Haiti, December-January 2011 | Blog 3.

If this trip only teaches me one thing, it will be most definitely be appreciation for what I have. There are just so many things we take for granted every day that so many of the earth’s population do not have.

I have never, not one day, gone hungry that was not by choice.

Yesterday was an awesome day; we were able to minister to local children that live in the local tent cities. We had a goodie bag and a hot meal for each of them. I was really doing great, having fun, loving on so many little children! Then the food was served. My heart split wide open at the sight of 400 children all sitting, eating what may have been their only meal that day. All the while knowing all of the excess that my family and I have back in the states. The luxury of eating whenever, whatever we want.

This trip has already been eye-opening, one that I feel everyone should experience. There are people out there without food, without electricity, without fresh water, let alone a Starbucks on every corner.

We can do something! The problems here in Haiti and around the world may be bigger than us, but for sure, they are NOT bigger than the God we serve. He is the answer! Through Him, all things are possible! We just need to open our eyes and get out there!

Love you all!
Courtney Scott

Haiti, December-January 2011 | Blog 2.

After today, two images may have been etched in my mind that will remain for the rest of my life. The first, watching many of the children and parents unsure of what to do with the wrapping paper that covered their gifts. They timidly pulled it off, almost as if the wrapping was the gift.

Stevenson told us that these were probably the first Christmas presents the kids ever received. Ever.

The second, watching the three littlest girls mother their new precious baby dolls. From feeding them, carrying them, talking to them, and brushing their hair, if a baby doll did ever feel loved, it would be these three. Shortly before we left for the evening, I spotted the three little beautiful things sitting in a circle with their babies on their laps, talking as if they were three new moms in a posh coffee shop. It was precious to say the least.

I simply want to thank the Church again for being the Church here in Haiti. It was so neat to be able to tell these kids, the staff of Wings of Refuge Children’s Home, and any parents that came for the Christmas Party that there is a Church in Williamsburg, Virginia that loves them and is praying for them. The gifts prove those words. Each gift got about 8 hours of use today - from the minute they were opened to the minute they went to bed.

You are a beautiful Church - not because of what you do but because of Who you do it for. Jesus is so worthy of our best. I count it an absolute blessing to be a part of you, Christian Life Center.

Merry Christmas!
Love from Haiti,
Holly Aman

Haiti, December-January 2011 | Blog 1.

Holly Aman and Courtney Scott will be in Haiti from December 23rd-January 7th. During that time they will be serving Pastor Wilson, Wings of Refuge Children's Home, and his Church. Be praying for them and thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus by sending over thirty gifts with them to the kids of Wings of Refuge Children's Home! You are a blessing, Church!
_______

Wow! I honestly am having trouble wrapping my mind around the fact that we are in Haiti already! It seems like just yesterday, we were merely contemplating this trip. I feel like I am in a whole new world, one I didn’t even realize existed.

The trip into Petion-Ville was a surreal one. As we were four-wheeling (not really, but it sure felt like it) out of Port-au-Prince, I just stared out the window, amazed at all the beautiful Haitian people. They are all so beautiful...young, old, boys, and girls. I saw so many children laughing, playing, singing, and dancing.

It’s an amazing thing; most living in poverty and the aftermath of extreme devastation and yet these beautiful, amazing people are so happy. I could definitely learn a thing or two from them. This is going to be so AWESOME! I can feel it; God is getting ready to rock my world and I’m so ready!

- Courtney Scott

Haiti 2011 | Blog 7.

Mother Teresa once said:

“Each one of them is Jesus in disguise.”

Each child. Each orphan. Each human being. In Haiti. In Williamsburg. Each one - everyone.

How I treat one is how I treat Jesus. What a sobering thought.

Jesus initiated this concept when He said:

“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” [Matthew 25:40].

I just wanted to take a this last post to introduce you to the last four children at Wings of Refuge.

Wilson is one of the quieter ones but his facial expressions speak loud and clear. It was easy to see his disapproval of something or someone by some of his priceless expressions.

Adelin can always be found in the middle of all the commotion and fun. He loves to play seems to never run out of energy.

