Weekly Update #9

This past week started with the Fourth of July. Sylvia, a friend that I made through Zach being at training last fall was working at Camp Deerpark, came with her friend Ben, and walked around Manhattan with us. We visited a Cathedral, played a piano that was on the street (that's a story in itself), walked to Starbucks, walked to Cocoa V (which was closed for the July 4th stuff), and then settled down for our seating to watch the fireworks. Our neighbors had brought a feast with them, and offered some to us when I said "You guys have quite the feast there." We had some later on, when we got hungry. The fireworks were great, but then I don't really like fireworks that much anyway.
And then the first week of the summer program began!
And one week later, we are still alive, still optimistic: still stressed out.
I can't really tell the millions of things that have happened since we started.
More and more kids signed up.
We have busy afternoons.
Camp Deerpark kicked off well, although the bus ride was intense. We are getting a better bus for this next week, though, so it's going to be better.
On Saturday, we had a very intense day of shopping and then I had to go to worship practice.

Weekly Update #7

It's really intense that somehow I've been here more than a month, and almost a month and a half! Though there were definitely days this week where I felt like there was unrest and frustration in my soul, I'm starting to feel like things are working out, that this summer program is going to be (to be a success, we will have to find out), but it's going to happen!

We've held volunteer trainings all week, and though it felt a littlr rocky as it began, as time went on, more people came, more people were interested in doing different things, and it's going to work out! Christa and I somehow finished manuals for the volunteer training! (it seemed impossible).

Besides the evening volunteer trainings, most of the Leadership Team attempted to go to the church to pray in the early mornings--i.e. 6:30am--every day. I went to almost all of them--this morning was a sleep-in day for me.

P.S. 22 also had it's last week of school, minus the half day which is on Monday. There was a fifth grade graduation today, which Daniel and I attended, in support of some of the fifth graders in the after school program, and also that I have seen at the lunch table when I have volunteered there.

For most of the kids at P.S. 22, the last day that they got to see me at the lunch time was yesterday, and some today, because of their graduation, because it is the end of school, and I'm not going to be in the lunchroom anymore, or outside the school handing out flyers. If they are going to the summer program, they will see me all summer long, and some of them are. But it seems like the ones that I got to know the most aren't coming--they have other plans for the summer, and that's fine, but I will miss them. I'll miss Allison, who is completely adorable and a dork!

Next week, I will be at Camp Deerpark, training with Christa and Daniel for the Camp half of the summer program. We are hoping to bring a couple volunteers with us, but it isn't really defined until we actually leave. We come back from training on July 2nd, and then the program starts on the 6th!

Prayer Requests and Praises:
--Things are working out!
--That everyone who feels called to volunteer would be proactive about it and come!

--For the next week's training, prayer that there won't be any injuries and that we can bond as a leadership team.

Update #6

This week was busy, but not horribly busy. I've been getting things done, and feeling like what I'm doing is  relevant for what this summer is about. Here's a couple things I was up to:

CPR training--On Thursday, we drove to Bushkill, Pennsylvania, and went to Mont Lawn Camp for CPR training. I had a great time meeting so many different awesome people. The training was intensive and good--it built up my confidence, but I hope I never have to use the skills. It was great to be in the nature and I hadn't realized how great it was to be out there again.

Training plans--We had a volunteer meeting on Wednesday, and he two people show up to listen. Mark and I did some extensive planning for what our training entailed on Friday, and it's looking good.

After-school--Spending more time with those kids. Good and frustrating at the same time. I'm getting more patient with some of them because I have been thinking about different ways to approach teaching them.

Day Off--I got a day off this week. On Monday, I went for a run, and cleaned. It was nice.

Cafeteria work--My relationships with the kids are growing. Like with after-school I'm learning different ways to relate to the kids, and get to know them better. They are great and different, and I love talking to them about their lives and what they are interested in.

Flyers--Christa and I taped flyers to our shirts and lots of people were interested. I ran up and down the hill with two kindergarteners a couple times while eating a cherry icee. Several people picked up flyers with serious interest. The second day that I was at the school after school, a Muslim mother approached me and asked me to give her some registration forms. (so excited--she's bringing four kids into the program!!)

And then there were other things that I was up to Worship Practice and Worship team, on Sunday.
Food pantry-- which was outside today because of the graduation at Flushing Christian School.
Seeker's picnic---later on Saturday, we went to the picnic for all the Christian high school Seekers groups, and handed out flyers for those that might be interested in volunteering for the program. Our volunteer training starts tonight! Pray that there are enough volunteers--the amount of kids that we have signed up for the program is rising and rising--we have close to twenty, ang might have even more because people are still interested.

