Okay, okay! I admit 4 months goes by incredibly fast and that blogging once a week was much harder than I originally anticipated. I hope you don't feel too short changed that I only shared 3 pitiful posts during my time in NYC. But in my defense, I was terribly busy! Much busier than I thought I would be and quite frankly, much busier than I wanted to be. You may be asking yourself the following question: "Crystal, now that you're home will you still blog?" (And if you didn't ask yourself that question then shame on you)! But seriously, my blogging days are far from over. On the contrary, I have more to say then ever. After all, hind sight IS 20/20!
I'm back home in Texas where the stars at night are big in bright clap clap clap clap! And I have a lot emotions about this: I'm glad to be back with my mom, my church family and all of my friends. I'm even excited to return to work (although for the life of me I can't figure out why). But at the same time I know I'll miss the life I started living in NYC. I'll miss the faces of the young people I was able to minister to and I'll miss the progress I made with some of their parents. I'll miss the excitement of the city lights and $2.25 subway rides. But most of all I know I'll miss making an impact on lives everyday.
WAIT - hold on 1 second!!!! Aren't I still a Christian and don't I still live in a city? It's so funny (not haha funny but shake your head in disgust funny) that we Christians think that we have to pack our bags and sell our stuff to serve God and make a difference in this world. Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for the people that do it but I don't have to be one. And I don't have to return to my life of mediocrity just because I'm no longer in NYC. So instead of making lots of resolutions that I won't bother to keep past Valentines Day, this new year is starting with the promise that God isn't done with me yet.
I'm excited for 2011 .... how about you. More post to come so stay tuned!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
It Is What It Is....
I've been in NY for more than a month now and I've only posted 2 updates to this blog. That's pretty sad, considering I have 5 faithful followers that expect fresh material! So ready or not world - here is this week's post ;)
Most people wake up on Monday morning wishing it were Friday again, but not me! Monday is my one and only day off!! Completely set aside for me and this particular Monday was quite a glorious day, more or less. It was the first Monday that I was allowed to roam about NYC all alone (but no need to worry, I had every intention of being back home before the sun set). So after a few chores, I boarded the subway toward Manhattan and spent the afternoon in Soho. I wanted to enjoy the city my way - window shopping, coffee and a book. So after hitting H&M and a few local shops I was looking for a less touristy place to enjoy my "joe" when it hit me! PAUSE: now, wouldn't this be the perfect time to tell you that God gave me some great revelation and I now have all the answers to all of mankind's questions? But, alas that's not exactly what I mean. What actually hit me was a loogie - the urban dictionary defines a loogie as a large slimy glob of spit, mixed with nose snot, that is formed by coughing up and hocking whats in your throat. That's right folks, lung cookies on my foot (not shoe but actual skin). And as I looked around for the perp I noticed a homeless looking man wiping his mouth with the back of his hand and walking away undaunted. Now you tell me what are the odds that out of the dozens of pedestrians and the inches of actual concrete around him that I would be the one hit by this pleasant surprise!?!? And as I wiped the nastiness from my right foot onto the opposite pant leg (double eww) I thought about how the oddest things happen to me. I also decided this story had the makings of an amusing FB status as well as pretty good potential for a sermon illustration one day.
Which brings me to the point of this post. After telling the story ten times I realized something. The guy didn't do it on purpose. In his defense he was quite oblivious to my standing in the way of his loogie. He was just doing what he felt needed to be done and he didn't worry about the outcome. It may be gross but its my whole purpose of being here. NO! not to get covered by another person's spit. On the contrary, God sent me to NY to spit spiritual loogies. I just need to do what needs to be done and not worry about where it all lands. I'm laughing as I t type these words because it sounds stupid to say it that way but think about it for a second. I walk around with something on the inside of me that's dying to come out. 6 days a week I have the privilege to share God's word and most of the time I have no idea who it actually hits. So I realized something important today: 1) spray hand sanitizer comes in very handy; 2) God speaks through everything if only you listen closely enough.
Tuesday is the beginning of a new week and I pray I leave a lasting impact on a lost and dying world - kinda the same way a homeless man left his impact on me. Maybe I'll never realize what I've done but it still needs to be done! Thanks for all the prays prayed on my behalf but today I'm praying that every single person who reads these words will go out and impact someone today! Love you all =D
Most people wake up on Monday morning wishing it were Friday again, but not me! Monday is my one and only day off!! Completely set aside for me and this particular Monday was quite a glorious day, more or less. It was the first Monday that I was allowed to roam about NYC all alone (but no need to worry, I had every intention of being back home before the sun set). So after a few chores, I boarded the subway toward Manhattan and spent the afternoon in Soho. I wanted to enjoy the city my way - window shopping, coffee and a book. So after hitting H&M and a few local shops I was looking for a less touristy place to enjoy my "joe" when it hit me! PAUSE: now, wouldn't this be the perfect time to tell you that God gave me some great revelation and I now have all the answers to all of mankind's questions? But, alas that's not exactly what I mean. What actually hit me was a loogie - the urban dictionary defines a loogie as a large slimy glob of spit, mixed with nose snot, that is formed by coughing up and hocking whats in your throat. That's right folks, lung cookies on my foot (not shoe but actual skin). And as I looked around for the perp I noticed a homeless looking man wiping his mouth with the back of his hand and walking away undaunted. Now you tell me what are the odds that out of the dozens of pedestrians and the inches of actual concrete around him that I would be the one hit by this pleasant surprise!?!? And as I wiped the nastiness from my right foot onto the opposite pant leg (double eww) I thought about how the oddest things happen to me. I also decided this story had the makings of an amusing FB status as well as pretty good potential for a sermon illustration one day.
