Un Año Abajo, Toda Una Vida Para Ir

One year down, a lifetime to go. Celebration and reflection are the two words describing how I am feeling today. One year ago today I packed up a moving truck and moved to the Big Apple from East TN. All I can do is celebrate. And thank. And reflect.

I tend to be someone who finds a song that can pretty much describe my mood/feelings so this post will be done in songs to describe what this year has meant/done for me.

 I had an instant love with this city. They were truly giving me good vibrations. I loved everything about it. Frank says it best in this song (cliche I know). But really. I loved it. The people, the sites, I really was super green. NYC could do no wrong.

And then reality set in. I moved to a place that is the total opposite of what I had known. I moved to a place where I didn't speak one of the dominant languages, working in an urban ER, going to a church that did things differently than I was used to. The shock was settling in. What had I gotten myself in to?? Bastille uses amazing drums and gregorian chant-type BGVs in this song to pretty much describes how I had to make it through some days.

 But if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
Nothing changed at all?
And if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
You've been here before?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

-Bastille "Pompeii"

And then something happened. I let Jesus come in and help me call this place home. I don't remember the day or a specific moment but these people, this place? Its home. These perfectly imperfect people who I had come to know and love were now family. We celebrate eachother's differences and see the beauty in the things that unite us. The people at work have brought nothing but joy to my life. We have a comradery that knits us in to eachother's lives like not many other experiences can. My job brings a lot of exhaustion and stress but it is one of the most rewarding jobs I've ever had and my coworkers are some of the most interesting and amazing people I have met.  

And my CCF fam? I can't even begin. No word for the way you have welcomed me in and made me feel at home. You are my best friends and brightest parts of my week. Thank you for loving Jesus faithfully and loving me well.

To my Tennessee and New York friends and family, you are home.

I will never be a stranger
I will never be alone
Cause deep inside of me I know that
Wherever you are is home

-Dave Barnes "Home"

There is something beautiful about home and being known. More recently I have been reflecting on what it means to be known and to know God and others. Psalm 139 is one of those chapters that reminds me that I am known and loved. 

O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
    you discern my thoughts from afar. 

 You search out my path and my lying down
    and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue,
    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

You hem me in, behind and before,
    and lay your hand upon me.

To be known like that is scary but beautiful! How comforting to know that I don't have to put on an act for God. I can be 100% myself. And the goal of community is to be that way as well. The people in TN know me. And thankfully, I can be that way with people here now. I could go on and on about how amazing knowing and being known is (and how beneficial it is for the kingdom) but that's another topic for another day. Just know that I love that I am known here!

Now on to the less serious stuff. The things I have learned/how I have changed.

1. Un Poquito Espanol

  I am in no way a Spanish expert but I am slightly surprised at the vocabulary I have picked up. Especially medical spanish. And I really am trying to learn mas (more). Immersion truly is the best way to learn a language. And now the only song I know completely in Spanish- La Bamba

2. Snitches Get Stitches

 This is hood lingo/lessons I have learned. Other words include "Salty" (mad about something), "Brick" (super cold outside), "bae" (significant other), "What you not gonna do is" (self explanatory), "Ratchet" (crazy person, esp a girl). These are a few terms that seem to have found their way in to my vocabulary for better or for worse. I won't post the whole song but obviously I have to represent my hood.

So tell me where you from? Uptown, baby, uptown, baby

3. Public Transportation

 I sold my car right before moving here and now I can't remember what it was like to own one. Its nice not having to stress about parking spots and gas. But with that you are completely reliant on others to get you from Point A to Point B even if they take you to Points C, D, E, and F before getting there. Shoutout to the MTA though for getting me there most of the time.

4. Sleep

 Something I don't get enough of or when I do, it's at the oddest hours. I work night shift now so you can almost guarantee sleep doesn't happen. I find myself going over to friends' houses to hang and falling asleep on their couches. I know this sounds weird but I feel like that's another way I have grown more comfortable around others. I trust them not to write silly things on my face while I'm sleeping (don't get any ideas). Oh John, thanks for writing this song about sleep.