Adeline can often be found jumping rope or combing the Wings of Refuge doll’s hair for the thousandth time. She, like her brother Adelin, seems to always be full of energy and ready for anything that comes her way.

Renelson (like all of them) loves to be held. The hard thing is he is not three or even five so he is much heavier than the little guys. He is on the quieter side and simply loves to have you near him. So many times I would find him right by my side helping hold the tape as I put up a new alphabet or a number chart. He was always quick to help.

I hardly thought it was possible to miss a place and a people as much as I have the past few days. I miss the kids’ smiles and their hugs, I miss their unique mannerisms and personalities. But, one thing is for sure - I will be back very soon and hopefully with a team from CLC!

Haiti 2011 | Blog 6.

15 Things that I learned about Haiti while in Haiti:

1. Power outages are a normal thing. Whether in church, the supermarket, or at home, you never know when you will lose electricity.
2. Sweating is a staple to living in Haiti. Just get used to being hot.
3. Hand-washing clothes is very therapeutic.
4. You cannot leave your purse in the car, ever.
5. When playing a game of street soccer, your team has to do push-ups when they are scored upon.
6. Receiving an apple from a boy is a serious thing.
7. Eating mango with only your teeth and no knife is the way to do it - messy but so worth it.
8. You can expect to be woken up to either the sound of roosters, dogs barking, or the church singing.
9. The people are simply beautiful.
10. All-night prayer is REALLY all-night prayer.
11. People are quick to help you (even if sometimes they expect something in return).
12. Jesus is so present.
13. Haitian food is delicious.
14. Driving laws are open for negotiation - speed limit, side of the road you want to drive on, passing someone, everything...
15. The children are so appreciative of anything. They are perfectly content coloring the same drawings you drew for them the three days before. They simply want you, your attention, and your affection.

After a 10 hour flight yesterday (it was supposed to be 3.5 hours) and waiting at the airport for 10 hours today for my flight back to Richmond, I am thankful to have made it home though I do feel like a part of me remains in Haiti. I guess, I will have to go back soon...who is with me???

I will be posting the last four children soon.

Thank you for all the prayer!
Much love!

Haiti 2011 | Blog 5.

Saying good-bye to the kids was much harder than I anticipated. I suppose this was mostly because I had not thought about saying “good-bye” to them. It was hard partially because I was unable to let them know that I would not be there tomorrow (or for a while, actually).

Since it is my last night in Haiti, I want to introduce you to the other five of the children at Wings of Refuge Children’s Home. I will save the last few for tomorrow.

Sarah is a beautiful and bright seven year old. You can read her full story at the Wings of Refuge Website (http://wingsofrefugehaiti.com/). She is so smart and is picking up English very quickly. She already can speak French and Creole. She is a real leader and cares for the other children. She has such a sweet presence about her.

Jovannes has got leader written all over him. Whether he is helping clean up a mess, pointing the younger boys in the right direction, or simply listening to directions, he leads. He learns quickly and does not speak very much. He is kind and gentle with the others.

Widmy is Jovanesse’s younger brother and in many ways, it shows. He is kind and thoughtful like his older brother but he also can often be found in a corner playing with blocks by himself or throwing a ball around.

Migelite cannot help but giggle when the camera approaches anywhere in his vicinity. Once I hold up my camera to take a picture of him, he bursts into a gorgeous smile and giggles.

Clifford is the sweetest little-guy. He will share with anyone (to a fault at times) and in a home with twelve kids, sharing is a rare thing. He is content being by himself and is the quieter one of the bunch.

They are each so special, unique, and beautiful. I have loved every minute that I have had to get to know them and will miss each one dearly, but at least I know they are in good hands!

Haiti 2011 | Blog 4 & Prayer Points.

Today, we went on a windy and dangerous five hour drive to Lartigue - an area in the mountains of Haiti where Pastor Wilson has a church and school. The school provides all the kids with uniforms and a meal each day. Today was the kids’ last day of school so they were excitedly anticipating their report cards. We spent the first half of the day playing with them, holding them, and following them around.

The kids were beautiful and so joyful. They loved having their picture taken and having your arms around them. They have so little besides what the school has given them. They cook meals in straw huts, wash clothes in the river, and live without electricity.

