It’s hard to imagine that a year ago I was headed to New York as a tourist with my family unaware that I would be spending the next year of my life just a few miles away. Last week I was working in New York with The Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) helping move archives from lower Manhattan to Queens and then back to Port Newark. At the end of the day, all I wanted to do was get out of the city and back to Jersey! New York is an amazing place, but not sure if it is one for me. The stark contrast of rich and poor is unbelievable and because of the proximity it is unavoidable. I have seen so many people homeless and jobless. People step over and around the homeless most trying to avoid eye contact so they want feel guilty for not giving. I find myself doing the same thing not wanting to fall victim to a scam. Where has my compassion for others gone? This being said, I do not want to forget those in New York who are working tirelessly to help those in need. As my time comes to an end the bright lights of New York have dimmed. The ideas I once held about this amazing city have changed, but not all in a negative way. This last weekend I took a bike ride on Governors Island, tried “hot pot” in Queens for the first time, ate Indian food on the Upper West side, and I got to see Stomp! What a weekend!
As my internship comes to a close, I seem to be more focused on who I spend my last weekends with rather than where. I think I could live in New York for the rest of my life and still have a bucket list of things I wanted to see or experience, but it is once again the people in my life that make the year worth remembering. The friendships I will take away from this year are more exciting and rewarding than anything I experienced in New York. I have learned so much about living with others and trying to love people for who they are. I do, however, wonder why I find myself trying to make time for all of these people and so often forget about spending time with God. I find myself putting off that needed quiet time with God where I can pray and read. Instead of spending an hour praying and reading the bible like I did in YWAM, I am reduced to clicking a link on my droid phone and reading a daily devotional in the morning. It seems much harder to focus on spending time with God than spending time with the people I have become close to in my year in Newark.
Even during my struggles here, I cannot forget to be thankful for what God has given me in my time here and how he continues to work in my life. I have received emails, letters, and calls asking for updates about my trip next year, as well as, offering words of encouragement. In one month I have received almost $1,000 in support and a great deal on a plane ticket to San Diego. In all these ways I continue to see God working in my life, and feel more confident about taking this next step.
My last three weeks in Newark will be spent getting ready to move, saying goodbye, and finishing up work with the SCI. Please continue to pray for me; for my trip home, time with my family, and for my next year. It is scary to think in just a few months I will be leaving for another year of missions. Pray for my intern program as well. We are all taking big steps next year and need prayers for wisdom and strength. Finally I hope that you will pray for Newark Acts. It is close to finishing its inaugural year, and is already preparing for its next set of interns.
I hope everyone is having a great summer. God Bless!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
On My Way
Hello friends, I know it has been a while, but I have been waiting to hear back from YWAM San Diego Baja. It was a long wait, but yesterday I received a call from the director of the Chronological School of Biblical Studies and he offered me a position in the program. I am both excited and nervous about my next step. I am excited to spend another year serving others and learning about my faith, but nervous about spending another year in a new place. Newark has been great, but I have missed home more this year than in 2009-2010 when I was in Chile. At the same time, I cannot deny the call I have felt to continue serving. I was given a book to read this year by Donald Miller, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. In it he talks about living a “good story”. The only way I know to live a “good story” is to continue following what I think God is calling me to do.
I have learned so much this year, and owe much of that to the people I have grown close to in the Diocese of Newark and at Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI). The friends I have made here have taught me to think and challenge my faith, but also to remember we are all on the same journey and it is one that we need help with. The Diocese of Newark has welcomed me with open arms and I have been humbled by the support they have shown me. They have allowed me to question their theology, and have given me opportunities to serve and speak about my faith. I have had the chance to interact with the youth of the diocese as well as the clergy. Finally, SCI was the perfect job for the year. From day one they have given me the support and freedom to use my talents to serve the port. I have had the opportunity to learn about the port, the maritime community, and how we can help these amazing individuals. One of these individuals I met last week. Master Jun Expinosa, he is a Pilipino captain of a car ship. As I waited to take him and some of his crew to the mall, he invited me for lunch. While I waited, he told me about the crew and his career as a sailor. I asked him about working with this crew if they were a good crew, he responded simply by saying this was his family. He cared for them and in return he said they worked hard. He told me to look around the vessel…a twenty-year-old ship and it looks new. He smiled with pride! These are the type of people I get to serve every day.