Well, I am going to close this with my cliche New York song. One that embodies the great city I live in. I know this is all over the place but that seems to be my life recently. I love this place and am so thankful that God placed me here. I am also thankful for the supportive family and friends I have back in TN.

Empire State Of Mind

Dwell on (True) Beauty

“Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.” -Marcus Aurelius

I was recently asked by someone from Tennessee how I find beauty in a place that seems to lack the mountains and nature and open spaces that I had grown accustomed to finding beauty in. I loved this question and needed time to process and really discover what beauty meant to me and then how to find it.


Beauty (Dictionary.com):
1. The quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest).

Now going by this definition, I will never be able to accurately express how someone individually could find beauty because beauty is different for each person. What I think is beautiful may be totally different from you. You may hate the color yellow while my entire apartment has a yellow theme. And let's face it, if all of us liked the same thing, what a boring and dull place this would be!

By this definition I will answer the question and then by another definition I will define beauty. Back in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, beauty was easily seen in nature. In the rolling hills, the green grass everywhere, the changing leaves, the wildlife, beauty was tangible. Something all of my 5 senses could participate in. East Tennessee is beautiful! And of course you can have endless bonfires (PS bonfires are my love language.) This picture was taken at the last bonfire I attended before moving and I wish I could just bottle up this moment forever. It was spent with friends sharing stories, eating smores, laughing, listening to music, and enjoying Jesus. This is Tennessee to me.

But let me give you a glimpse of some of the natural beauty I have seen here in New York.
The skyline at night: Breathtaking

The beach (which is just a subway ride away)

Central Park in the snow: Gorgeous

And a little closer to home, Washington Heights

And a short drive away in New Jersey, I can see this:

Outdoor beauty is totally possible here. There may be no rolling hills but there sure are sights and sounds that awaken my heart and reveal God's masterpiece.

But to me, beauty is much more that a pretty sunset or a nice skyline. I find beauty in the people here. Now you are thinking "Well duh, you live in fashion capital of the world. Models and celebrities are everywhere." Elizabeth Kubler-Ross says it best when describing beautiful people.

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”

Beauty here is often in the most unlikely of people, in the most unlikely of places. I find beauty in people and their stories, not in their outward appearance. While I believe that yes people looks-wise are beautiful, even the Bible says there is more than just outward beauty.

"Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, 

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

Proverbs 31:30

When I see and hear how people have lived and grown and struggled, I see and hear what a beautiful story that God is painting. I see every brush stroke of their lives contributing to some grand masterpiece that will be displayed for all to see. The most beautiful thing in life we can do is to point to the most beautiful thing-the Gospel. The paintings of our lives will look messy during the process, often times we may question the direction of the painter. But when the Gospel pallet comes in and takes over the artwork, God is seen and nothing, absolutely nothing, is more beautiful than He.

So as you read this I challenge you to do 2 things. #1-Go outside and enjoy the beauty that God has painted before you, whether it be rolling hills, rolling tumbleweeds, or rolling subway cars. Whatever your surroundings, find God. The second thing I want to challenge you with is this-find beauty in others. Find it in the pain, the heartache, the messy. Find it in the happiness, the success, the joy. But most of all, see that the beauty in others is really a beauty that comes from something far more beautiful than they. Look to the painter and ask Him to come in and paint you with new colors you never thought possible.

Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious

1 Peter 3:3-4

 

 

What I Learned from Aslan

"'If there is anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly."
"Then he isn't safe?" asked Lucy.
"Safe?" said Mr. Beaver; "don't you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he is good. He is the King, I tell you.'"  -Excerpt from "Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis

For those of you who know me, you know my intense love for all things C.S. Lewis, in particular the character of Aslan. This quote is one of my absolute favorites from the series. And this quote can sum up my whole time in NYC. Scratch that, my whole life.

If you have never had the extreme pleasures of reading the "Chronicles of Narnia", I implore you to do so. These books were truly used to bring me closer to Christ. The character of Aslan is the representation of God throughout the series. And let me tell you. Even the mere mention of the name Aslan around me and the waterworks turn on. I just love how he embodies all these different characteristics of God which ultimately leads me to praise the true God.