Everyday while here in Haiti I am reminded to a new level of the fulfillment and joy that comes with giving. Many times this week, Mother Theresa’s words have come to me:

“It is in giving that you truly receive.”

That is true not only for the children but for my life and not only for my life while I am here in Haiti but for your life in Williamsburg. When we give and pour out, we receive far more.

It makes me think of the rich young ruler who came before Jesus searching for the key to eternal life. Jesus told him to sell everything he had and give the money to the poor. Jesus was not trying to scare the man off, make him miserable, or discourage the man’s faith. He was simply giving the man an opportunity - an opportunity to give and to be free from the bondage that stuff can have on us. He was offering the man the ticket to freedom and from what we see, the man was not interested (Matthew 19:16-22).

The people here give so generously and freely. There is no holding back even though in my eyes, they may have so little. We serve a great God who does not see things the way we see them. Hallelujah!

A few more points that you can be praying for:
Eglise Communion De La Manne Evangelique D’Haiti|
Pastors Roger and Gladys Wilson: wisdom, strength, and grace as they lead their church.
Unity for the church and the churches of Haiti.
Finances to support adding a facility so that they can provide a children's’ program during the services. Due to the earthquake, everything was ruined so that there is no separate space for the children.
Grace to grow and reach the unreached.

Thank you! Much love to you, Church!

Haiti 2011 | Prayer Points 1.

A few points that you can be praying for:
Wings of Refuge Children Home|
- Building Project: Currently, they are renting a home that is too small and does not give the kids any yard to play in. The land is bought and the foundation has been set. The project now just needs the finances to finish it.
- Pray for financial provision! Pray for the right people to partner with what God is doing here and for strategy and wisdom to know how to better raise the funds.
- Pray for the children: a few more will be coming this and next week to live at the home!
- Pray for the children to be healthy: many of them come with sicknesses that need medical attention (which adds to the cost).
- Pray for the Staff (Stevenson, Nana, Kenson, Aluna, and Ketchia). They work long and tirelessly to give these kids a different life.
Pray for the kids to know Jesus!

Tomorrow, I will post some prayer points for the church, Eglise Communion De La Manne Evangelique D’Haiti.

Love you all and thank you for praying!

Haiti 2011 | Blog 3.

In the church we have been visiting (Pastor Wilson’s church) here in Haiti, Psalm 94:17 is painted above the alter. It says,

“Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul would soon have settled in silence.”

I love that. Unless the Lord had come through, there really would not be anything to say. There is a dependence upon the Lord in this verse that I think is so beautiful. There is an acknowledgment of who He is that makes everything else so simple.

A corporate service or prayer service here in Haiti is a different thing. The Sunday service begins at 6am and ends at about 11am. Then, there is the youth service that went from 3pm till about 6pm. And then there is the night service from 6pm to about 9pm.

The church has corporate prayer each morning of the week at 4:30am in a different home and people attend! They also have a monthly prayer service on Friday that goes from 6pm to 12am and then on Saturday from 6am-12pm (where people fill the church with sleeping bags from 12am-6am to rest in between).

The church is filled with people who really seem to believe in what they are doing whether it is engaging the Lord in prayer, worship, talking with others, or listening to the message. They really believe that Jesus is everything and that without Him, they are nothing and this is obvious by the way they pour their lives out before Him. They know how to cry to the Lord and they know how to dance before the Lord. They really don’t care what the person to their right or left thinks of them - that is what a right perspective of God will do for you.

Here is an introduction to one more of the beautiful children from Wings of Refuge:

Erinel is five years old and is the happiest little guy I have ever met. He rarely is not smiling, laughing, wanting to be held, and sweating. We spend most of the day laughing at his little mannerisms - from his facial expressions to his inability to talk quietly, to his fascinating skill in repeating English words and phrases (you have to hear him say “I love you”).

I will be updating the blog shortly with prayer points. Thanks for staying tuned and for all the prayer! I feel it and appreciate you all greatly.

Haiti 2011 | Blog 2.

We spent last night at Wings of Refuge. The kids were so excited to have us stay with them. I ended up staying with the girls in their room and think that I have never slept worse. I know that is terribly negative but it was so hot that it was hard to breathe, hard to get comfortable, and hard to sleep.