The Shack--Lily lent me this book to read, and I've been working through it. I'm almost done, and it's been really challenging in some areas. One phrase that Papa said that struck me was, "Do you see God when you think about your future?" And I realized that sometimes I do, in the aspect of where I want Him to lead me, but sometimes, when I look at bleak things, like money, or ever getting through college and finally having a degree, I don't let Him in. So I've been working to let him in, and now I have peace about those things.

Prayer requests and Praises
--volunteers for the program. We have kids, not we need people to help us!
--rest--we are starting to reshuffle our sleeping schedules, and getting up to pray at 6:30 in the morning.
--Praise that my school financial stuff doesn't seem so bleak!
--Praise that the Schools are finally ending and this program is kicking off.

Who I am/Weekly Update.

I feel like it's something that I redefine myself with every week or so. But we've been talking about so many things that define us, but don't have to do with our physical identities here on earth. What does it mean to be identified as a Lover of God, and nothing else?

As I look at all the things that I have done and gone through to get to this point, I know that there have been times when I have not been defined as a Lover of God. There are people who see it in me, and know that it is the reason that I exist and continue to exist. I hope and pray that this summer, I have, and will continue to portray a Lover of God, and do these things here and now, because I love God.

This past week was a wave of rest and change. It did not feel as hectic as the week before, but I felt like I was getting to know the inside of my house way too well, and seeing the bottom of a peanut butter jar way too fast. There was some peace in this, knowing that even though I'm extroverted, it's good to take some time off to think, and take a breather. But this week starts the balance between the busy and the hermit.

Last week I had a chance to go to the Museum of Modern Art, and see Norah Jones in concert (for a couple songs). We also enjoyed some coffee, a trip to Burger Heaven (where I was greeted by some Vegetarian Chili, and no Burgers were thrust in my way.) At the concert, we were compromised by the rain, and that everyone making the ocean of umbrellas that was our view of the concert, and thus, the umbrellas were dripping on me and Christa, and so we were catching drips in cups, but we still got soaked, completely chilled, and disenchanted, we took the subway home.

I was blessed by being able to talk to Zach on Skype, although I had no idea that he was going to be on that day. I got a phone call from D, saying that he was online, and I ran home. Literally. It was wonderful. Then I got to talk to him the next day, on his birthday. It's so good to reconnect with him, and I cannot wait until he's back in the United States. Things make sense when I spend time with him. He makes me a better person.

I had a great discussion with someone who told me to make sure that while I was here, to not just be known as Grace, the intern we had over the summer, but to be known as Grace, a girl who was here this summer, who was here. To find my identity as a Lover of God. It's been in my thoughts for a little while.

I got my financial aid package in the mail, via my mother. At first, it looked really good, but then I realized that there was a couple thousand dollars that I needed that weren't accounted for, and so now I'm a bit frustrated with the system. Why should it cost so much to go to school, to follow dreams? I'm getting in contact with the financial aid office at EMU, just to make sure that there weren't things accidently left off, but in the mean time, I'm dealing with some major frustration, and occasionally thinking about trying to find a different way out--like looking at jobs and internships (I saw one at PETA that I was interested in). But I don't want to take things into my own hands. That's not what God wants for me. An example of God providing for me--for this trip--is on replay in my head, reminding me that when I need the funds, and I'm going where God wants me to go, these fund appear, and they are in surplus. I have been blessed to be sent here, and I'm so thankful for every single penny. But what if I'm not funded for school? What if that doesn't happen this semester? Does that mean that God is asking me to go somewhere else? Or is he asking me not to go anywhere, to stay here?


Prayer requests:
Patience--I seem to have less and less of it lately
Peace--about my financial aid, and my future
Perseverance-- some days, the after-school program just overcomes me, and completely drains me
Praises:
I've been writing music, and running.

Urbanbusy

I have been really busy this week.

We've had meetings everyday about the summer program, and then I've gone to PS 22 to hang out with the kids. One of the days I brought over some of the flyers for the kids. I brought around ten or something, and within talking to two tables, all my flyers were gone, and i hope that these kids are really interested in this program. 

I have felt really welcomed into the school. Lily, who is the parent coordinator of the school, continues to invite me and Christa to hang out and talk with her after lunch is over, and it has been great. I've also gotten a chance to get to know Tracey, who is the security guard for the school. The even more awesome thing is that Lily has gone into the kitchen after the school is done, and found something vegan for me to eat. I'm so thankful for that option. 

There was an intergenerational bible study meeting on Friday that was really great. We separated into smaller groups and then were discussing what Mark talked about, but our group's discussion went from "do you want to receive the holy spirit?" to "Do you want to become a Christian?" and it was a great great discussion, and a couple of the girls said that they wanted to become Christians.