Now, to the real reason I am writing. I think often times we as Christians, myself included, think this whole following Christ thing is going to be rainbows and butterflies. The fact is, being a Christian means we are guaranteed heartache, trials, and pain. Just read 1 Peter 4:12-19 "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name."

As you read this, do not think "Oh my goodness has her time in NYC been all heartache and pain?" Of course not! My heart leaps when I think about all the goodness that has been bestowed upon me. I literally cannot speak enough of the goodness of Christ here in my life. But let it be known, there have been hard times. Times that haven't been easy. Times that haven't been "safe" by the world's standard.

Take a look at this from a "what's safe" standpoint. Would the safe choice be to move from my family and friends and everything I have known to a city where I know no one, to a culture I am not familiar with, to a place where many people around me do not speak the same language as me? Thoughts of "safe" went out the door the second I unpacked the moving truck. (Disclaimer because I know my family reads this: I live in a safe place. But really nowhere is completely safe. If God wants something to happen, it will happen regardless of whether you are curled up next to your fireplace with your family in TN or in NYC. Another disclaimer, discernment must be used when doing things so you shouldn't be completely reckless with your life. Another discussion for another day but you get my point)

This move has been a huge leap of faith for me and one that couldn't have happened without complete trust that God is the one in control. There have been times that have been hard. Times where I have cried and questioned why God would put me through things. Times where I have terribly missed my family and friends from TN. But all that pain, heartache, suffering? I wouldn't trade a second. It has been for my good. It has always been for my good. He knows what's best for me and my heart. He gives and withholds knowing what is the most good for me and what will bring Him the most glory.

So yes, He knows what is good is not is not necessarily safe. But his good is always better than our good. And always remember, God's glory is our ultimate good. And fear not, you can trust God knows what he is doing when it comes to knowing what is good and what is not. For he is King.

"Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,
When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,
And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again."

Kim Kardashian's Marriage, William McKinley's Second Term, and a Red Blood Cell's Life Span

What do all these things have in common? Well, they all are shorter than the amount of time I have lived in NYC. On December 1st, I officially have lived in NYC for 6 months. Wowza!! These six months have flown by! I cannot believe how quickly life up here has become the norm and how easily God has made this transition for me. So here are a few things that I have done/experienced over the past 6 months:

1. The NYC Seasons: I lived in one of the hottest summers of my whole life and (miraculously) survived. And then there was Fall. Oh. My. Word. Gorgeous! The fall colors in Central Park? Breathtaking. Also, Fall lasted about 2.1 seconds. And now on to Winter. Where I am now. The wind is RIDICULOUS! I'm just waiting for a girl with red slippers and a dog named Todo to show up. I did experience my first snow the other day. Beautiful!! I can't wait for a big snow where it covers the streets!!

2. Holidays: I had my first birthday and first Thanksgiving away from my family. I missed them very much and it makes me cherish and appreciate when we do get to spend time together. I had some friends from TN spend time in the city over Thanksgiving. We got to see the parade (AMAZING) and have an amazing Friendsgiving feast before I worked on Thanksgiving night.

3. Spanish: My Spanish vocabulary has grown exponentially since moving here. I still can't hold a conversation or even ask what the weather is but I have learned many useful words especially related to my profession. Medicina para dolor in cabasa. No hablo espanol. Un piquinto sangre. (Yep I know I butchered the spelling and grammar of those. That's some East TN Spanglish for you!)

4. 65 miles: This is the distance I have walked to and from work alone (not including everywhere else) since living here. I walk most of the places I go and definitely have adjusted to life without a car.

5. Brooklyn: I love Brooklyn!! It is such a pretty part of the city and if I were rich beyond compare, I could totally see myself living in Dumbo. I love Brooklyn for many reasons (including one of my besties lives there). Everyone should experience L&B Spumoni Gardens pizza before you die. Seriously the best in the whole city!!!

6. Membership: I joined a church here in the city and am beyond blessed by the community of believers. CCF has taught me what community looks like, how family-away-from-family feels, and what Jesus really meant by "Go and make disciples". I can't say enough about my church and friends I have made there.

