – like them also an immigrant). Being in an unfamiliar place causes them (to a certain extent) let down their guard. They are forced to depend on others to survive. Yet talking to Sam, I realized that the veil that blinds them to seeing the truth is still there.












Crazy New Yorkers. It can be very cut throat in NYC. Just take to the streets in some of the neighborhoods that I frequent and you’ll know just what I’m talking about. And of course there’s noise. People are loud, the train rumbles and shrieks, music is constantly blaring, and in the midst of that the incessant honking somehow becomes background noise. It’s no wonder that locals need an escape. For many, they hit the beach. It’s weird to see surfers with their boards on the train. Manhattan is all about the parks. People are always drawn to nature because it speaks to something greater.

My city face. I'm in and out of so many different worlds here. At times, I travel through some rather rough neighbors. In one neighborhood, they have bullet proof glass at the KFC register. That's something you don't see every day. The way that I deal with all of the craziness around me is to put on my city face. It's a defense, an appearance of being hard up and closed. It may seem like I'm unfeeling. But I'm far from being aloof to what is happening around me. The hardness of life here has many unhealthy escapes. I'm saddened by all that I hear and see and it breaks my heart. But more than that, God sees and hears and his heart is broken for them...

All in a day's work. I wear many hats during the day. In the morning, I might be aiding in an ESL class with Arab students. A train ride away from that center, I might be playing Skip-Bo with some African student as we talk about their day at school and make crafts. Yet a few hours later, I might find myself sitting down drinking some Chai tea having a conversation with Tibetans inviting them to an English class down the street. My days are very piecemeal and unordered. Desiring more structure and routine, I have felt rather frustrated. Yet when these feelings arise, I am reminded that I need to work harder to have faith in what is unseen. It takes a mindfulness of God's work of restoration to see beyond all that happens in a day.

Funny conversations with students.
"I know your brother." My response: "Excuse me?" after a student who asked for me to write down my full name. He looked at me (dead serious): "Bruce Lee!"

"Are you Chinese?" Amadou (an African student at the kid's club whom I've mentioned in a previous entry) asked me as I sat down. "Yes, I am," I replied. With his hands raised in the air he exclaimed, "I love Chinese people." I smiled, knowing that I had been accepted. It melted my heart to hear those words. By the way Amadou's favorite bible story is when Jesus walked on water. I hope that one day he will have great faith to do the same.

My Dad. I am and still consider myself daddy's little girl. I was one of those kids totally in love with my dad even though I often got myself into a fair amount of trouble. I remember the days when I would decorate cards and bookmarks with teddy bears (my specialty), dinosaurs (don't ask), and flowers for my dad...just cause. Growing up I found myself gravitating towards his hobbies to spend time with him - whether it be gardening, running, biking, making home depot runs, watching sports, and even going on missions trip together. It's been a while since I've made a card or bookmark for him. I think he would appreciate it all the same today, but I now know that his greatest joy has been seeing me grow up. Through it all, he has always been a constant - coming to my rescue countless times, encouraging me when needed, and always reminding me of how much I am loved. He's given me the greatest gift of all - a better understanding of my Heavenly Father.

Data Entry. Today was secretary day. It brought me back to my first summer in college that I spent temping at various downtown firms doing mainly administrative work. I busied myself inputing over 50 profiles of people who have come through the ESL teaching center. There were a sprinkling of people from every part of SE Asia - from Tibet to Bangladesh to Nepal to India to Pakistan to Korea to China! Where else can you find such diversity within one neighborhood? As I typed in their information, I prayed over each of these students. I thought about the immigrants and their struggles. I compare my own discomfort and feeling of alienation in a foreign city to theirs and I realize that hands down I have lost.

"Am I not better?" I find God asking me this question often since I have arrived in NYC. The most difficult part of being out here is that I am alone without the security of home and all I know well. My insecurities surface and my fears take over. It is during this time that God causes me to understand that he is far greater than my life at home. I have placed a false sense of worth and satisfaction on things that will not last. That is when God reminds me that He is ultimately better. John Piper says it well, "God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him."