I was drenched with sweat by the time I woke up a half-hour after I fell asleep. It probably did not help that I had two little bodies squeezed in right next to mine - those two little bodies of course, fast asleep. I did not want to move in case I would wake them up. In fact, I hardly wanted to breath in case they would awake. But, at moments, I just had to sit up. It was that hot.

All I could think was, this is how they sleep every night?!? They slept so sound, so peacefully, without a peep or sigh.

I love that we serve a God who loves and cares for children, no matter their age, no matter their background, no matter if they were accepted or rejected by their parents.

King David wrote,
“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling” [Psalm 68:5].

That has taken on a whole new meaning for me this week. God is a Father to the fatherless.

James then wrote later,
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” [James 1:27].

I can’t help but think that Jesus desires to use His church to care for orphans and widows. Though He could easily do it on His own, He wants to use us. I have been so blessed being used in caring for children who have no parents to call their own.

Since most of my time is being spent at Wings of Refuge, I would love to introduce you to each of the children that currently live there. I will start with the two youngest of the bunch. They are both three years old and extremely different from each other.

Angelina is the first pictured here and these two pictures give you a taste of the many faces that come with Angelina. She is my little love and we have become close friends the past two days. She is spunky, fun, brilliant, and the most stubborn little thing.

Betchina is still getting used to the transition to Wings of Refuge but tries to keep up with the rest of them. She is just precious. She loves to be held (I guess all of them do actually) and loves to be sung to.

Pray you are doing well, CLC Family! Love you, miss you all, and thank you for all the prayer!

- Holly Aman

Haiti 2011 | Blog 1.

Personally, I think that a blog should take each post and focus on one thought, one lesson learned, or one challenge passed. However, I have absolutely no idea what one to focus from the past few days. I had intended to blog everyday to alleviate the pressure of summarizing or writing far too long posts but the internet has not been working since I got here.

Boy, God is good. There is not one moment that I am not positive that He led me here not only for the lives I am coming in contact with but for my own refining, growth, and character. My goal coming to Haiti was to be a blessing to those who already laboring here but I honestly feel that they have blessed me far beyond any blessing I have been.

I love the way people live here. It is definitely not easier but there is something so beautiful about it. Whether it is to washing clothes by hand, never knowing if electricity is going to work, breaking ice by hand, and so many other things that are simply afterthoughts in the United States, there is something so simple about it.

We have been spending most of our time with the children from Wings of Refuge Children’s Home but had an opportunity on Saturday to help run a kids’ program for the children from one of the tent communities. There are still many people living in tents since the earthquake. Can you even imagine? This tent city that we visited with was right next to the Prime Minister’s house, so it is said to be the nicest.

The children are beautiful. Stunning, really. They are so happy, so caring, so considerate, and so helpful. Many of them have close to nothing to call their own but they truly love life. While helping with the program at the Tent City, I noticed there was so much trash all around (which is not a rare scene at all, due to the lack of trashcans). I asked around for a bag (“sha-she” in Creole) and began to pick up trash. At first people just watched but after only a few minutes many children and teenagers had joined in the effort. It got to a point where they were fighting about who could hold the bag for the others to throw the trash into.

The children really don’t want anything except your attention. They want to be held, loved, and played with above all else. Though the clothing and items are appreciated, all they want is you. I don’t think this is any different than any other child in the world, however somewhere along the line it is easier and less disappointing to go for the possessions.

More than anything, I am reminded that Jesus Christ is the hope for the world. No matter the circumstance. No matter the situation. No matter the person or issue. No matter the country. He is the answer and it is how we respond to Him that changes everything. I have been pondering over this story in Luke for a few days now...

“...Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.” [Luke 13:10-13].

I love that in her own strength she could not straighten up at all, but then, Jesus comes on the scene and everything changes. It is easy to become overwhelmed in a country that is so bound by poverty, corrupt government, and spiritual oppression, however, Jesus is the answer. Not just for Haiti, but for the United States. I love that. That does not mean that it will look the same but It really is that simple.