7. Friends: I am seriously so blessed in this department. Who knew the first girl I talked to about bible study at church would end up becoming my best friend? Who knew that a random lunch after church with another girl would end up blossoming in to a friendship with someone who is seriously the New York version of me? Who knew that the first guy I talked to at church would end up working with me and I would seriously be so blessed by our friendship? Who knew that the 2 girls that my bestie lives with would become very dear friends to me and 2 girls who I seriously look up to? Who knew that a mother of 3 from Jersey would end up bringing me in to her world and discipling me in my walk with Christ? Who knew that a pint-sized girl from Queens would seriously make me laugh harder and love deeper than most others? Who knew that 2 houses of guys would love on me and my sisters in Christ and show me what Biblical manhood looks like lived out in NYC? Who knew that a girl from Jersey who takes the bus weekly to the Heights would touch my heart and teach me about passion for Christ? Who knew that a nurse from SoHo would keep me sane during my crazy shifts at work and become a bestie almost immediately? Who knew my Jamaican beauty from Queens would teach me about relaxing and taking life in strides? God knew. Before I moved here. Before I even thought about moving here. I could go on and on and on about all the people in my life that have shaped me and molded me here in NYC. I love all of them dearly and can't remember what my life was like before them. Jesus is good. So so good.

8. Deaths: Since moving here, I have had 2 family members and my guinea pig die. While I was of course deeply saddened, I learned that God is the supplier of many things, including peace and comfort. I am thankful I got to go to TN for a few days after one of deaths.

There have been so many other places and moments and emotions I have experienced here that I cannot find words for at this time. I am so beyond blessed for this chapter in my life. I love all the people and experiences I have lived. And its only been 6 months. I can't wait for what the next 6 months-even 6 years- here hold!

It Don't Matter If You're Black or White

So it has been quite a while since I have posted on here (sorry) but I have been super busy (a good thing) and I have been contemplating this post for some time. Most of you read the title and weren't surprised. If you know me at all, you know my intense love for all things Michael Jackson. And how apropos on the 50th anniversary of MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech. But I feel like this is something that needs to be said.

So being completely honest, when I moved here I had a HUGE culture shock. I mean not only the physical environment but the people and culture and just general way of life. As I have previously said, I moved to an area predominantly of the Hispanic culture and particularly Dominican. *Disclaimer: I am super blessed to live in a community filled with literally every background, race, and culture but it is primarily Hispanic.* I'll tell you what I have learned in just my 3 short months of living here about this culture.

1. They love. Their love is loud. Their love is infectious. Their love is defensive. Their love is like a love I never felt in TN. Not that my parents and friends weren't this way but a whole community? Nope. I have felt love and help like never before.

2. They are super family-oriented. Everyone is family whether by blood or by location or whatever else. Everyone is family. I love it. I feel very included and loved. My absolute most favorite thing in the whole world is when the owner of the laundromat I go to calls me "Mami". He is this super cute little old man who wears suspenders and a boaters hat and he looks out for me. I sincerely melt every time he calls me that because I feel like he is treating me like a family member and friend (except when he tells me 800 times to check to see if the dryer is on before I assume it is and waste time. Although really I think it is just he feels bad for me wasting my time sitting there.)

3. Their food is DELICIOUS! I have made a bunch of friends who have introduced me to true Dominican food and let me tell you: YUM!!! I believe my taste buds must be Dominican. 90% of the dishes I've had I couldn't tell you the names but so stinkin delicious!

4. They need Jesus. This is nothing specific to the Dominican community. This is every community. We all need Jesus. We need Him to come pull us up out of our sinful mess, clean us up like only He can, and change us so He ultimately gets all the glory.

As you can see, this community was perfectly made to woo my heart. But when I first moved here, I felt so out of place I couldn't see it for all its glory. (Here's where I get really honest). Being the minority here was something I really struggled with. I think everyone here knew that I was struggling with this too. I had no idea why I was suddenly so aware of my race. And then I started to get so mad that people treated me differently because I was white (or so I thought). I literally would be so aware everywhere I was of my race. I even got to the point where I was sad/angry that I was white and wanted to be Hispanic so I could fit in.