Quote of the day...

Danny (staff member): Where are you going?
Ms. Dorothy (an elderly lady, formerly a missionary in Africa): I'm going to heaven. You wanna come with me? I'll show you the way.

...so profound. By the way, she was exiting the African Friendship Center where I assist in teaching ESL classes to buy some water down the street. What a precious woman!

Attracting others. Most of today was spent walking through two distinct neighborhoods in Queens and Brooklyn both of which have a heavy concentration of immigrants. The team (70+ from North Carolina) and I handed out fliers advertising FREE (big emphasis) ESL classes at the centers run by Urban Impact. As we walked, we also prayed over the community. The more immigrants I befriend, the more I realize how hard their lives are. I sense the heaviness of their emptiness and despair. It is my hope that many would be drawn to the centers and connect with those who can share about real HOPE!

The Urban Commute.

The Train. There’s my pace and then there is New York pace. No better place to learn this lesson than in the subway where the ebb and flow of people look almost artful. And it all happens very quickly. It’s intense. I've had a lot of time to observe. Take a look at my commute...
7:30-10am Brooklyn
12:00-1:45pm back home
2:30-3:30pm Brooklyn (again, but a different part)
5:30-6:30pm Queens
9:00-10pm back home
...enough said!

Train story of the day. Witnessed a lady clipping her fingernails on the train. Her keratin bits were flying all over the train! Gross!

Train Tips. #1 Keep to yourself. Nobody wants to know your business. #2 Find the sweet spot. On every train platform, there are better waiting areas than others. The trick is to catch the best car to help you maximize your efficiency in exiting the train station.

The Meat. Sandwiched between my crazy commute is the best part - time spent with people. Every train stop gives me a different flavor of NYC. I love it!
...Morning. I took part in an ESL class as a conversational partner to several Arab women. Many are studying to pass their citizenship test, but our time mostly feels like a social hour. For over two hours, I found myself engrossed in good conversation with these beautiful women who are genuine and warm. Please pray for a young woman, Sara (code name), who opened up to me about her recent separation from her husband. Her pain was still evident in her tears. Nonetheless, it has driven her to the center (run by Christians) to intensify her English studies.
...Afternoon. There are several African tribal groups living in Brooklyn. Today I met Amadou at the kid's club where children come for tutoring and a bible story. It's run by this feisty, robust old woman who was formerly a missionary in Africa. Helping Amadou (sixth grade) with his homework was a struggle. He could barely read and his math is poor, but the smile on his face as he talked tells stories melted my heart. My two favorite quotes: 1. "Can't we just finish this now so we can listen to the bible story?" and 2. (as another child was having an emotional breakdown, turned to me saying) "I don't like it when people cry. It makes me want to cry to." Bless his heart. I wanted to adopt him right then and there!
...Night. ESL class with South East Asian women. I met a Bangali woman who recently loss her job. Distraught, she asked for help to write her resume. Having just recently finished updating my own resume, it was the perfect challenge. Through this opportunity, we had an opportunity to talk about her life. Please pray for her as she looks for a job to open up. "Bills, bills, bills" was what she complained most about. Having recently acquired a mortgage, I completely understand the pressure she is under.

A Change in Perspective. What's not to love about NYC? Broadway shows. Shopping galore. Foodie Mecca. Sightseeing. Art and Museums. Hot dogs. Central park. Most people come to New York because it is fun. There's so much to do, there's so much to see. What I never saw, however, were the people. Today that all changed.

Life hasn't been easy out here. But I thank God for making it difficult. I thank God for making me feel uncomfortable. I thank God for the feeling of restlessness and worry. I thank God for body aches and fatigue. It all shows me that the things that I most depend upon are unreliable. I don't need these things to fill me because I have already been given grace and grace abundantly. I had lost sight of that and had been let my complaining get the better of me. It was selfish indeed, and I needed to surrender it. I pray that God may make his work in me a blessing to other. I pray that he may cause others to see HIM instead of me.