I could go on for about two weeks about what God has been doing, showing me, and challenging me in just these past few days but I want to go help get dinner on the table. Thank you so much for all the prayers and support. Love you all and miss you, dearly! Can’t wait to hear all that God is doing in YOU over these past two weeks.

- Holly Aman

NYC 2011 | Blog 10.

Trips can induce some of the funniest feelings. For instance, each day of this trip felt like a week. On Saturday, when we were celebrating Bri's birthday by going to a Mexican place, I said something like, "We've sat at different tables ever since we've gotten here - let's all sit at a big table tonight." Then I realized we had "gotten here" the night before. I guess what I'm trying to convey is that each day was packed so much that Williamsburg felt like a different lifetime. This was all true until Wednesday, when we were getting closer to our departure. Then the feelings flipped: it felt like we'd only been in New York City for a day or two, and that Thursday morning was coming at us at 1,000 miles a minute. So to look over the entire week and tell you about it is a very odd reality to me right now.

Wednesday night we found ourselves driving through NYC looking to and fro in search of people making their beds on the streets. We were able to meet about forty homeless people that night, providing prayer, blankets, water, PB&Js, some clothing, and toiletry packs to anyone who wanted them. At one stop Carrie, Ericken, and I spotted some guys setting up cardboard box living quarters in the cold rain. This would be their place for the night. That reality in itself was humbling. After a few minutes, Carrie and I got to meet and talk with a guy named Moses. When we asked if there was anything he would like for us to pray for him he said very honestly, "food." As soon as he said this I thought of the line from "The Lord's Prayer" saying, "give us today our daily bread." When people prayed that in Jesus's time they probably meant it literally. When Moses essentially asked us to pray this, he meant it literally. I was so humbled by this man's request. I had never prayed for myself or any other person that food would be available for the eating. Talking to and praying for Moses (among others) really shoved in my face the reminder that these were people out here, people whose dreams have been shattered, whose passions have probably been stifled nearly to death. This too was humbling.

People. I feel that the value in and of people is what God was really speaking to me all week long. Whether it was regarding busy New Yorkers, the homeless, the kids we met at the Jamaica House, or my team members, I was constantly impressed with the greatness that is in people. On the note of my team members, I really have left this trip feeling like it was the best week of my life. And it has been. I have absolutely loved being around Mr. Aman, Holly, Josh, Ericken, Will, Mishi, Briana, and Carrie for an approximate collective time period of 100 hours. Sure, some edges were rubbed, we were all offended at some point, and all appropriately corrected too, but I feel that community is where the growth is. A lot of us probably grew so much more regarding how we treat people in this one week than we did listening to fifty messages from services. Not because the messages weren't effective, but because becoming a part of something with other people is a conduit of God's transformation. I am so thankful for God's way of doing things. They're so much better than our ways.

As I've been writing this I keep thinking of something C.S. Lewis said in his book The Four Loves.

"The truly wide taste in humanity will similarly find something to appreciate in the cross-section of humanity whom one has to meet every day. In my experience it is affection that creates this taste, teaching us first to notice, then to endure, then to smile at, then to enjoy, and finally to appreciate, the people who ‘happen to be there’. Made for us? Thank God, no. They are themselves, odder than you could have believed and worth far more than we guessed."

Everyone's valuable. Everyone's made with gifting, talent, humor, and quirks. I guess it's our job to look at people with appreciation- not condemnation, judgment, nit-picking, and our own boastfulness. I am really challenged in this. I've loved New York. I didn't buy the T-Shirt, but I literally got to love on some New Yorkers. Now I'm back home. Now is the true though part. Now is where the rubber meets the road. Anyone can go far away, get uncomfortable, write blogs about it, and feel good about what went down. But it's so much tougher to follow Jesus and love people with our everyday lives sometimes, isn't it? I'd say so.

Please be praying for our team as we are back in our own City and are possibly facing the temptation of normalness. We so thank you for reading our accounts and praying for us all along the way! We have been blessed beyond our imaginations. Come along side us as we seek to love Williamsburg.

- Ashley Loveless

NYC 2011 | Blog 9.