I am so thankful for the people God put in my life during this time to speak truth about the situation to me. One conversation in particular really changed my thinking. This person told me to stop trying to be like everyone else. God made me who I am for a reason and the color I am for a reason and the background I am for a reason and even my Tennessee twang for a reason. This person told me to stop trying to fit everyone in to one little box but instead embrace everyone's differences and learn from them. How dull if we all were the exact same! Reminds me of 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. We can't all be a foot or a hand. We need eachother and we need our differences!

And then I was reading and Jesus said the exact right thing (as He always does).

Psalm 139:13-14 "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."

I am perfectly made as me because of God's great works. I am so thankful that God made me so uncomfortable or else I might never have faced this issue. I am so thankful I live in a community as diverse as I do. I am thankful that I have brothers and sisters in Christ who not only celebrate our differences but also the one uniting factor, Jesus.

I pray this post enlightens you and maybe spurs something in you. I literally can't thank God enough for sending me here and letting me find some of the funniest, coolest, greatest friends who I know I can call family as well. And as always, I thank God for sending His son to die for my messy, dirty, rotten, undeserving life.

Happiness and Hot Flashes

“Happiness is only real when shared" -Jon Krakauer, Into The Wild

I absolutely LOVE this quote! I am experiencing a happiness that I haven't known before and all I want to do is share it with you! Since the last time I have posted, God has been working so much in my heart and life. There are so many ways that God has revealed himself to me!.

I have been getting to know a lot more people at church and am actually starting to make some friends at church. There are a couple of girls who have been so welcoming and have really been so kind. Last week, a pipe in my apartment burst and they had to tear down the wall in my bathroom, remove my toilet, and turn off my water. No big deal had I been in TN where I can stay with my parents or one of my friends. Here, I didn't really know anybody and didn't have anywhere to stay. I called one of the girls I've become friends with and she basically welcomed me with open arms and no time limit. What a blessing! So yes, the pipe bursting was inconvenient and scary but what a blessing it was! I got to see how hospitable and caring this girl is.

I have been going to a bible study that really has been such a blessing. The Lord is working in the lives of everyone that attends and is challenging me in every aspect of my life. These people love you but don't let you stay in your sin. They constantly encourage openness and confession with each other (which is totally the way it should be in a community).

I have started work as well. Lots and lots of learning and classes have been happening. I am so excited to really get in the swing of things. I know this job is going to challenge me but I am so excited to see how God is going to work in the lives of me and my co-workers!

So in regards to the title of this post, I am so happy living here. But let me tell you, summers in NYC are so unbearably hot. It is so muggy and hot at all hours of the day (example: It's 11:00 at night and 77 degrees outside). I have permanently decided that I will not look nice anywhere I go because I just sweat all the time. Is this TMI?

I had my "I-Am-A-True-New-Yorker-Now" moment the other day. I had gone to Times Square to meet a friend from home for dinner. On my way back, I was asked by 2 different people about the subway and directions. And I actually knew the answer!! It really is the little things.

I want to close this post with encouragement for all of you. I have learned that God will use things that we would see as inconvenient or even suffering and turn them in to blessings. We don't understand why we go through things but God never promised that we wouldn't face adversity but that He would be there for us through it all. I pray that whatever you are going through in your life, no matter how big or small it may seem to you, look to God. He is there. He wants you to grow and lean on Him. And He will use your suffering to draw others to Christ as well. So instead of constantly questioning and fighting the suffering, I encourage you to pray and seek Christ. But I also encourage you who may not be suffering right now to look to those around you to see how you can help. Be thankful that God is allowing this time for you but I encourage you not to get comfortable in the comfort but to reach out to those in need. And please know that if you are needing something or needing prayer, please don't hesitate to ask!

Please don't see the above statements and think that I am suffering. God is blessing me in ways I could never have imagined. I have definitely had rough days and days where I have missed my family and friends tremendously but I know that God is using this time in my life to shape and mold me. I am truly happy and am so thankful for Christ and the promise of the Gospel!