As I finish up here, I am looking forward to YWAM. Through the YWAM Chronological School of Biblical Studies, I will be studying the bible while working with the base to minister to the community. I have heard great things about this YWAM base and am excited to continue learning and practicing my Spanish. Some things will be an adjustment, such as the fact that YWAM schedules much of your day. Even though YWAM is a non-denominational ministry, they have strong views about conduct on the base and how you act in your personal life. This was difficult for me last time while in YWAM. I don’t disagree with what they are trying to do, but I struggle with someone telling me how to live and what I can and cannot do. I will be living in a dorm with at least one roommate, and am expecting around 20 people to participate in this particular school. All of these things will be adjustments for me. I need prayers to prepare myself both mentally and spiritually to adjust to the YWAM life again. During the summer months I will be visiting family and friends in Minnesota and Texas and getting my things organized. I will be flying to San Diego the second week in September to start the School. Please continue to pray for God to prepare me as well as financial support. I need to raise $8,000 to cover tuition, room and board, and travel. Unlike the intern program here I will need to raise my own support. If you are interested in supporting me financially see below. Thank you again for all your prayers, letters, and thoughts they have kept me going. God Bless.
If you want to help support me financially please respond to this email or call me 956-266-2142. This will allow me to track where I am in the financial process. There are two ways to give. You can send a check to my house 960 Toledo Drive Brownsville TX 78526 made out to me or to the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas P.O. Box 6885 San Antonio, TX 78209. If you are sending the check to the diocese make the check out to the Diocese of West Texas and in the memo line put YWAM. This lets the diocese know that the money you are sending is designated for my mission trip. I want to say thank you again for all that you have done and continue to do to support me and my work. You are a blessing! Take Care.
I have learned so much this year, and owe much of that to the people I have grown close to in the Diocese of Newark and at Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI). The friends I have made here have taught me to think and challenge my faith, but also to remember we are all on the same journey and it is one that we need help with. The Diocese of Newark has welcomed me with open arms and I have been humbled by the support they have shown me. They have allowed me to question their theology, and have given me opportunities to serve and speak about my faith. I have had the chance to interact with the youth of the diocese as well as the clergy. Finally, SCI was the perfect job for the year. From day one they have given me the support and freedom to use my talents to serve the port. I have had the opportunity to learn about the port, the maritime community, and how we can help these amazing individuals. One of these individuals I met last week. Master Jun Expinosa, he is a Pilipino captain of a car ship. As I waited to take him and some of his crew to the mall, he invited me for lunch. While I waited, he told me about the crew and his career as a sailor. I asked him about working with this crew if they were a good crew, he responded simply by saying this was his family. He cared for them and in return he said they worked hard. He told me to look around the vessel…a twenty-year-old ship and it looks new. He smiled with pride! These are the type of people I get to serve every day.
As I finish up here, I am looking forward to YWAM. Through the YWAM Chronological School of Biblical Studies, I will be studying the bible while working with the base to minister to the community. I have heard great things about this YWAM base and am excited to continue learning and practicing my Spanish. Some things will be an adjustment, such as the fact that YWAM schedules much of your day. Even though YWAM is a non-denominational ministry, they have strong views about conduct on the base and how you act in your personal life. This was difficult for me last time while in YWAM. I don’t disagree with what they are trying to do, but I struggle with someone telling me how to live and what I can and cannot do. I will be living in a dorm with at least one roommate, and am expecting around 20 people to participate in this particular school. All of these things will be adjustments for me. I need prayers to prepare myself both mentally and spiritually to adjust to the YWAM life again. During the summer months I will be visiting family and friends in Minnesota and Texas and getting my things organized. I will be flying to San Diego the second week in September to start the School. Please continue to pray for God to prepare me as well as financial support. I need to raise $8,000 to cover tuition, room and board, and travel. Unlike the intern program here I will need to raise my own support. If you are interested in supporting me financially see below. Thank you again for all your prayers, letters, and thoughts they have kept me going. God Bless.
If you want to help support me financially please respond to this email or call me 956-266-2142. This will allow me to track where I am in the financial process. There are two ways to give. You can send a check to my house 960 Toledo Drive Brownsville TX 78526 made out to me or to the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas P.O. Box 6885 San Antonio, TX 78209. If you are sending the check to the diocese make the check out to the Diocese of West Texas and in the memo line put YWAM. This lets the diocese know that the money you are sending is designated for my mission trip. I want to say thank you again for all that you have done and continue to do to support me and my work. You are a blessing! Take Care.
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