I had planned on blogging earlier this week, but as many of you know, I picked up some kind of stomach bug in New York City. For a day and a half (Tuesday through Thursday morning), I was cooped up in my room, looking forward to being well again. Every time the gang came back from either a church service, ministry site, or prayer walk, Will and Ericken reported to my room making me laugh, telling me funny stories of things my Dad did or Holly wouldn't do. Each time they filled me with joy and laughter. Even though it probably meant the littlest to them, it meant a lot to me. I am so blessed to have them as friends.

-Joshua Aman

NYC 2011 | Blog 8.

I have always held this well-formed idea in my mind that a soup kitchen serves...well, soup. This morning I learned otherwise as our team served hearty meals to roughly 100 men and women at Bethel Gospel Assembly in Harlem. Aside from the ridiculous amount of fun our team had serving together, as we have the entire trip, Jesus really continued to magnify some of the many things He's been showing me while being His hands and feet in the city this week.

Something I came into this trip expecting to happen, but nowhere near to the level that it has happened, is the forming and growing of relationships within our team. It has truly been crazy how much I have come to know these people of character. While before I may never have said anything beyond small talk to a couple of the guys, now we share hours of laughing for no legit reason until our stomachs hurt, inside jokes, some new vocabulary (reference the "legit" I just used), and most of all memories made while serving the One who brought us all together to begin with. God has the greatest ideas sometimes.

Another thing that God has kept at the forefront of my mind this week is learning what it means to value people. Not valuing them because they like what I like, believe like I do, or appeal to me for some reason; but because Jesus loves them with an unimaginable depth and fervor. And how can I claim to be in an intimate relationship with Jesus if I don't love what He loves the most- His people? I find it ironic that we (maybe it's just me, but I get the feeling I'm not alone) so often revolve our mindset around the people who make us look good, while Jesus (you know, that guy in the Bible we want to be like) was more concerned with those who offer Him nothing whatsoever and could "dirty" His reputation.

To expand on a quote from Horton Hears a Who - People are people, no matter how small, poor, rich, smart, disgusting, or downright mean they are. God doesn't love us because we are lovable, for we are anything but; yet He loves us because He is Love itself, love incarnate, love moving and living and breathing. I cannot look at a person the same way again. There is a Jesus-crafted life inside of that individual, even if it is entirely dead and waiting to be awakened to a reality of inexplicable purpose and fulfillment, it is there none the less. There's no skirting around it- loving God and loving people are directly proportional.

God is working on me so much on this trip, and I know He is in the rest of the team as well. I could go on for hours just delving into it all. Gosh Jesus is faithful. He really is good, all the time.

-Carrie Haufler

NYC 2011 | Blog 7.

After a prayer walk across the Brooklyn Bridge that turned very cold and wet, we went to Saint Paul’s Cathedral. In case you do not know, Saint Paul’s served thousands of people during the events that came with September 11th. They served firefighters, bloody and exhausted; they served victims, traumatized and hurt; and they served anyone else in need of food, a cot to rest on, a massage, or any medical attention. Saint Paul’s was seen as a refuge and a safe place; they offered hope to people in a great time of need. As we walked around the cathedral and looked at the different memorials and reminders of what took place on September 11th and the few months that followed, I came across this quote (a firefighter said this to a reporter about Saint Paul’s):

“When I come in that door, I’m covered with blood, sometimes, and they hug me. They love me, they take care of me, they treat me as a real human being. And then they feed me, and they massage me, and they give me adjustments. These are my people. This is my place. This is where I come to be with God.”

Isn’t that what the church is supposed to be? A safe place. A refuge for the hurting. A place where people are treated as humans no matter what they walk in carrying. A place where people are loved, accepted, and taken care of. I love that people taking care of this man led him to God. What began with people ended with God. How beautiful that we, the church, can be that for people - a way to the almighty and loving God. What an opportunity. What a responsibility.

-Holly Aman

NYC 2011 | Blog 6.

Well, we went to the Jamaica Shelter (a family shelter in Jamaica, Queens) to teach and play with less fortunate children.  We were in the CLC van coming up with a game plan of what to do and say, really having no idea what we were going to run into. We got there safely and the atmosphere was actually really relaxed and fun, a vibe we were not expecting. We did all sorts of games and activities which were really entertaining to watch our team complete. We really reached out to the children and got to know them on a personal level. Also, Ashley shared our love for Jesus with a fun Bible story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, and at the end our team prayed for the kids' lives and futures. In all, we had a great time and got these kids to know God's love.

