Month: August 2009

Yesterday morning we were up early and on the train into the city. We got up to Harlem at 10 a.m. and worked on the New York City Relief Bus until 2 p.m. feeding the needy and assisting them in getting connected to rehab programs, housing, local churches, etc. That evening we visited uptown Manhattan and then spent the night in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn at Living Waters Fellowship. This morning we helped the church with their community breakfast and children’s sports program. This afternoon we took the train back to Long Island. After some down time and dinner we took the team out to prayer walk downtown Smithtown. It was an awesome time and a real privilege for me to facilitate and observe students growing in their sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit and their boldness to pray for the needs He brought into their hearts.

Today we again did a food truck with Lighthouse Mission, this time in Port Jefferson Station. We fed probably 75-100 people, and also made balloon animals and did face painting for the children. This evening we gave away free pizza and soda to about 100 students a Sunken Meadow State Park. The students were there as part of a summer program hosted by the Smithtown Veterans. It is out second summer partnering with them to bless the students of our community. Tomorrow morning I am off to New York City with our London Team where we will be working with the New York City Relief Bus and helping with a feeding program and children’s program Living Waters Fellowship in Brooklyn. All glory to God!

I’ve hardly had any time to blog these past few days. I’ve been very busy, constantly shuttling our London team around NYC and Long Island doing outreaches. On Tuesday the team worked on a farm that grows food to give to the poor. In the afternoon we went out east and did yard work for a woman who was recently diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Her children were absolutely in shock and blown away that we would come out and do such a thing. The daughter commented to me, “I can’t believe how hard they are working. They are really hustling!” When we were done we had removed tons of garbage, branches, bags of leaves, etc. They said they have never seen their property so nice. Before leaving we prayed with the children. We later found out that some ladies had gone in to meet with the woman while we were cleaning, and that she had accepted the Lord. Wow! And to think that it all happened because we were willing to go and do yard work!

This morning I was up at 5:30 a.m. after just 2 1/2 hours of sleep and off and running. I met our team from London at the train station and we headed into the city for a day of work/ministry and some sight-seeing. We worked for 5 hours at the 125+ year old Bowery Mission (the red brick building seen above) preparing and serving lunch to hundreds of people, sorting donated clothes, cleaning, as well as leading the noon chapel service. We did a ton of work and the team was outstanding. After that I took them to the South Street Seaport, the Staten Island Ferry from which we saw the Statue of Liberty, and Chinatown where the team did some shopping. We arrived home at 8 p.m. and enjoyed a nice dinner together prepared by our chef John Long. I am totally wiped out! I will sleep good tonight. May fruit remain!

Yesterday we excitedly picked up a missions team of ten people from London, England whom we are hosting for a week-and-a-half of ministry. We worked with them two years ago in London, and their youth were inspired to go on a missions trip of their own. Today we are thrilled to see their vision become a reality and glad that we get to be partners again in kingdom work. We will be doing many things together across Long Island and in New York City. If you would like to link up with us, drop a comment (sign your name) and we’ll let you know what we’re doing and how you can help.

After the game we drove home. After a bit of traffic on 95 we were cruising down the Cross Bronx about to get on the Throg’s Neck Bridge when suddenly I got a flat tire. We had never had to use our spare, so when we went to find it, we were surprised that there was not one in the back. We drove to the nearest exit – about 1/2 mile up – and got into a gas station. There, looking through the manual, Adriana found that we might have a tire under the middle of the vehicle in between the front seats. Sure enough, there it was. I figured we would be on our way in five minutes. Unfortunately, the spare tire cover would not come off, and for over an hour I tried unsuccessfully to remove it. Finally we called the insurance company who said they would send someone out to help us. A half hour later they called me back to inform me that we were in a restricted area and they would not be able to help us. Dang Bronx! I tried for another hour to no avail. Finally, at 1:30 – 3 hours after we got our flat – I was sweaty and exhausted, and I told Ady we would just sleep in the van and deal with it in the morning. She was not keen on that idea and decided to go into the gas station to see if they had some tools. Tools were not going to help, but I wasn’t going to stop her. A couple of minutes later she came back with a number for a 24-hour tow company. We called and the guy said he would be to us in 20 minutes. He ended up towing us a couple of miles to a 24-hour tire-repair place. For about $100 we were towed, got our tire plugged, and got on the road home. (Even the tow guy and the tire repair guy could not get our spare off. Crazy!) We got home just before 3 a.m. and I have never had a more satisfying shower or better night of sleep in my entire life. What a fun date with a memorable exclamation point at the end.