On Saturday, I worked at the food pantry again. Going through the clothes that were set out, I found a pair of shorts that looked like they would fit me, ran off to the bathroom, changed, and then I had a new pair of shorts. This was a blessing because I needed a pair of shorts. 

Later in the day, Christa needed to go to the bank, and I needed to go grocery shopping, but was being lazy about it, so we got proactive and headed over the H Mart. I got everything I needed, which was more than was on my list, and more than Christa predicted I would need money-wise, and we got to the checkout line and I went over by thirty three cents. The cashier, after what seemed like two or three minutes, but must have been shorter than that, she said that it was fine, but that I "owed her" and pointed to her name tag and her aisle number. 

I walked home with all of my groceries, got thirty-three cents, walked back to the H-Mart, gave it to her, introduced myself, and then went on my way. I didn't think I should do it any other way. 

I got to have dinner with a lady from the church at a vegan restaurant called "Happy Buddha." It was so good. I had vegan cheesecake (which I vow to make at some point) and "triple Mushroom Delight" (which was completely delightful). I think there are more people who want to take me there, so I may or may not get to go again and try something different. I can't wait!

I sang on the worship team today. There is a team of people from Texas who come to New York routinely, and they have a prayer station. They were at church, and one of theirs brought the message. 

There was a Street Fair this afternoon (which, to give a comparison to my mother, is very similar if not the same as a Streetsboro Family Days), and they set up the prayer station there. I didn't really feel like there was anything that I was supposed to do at that point--handing out tracts isn't my thing, so I wandered around the fair and then went and sat by the prayer station, and ended up talking to Yusup for the next hour or it seemed, until it started raining and everyone started leaving.
It poured, and kids screamed with joyous laughter. Some people hurried, while I just walked solowly, taking in the increditbility of being wet, and experiencing something like this and being free to experience it. yay for pouring rain.

Prayer requests and praises.
--Praise that I am blessed with so many people and opportunities. Pray that I get enough rest and time by myself with God.
--Pray that God will speak enthusiasm into high schoolers to volunteer for the summer program. Pray against inhibitors and the evil of the human nature.

Intensity is Rising.

Since my last update only one week has past, but it seems like enough for a summer.

I celebrated my 19th birthday this past Sunday and Monday. Because I was calling Zach, and Hannah really wanted to see the Lost finale, we had to save part of our adventure for the next day.

But the day was full of first times--my landlord said that I could use her truck this summer (she has two cars), and so we took it to Astoria--that was ok. We got lost three times before we finally made it there. I allmost drove through a red light. But then we had to park the truck. My parallel parking is really really weak, and there were no parking spots that could fit this car. We finally found a spot, and then attempted to park for the next forty five minutes. And finally got it. And--no joke, we had a six inches to a foot between the other cars. It was insane. I don't like the idea of parallel parking. Ohio driver's tests do NOT prepare you for that. Everything would be completely different if I actually had a car, not a truck. Anyway, we finally made it to the resturaunt, and had some great food. Red Sonjas, made from Red Lentils, delicious falafel, and some stuffed zucchini (though I am incertain as to how and where the zucchini was stuffed. It was really good.)

Because Hannah was in such a hurry to get home to watch Lost, though Christa's mom taped it for her, she had her mom drive out to meet us there, and then I followed her home after she very convienently got the car out of the parking spot. We drove over to Christa's house and we made vegan cupcakes while waiting for the Lost  finale to be finished. The fanagled with candles and got 15 + 4 to equal nineteen for my birthday candles. After that, we all went home.

On Monday, Christa and I both had a morning meeting to plan and prepare for our summer program, and then along with Hannah, we went to Manhattan. We took the Metro there, and went all over the place. I couldn't even tell you all the places that we went to. We mostly went shopping. The dress I was wearing that day (which I got at Walmart last August for $3) was at one of the stores, for $8.

I bought some socks at The Sock Man, and we had Falafel for one dollar. We went to Central Park and walked through part of Hannah's school. We got coffee and went to Walgreens and Jamba Juice. We went everywhere, and must have walked for eight hours. We got home around ten, and then Hannah and I walked back to our house from Main Street.