-Ericken Moore

NYC 2011 | Blog 5.

Team at the CP Center.  Jason, our tour-guide, in the front in the Mets hat.

Today we started doing ministry work. We heard this awesome word this morning by Pastor Peter about how we have to touch the unclean to bless them, and also about what Jesus does in cities. The first thing Pastor Peter said is that Jesus went into the city, secondly he shows compassion, and thirdly he brings a level of confrontation. As we follow Jesus's example in these things we are invading the darkness just like he did. Soon after our session with him we met our guide Mr. John who assisted us in our trip to the New York Cerebral Palsy Center. There we met Jason, our funny guide who is also a patient at NYCPC.  During our time there we got to sing, meet, and talk with the patients. After the tour we met the Vice President of the organization, who gave us a history about the center and told us about the new building and location they are moving into this September. The whole experience was a blast and I just felt like God was really grabbing my heart regarding keeping our hearts open and staying away from complaining. There are people who are not like us but still worship him. To him we are all made to minster to different people. God loves us, we love him, and we are called to love people.

-Mishi Bryant

NYC 2011 | Blog 4.

Team waiting for the Subway.

Ashley on the Subway.

A day of two's ... Two church services, two meals out, two subway excursions, two lost kids (ah, gottcha ... We only lost one!).  Our day commenced with a few on the team deciding to sleep in and forego the pancakes.  But with fiber and power bars available - no one went hungry for long.  We started with an 11 am service at the Hillsong NYC Church after a subway ride and some walking (in NY, 11 is the early service!)  Worship was as one would expect worship to be led by Hillsong United ... WOW to say the least.  The church was friendly with a capital "F" ... Very open to visitors, engaging, and even handed out PopTarts and water after worship.  Of course no Panera .... but POPTARTS!  A great word was shared out of Judges 16 and we witnessed at least a dozen people making a commitment to Jesus!  Our next decision was about transportation and lunch ... And we opted to walk the 40 blocks uptown getting a NY Deli Sandwich on the way and then attending the Times Square Church's 3:00 service.  TSC is an established church founded by Bruce Wilkerson in the mid 80's.  They own a beautiful theatre right on Times Square and there is no doubt about their influence.  The service was packed!  Worship and word are more traditional, however, no less spirit filled.  The word was preached about prayer and how prayer shows us God's heart, not the reverse as one often expects.  It was a great opportunity to see the breadth of variety in worship, word, and fellowship and while both were Jesus centered, on point and relevant - there is clearly no competition between the two (those comfortable in one or the other will absolutely prefer that one).  While Caviar was not served at TSC, let's just leave that as a comparison ... poptarts or caviar?  Finally, we rode the subway back to our temporary home ... while the subway experience is still fresh, it is clear that the game playing on board is not getting old (except for the other passengers around us who undoubtedly wish we would have boarded another car).  But at least a few around also undoubtedly smile at something we do as the gentle love and team spirit is no doubt evident.  The team is coming together and I personally can not wait to be stretched and to see the team stretched during the next three days of up close & hands on ministry.   We miss you all and wish you could be here with us.

-Bob Aman

NYC 2011 | Blog 3.

Birthday Girl! Bri's sweet 16 in New York City!

Our team in Times Square.

Wow, what a day! Today was our day off and a day full of site-seeing, shopping, hanging out with friends, doing nothing but enjoying each others' company. Truly amazing, today was filled with excitement and fellowship. I've never been to New York in depth like I've done today. We saw incredible sights, rode the subway all around town and of course went to Time Square! Truly breath taking events! Plus having a birthday in New York, and having over thirty people who you don't know sing "Happy Birthday" to you is something that I know I'll never forget.  Ha, life changing experience. Overall, today was a perfect way to spend our day off and I can't wait to see what else New York had to offer us!

P.S. Today was also my first lesson in bargaining! Got a price down by ten bucks! Wow, it was such a rush. It was legit the most amazing experience :)

-Briana Royster