The Process of Becoming Different

"The Process of Becoming Different." That is the Wikipedia definition for change. Never has there been a truer definition for my life. I am becoming different. I am living somewhere different and can already tell there are differences about myself. I want to apologize in advance because this post won't be as serious as my past posts but there have been too many experiences for me not to share (And don't worry, I'll get serious at the end).

APARTMENT LIVING
When moving in to an old building, there are many things that someone from the south needs to consider. Central heating and air...doesn't exist. Air conditioners and fans will be your best friends. I remember summers past where its been so hot that you're sticky and you jump in the pool just to gain some relief. Not here. Its a humidity that I'm not used to so sticky is definitely applicable but a pool? Yep, I've got a bathtub and that's about it. Oh, and Manhattan is an island so there is that water if you are wanting to get every disease known to man by dipping your left big toe in the water.

Another challenge living in an apartment here is the plugs. Sounds silly but grounded plugs didn't exist "pre-war". My bedroom has 1 outlet with 2 plugs. Having to become a minimalist. (Haha that's what I call a "first world problem").

THE SUBWAY
This is by far my most favorite thing about NYC. I know I am weird but if you want to know the culture, people, beliefs, hopes, family structures, etc of NY, ride the subway. There have been so many interesting and different types of people that I have seen/met on the subway. Learning the subway system has not been as bad as I thought it would be. I have become best friends with the "HopStop" app but there have been many times I have not used any sort of app or map to find my way around. My subway line has a guy who dresses like Michael Jackson and puts on performances every day on the subway with his boombox and costumes.

I want to do a photo series called "Subway Snoozers". It amazes me how fast and in what ways people fall asleep on the subway. It also amazes me that people know exactly when their stop is and wake up just as the subway stops at their station. I also want to gain the confidence to stand on the subway without holding on to the rails. I fall forward all the time when the train stops/goes unexpectedly so for now I try to sit as much as possible. In my eyes, real New Yorkers sleep and stand without holding on on the subway.

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS
When most people think NYC, they don't think Washington Heights. They think Theater District or Central Park or 5th Ave or even Wall Street but not Washington Heights. It is very different than anything I could have expected. This place has stolen my heart but in a way I could have never imagined. If you all know me, you know I am someone who loves diversity and different cultures. And boy is that true of here! This area is mostly of a Dominican culture. 95% of the people here speak Spanish and most of them speak it as a first or only language. There are some Asian and African American cultures represented here but mostly its Dominican.

I love love love this diversity! I love walking down the street and seeing so many different types of people. This has brought about many challenges and blessings. It has been difficult to live somewhere where I don't speak the same language as many of the people. And between my accent and theirs, it often times turns in to a "what did you say" stand off. God is using this to teach me that I am not in control and that I will have to rely on others. One example of this was a couple of days ago when my mother and I went in to a bakery to order a special dessert. The lady behind the counter didn't speak any English and we tried to count and point to what we wanted. This sweet little old man and lady came beside us and translated. The woman talked a little with my mother and the man had a little conversation with us. If I had spoken Spanish, would those conversations have happened? Would I have realized that one way to meet and love these people in Washington Heights is actually depending on THEM for help? (And don't worry, I plan on learning Spanish by both osmosis and conversationally.)

I thank God daily for this opportunity and am so overwhelmed that He loves me enough to come before me here and establish a home for me. I am thankful that I am learning more about Him and His people all over the world. I am thankful that even though this whole process is new and scary, His presence is making the transition possible and enjoyable.

THE CHURCH
I have only been to church once but already can sense that God is using these people to do something great in this city. Everyone was so welcoming and inviting and you can tell that they sincerely love Christ. Its so refreshing to be around a group of people who love the Lord in a city that has put money, fame, and power before Him. I love this quote by Margaret Mead and I really get the sense that this is true about the church.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

I pray that wherever you are, you ask God how you can be used to change your city. Be obedient to Christ and what He would have for your life. I guarantee you that He will do immeasurably more with your life than you could ever do on your own. I will leave you with a quote from David Platt, author of one of my favorite books "Radical".

“Radical obedience to Christ is not easy... It's not comfort, not health, not wealth, and not prosperity in this world. Radical obedience to Christ risks losing all these things. But in the end, such risk finds its reward in Christ. And he is more than enough for us.”