We have been planning this summer program for kids, and it has been really intense lately--Monday's meeting we planned out so much that needed to be done, yet by today, I think we have finished most of them. This week's goal was getting flyers out to parents who might be interested and we were working with the Parent Coordinator at Public School 22 and Christa and I got to "volunteer" with the kids in the cafeteria during lunch time. I went on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and I have had such a blst iwth those kids. There are so many kids. Most of them are Chinese, there's some kids from Haiti, Mexico, Pakistan, it's insane how many weren't born here. Most of them wonder why I'm there, and I tell them that I just want to hang out with them. It's impossible to hear them when they tell me their names in that cafeteria. I remember a couple. Some kids are really interested in me, and why I'm there, and others could care less, but certainly when I get behind the piano (in the cafeteria, no less) they run over and see who is playing. On Thursday, it seemed to be like a riot--they were all pushing to see me, and were squishing others. That was intense, and I stopped playing when that happened. Sometimes I forget I'm white, and that I look different from these kids. On the first day that I went into the cafeteria, there was a little girl who asked me if anyone in my family was famous. I told her that my younger sister was going to be an opera singer, and that I wrote music but wasn't famous, and then she said, "No, I mean in history, like from the American Revolution," which was when I told her my ancestors only came to America in the mid-1800s.

Thursday night there was a PTA sponsered concert that we handed out flyers at. Many MANY parents were interested once we mentioned the first "free" portion (we are doing a morning portion, including breakfast and lunch, that is completely free).

Today is Hannah's birthday, and after we talked about having a meeting for worship practice, it didn't actually happen, and instead, I got to go with Hannah, Christa, and Annabelle (Hannah's mom) and look for a tattoo parlor. We had empanadas--mine was made with corn flour and veggies inside, and tasted a little like Fritos on the outside.

So far, I've just experienced so much! There are so many people I've met, though a lot of them are in Kindergarten through fifth grade, and I cannot wait to meet more of them!

Prayer requests:
--I seem to be lacking energy and getting headaches halfway through the day. . and the sore throat and sinus stuff  that I had last week has been hanging around.
--Spanish again. I mostly feel like my communication is pretty weak, and I need paryer for that.
--Pray that I make sure I have balance in what I'm doing, and not overschedule.. It's something that I like to do without realizing it.

Flushed In

No pun intended with the title, but it's pretty much how I feel--to the point where, they threw me in a "flushing device", flushed it, and now I'm mixed into whatever was different from me, and we are all comfortable with each other... Sorry for the sickening analogy.
I arrived in Queens on Thursday afternoon and was literally "flushed in" to the cycle of things. The worship team, meeting people, explaining why I am vegan (a different reason every time), telling people I'm from Ohio, but different parts of Ohio, how I'm a senior by credits, but only one year out of high school...ahh my complicated life.
I feel really welcomed into the Flushing environment, connecting with two girls, Christa and Hannah right away within these first few days. I am certainly welcomed into the house that I'm staying in-- a woman named Patricia houses missionaries for free, and when contacted by someone from the church, said she would house me for no charge, and that she is going out of town for some of the summer.
I spent the first night at Christa's house, where her mother, when finding out that I was vegan, supplied me with a lifetime of peanut butter, two cartons of soy milk, and a box with cans of beans, vegetables, and half a loaf of whole wheat bread.
I went to the Discipleship meeting for the worship team on the first day I was in Flushing, and dug deep into the word with the Worship team, for two and a half hours. Then yesterday evening, I went to the Young Adult Bible Study, and delved more into the word. The interesting thing is that I haven't gotten to do my devotions. But God takes me as I am, vulnerable in these new situations, learning in intense ways, what he wants me to learn, which is really great, and important. These bibles studies are a great shaper for what this summer is going to be like--God filled, and God driven. I'm pumped.
Christa showed me around Kissena Park when I was at her house. It was raining when we woke up but by the time we stepped out the door, there was a shining sun, and it was quite warm. I cannot wait to go running there-- it's so beautiful.
At the after-school tutoring program, on the first day, it was sort of unsuccessful. Introduced as knowing some Spanish I was set to work with Denise Mandelena, fresh from El Salvador, and to teach her the alphabet. I felt really bad because I wasn't able to communicate very well with her. But then yesterday, it went really well--we were doing math, and I was much more comfortable. I made her smile a lot, and I think she is catching on quickly.
Christa and Hannah came over to my house and we watched Gigi the musical last night--it was an interesting way to spend the evening, but entertaining, no doubt.
Christa took me to the Korean food market, where I might do some of my shopping. There is supposedly a Whole Foods and a Target elsewhere, but who knows when I'm going to get a chance to go shopping there--soon I hope. I need some tofu. I'm going to get sick of PB and J really soon.
Pictures and videos to come? (when I take, upload, and edit them--I'm really busy here.)

The Pakistani woman who lives in Pat's basement brought Pat breakfast this morning, and while waiting for pat, told me I was so pretty, and made me some tea, (which I'm sure has milk in it, but I appreciate her kindness. I hope to spend more time with them in the future--we'll see.)

Prayer requests:
--That I will work on my Spanish.
--For the family of Pakistani Muslims in the basement
--That I will let Christ reverberate from my soul.