Which brings me to the point of this post. After telling the story ten times I realized something. The guy didn't do it on purpose. In his defense he was quite oblivious to my standing in the way of his loogie. He was just doing what he felt needed to be done and he didn't worry about the outcome. It may be gross but its my whole purpose of being here. NO! not to get covered by another person's spit. On the contrary, God sent me to NY to spit spiritual loogies. I just need to do what needs to be done and not worry about where it all lands. I'm laughing as I t type these words because it sounds stupid to say it that way but think about it for a second. I walk around with something on the inside of me that's dying to come out. 6 days a week I have the privilege to share God's word and most of the time I have no idea who it actually hits. So I realized something important today: 1) spray hand sanitizer comes in very handy; 2) God speaks through everything if only you listen closely enough.
Tuesday is the beginning of a new week and I pray I leave a lasting impact on a lost and dying world - kinda the same way a homeless man left his impact on me. Maybe I'll never realize what I've done but it still needs to be done! Thanks for all the prays prayed on my behalf but today I'm praying that every single person who reads these words will go out and impact someone today! Love you all =D
Monday, September 27, 2010
Who knew?
So, who knew that this would be so tough? Obviously, I knew that it would be a challenge and that I would be stretched, BUT COME ON. I've only been in NY for 17 days and I've already learned so much about me, about ministry and about me in ministry. Don't get me wrong, its great... its just hard. Everything about it is hard.
If you know me at all, you know I'm kinda spoiled and I like nice things. Well, I'm living in the ghetto. I must confess that I knew I would be long before I boarded a plane. However, I somehow had the wrong impression of what the ghetto would be like. CFNI students have no idea how good they have it. I now long for the "luxury" of Agape and Cornerstone. I know what you're thinking, "Crystal, its the mission field, its supposed to be hard and you're being quite superficial." Well, don't worry...that's exactly what God said. Except He added one more important detail: the conditions in which I live are almost 100% better than that of most of the kids around here. I have running water, hot food, a bed of my own and people who care enough to keep those good things coming. Please pray for the kids of this city that go days without food and years without anyone who really cares about their needs. Pray that God will give me the right things to say to these kids - kids that have little in common with a semi-suburban girl like me.
When I signed up for an internship, I assumed certain things. I assumed that I would watch the professions do their thing and I would just learn by gleaning. I assumed that they wouldn't give me a lot of responsibility because, after all, this 30 year old ministry has a reputation to uphold. I assumed that I would be more of a student than anything else. I was soooo wrong. Of course that's what happens when you assume, right? Right!
I have been assigned to an area in The Bronx that will minister to 100's of kids each Wednesday though what is known as "Sidewalk Sunday School". I'll be apart of a team that takes out a big yellow truck that opens into a stage and we will have 3 Sunday school sessions for the local kids. Then every Friday I personally visit the school and homes of these kids to invite them back to the next week's meetings, invite them and their families to church, pray for them and just love them with the love of Christ. Tuesdays and Thursdays I'll be helping my team facilitate Sunday school for other kids in other areas of The Bronx. That's only the beginning folks - I'll have to tell you about what we do on the weekends on a different post.
You may be wondering to yourself now "is it terrifying to go out into a new area and boldly proclaim that Jesus is the only way?" Yes and No. Yes, I'm terrified, because I'm obviously an outsider; even though my skin is dark, they know I'm not one of them. But, no, I'm not terrified, because Jesus IS the only way and I'll proclaim that fact until I leave this earth to be with Him.
But more important than what God is teaching me about ministry is what He's teaching me about me. God is showing me that certain things about my personality that I previously thought were endearing are actually just annoying. And although I miss my friends a lot, its good spending time with people that don't really know me - it gives me a chance to decide to just be me. So, maybe I exaggerated a little when I say that everything about being here is hard. Watching God work in my life day by day is worth it all and I wouldn't trade the spankings He gives for anything.
I love you family and friends : )
If you know me at all, you know I'm kinda spoiled and I like nice things. Well, I'm living in the ghetto. I must confess that I knew I would be long before I boarded a plane. However, I somehow had the wrong impression of what the ghetto would be like. CFNI students have no idea how good they have it. I now long for the "luxury" of Agape and Cornerstone. I know what you're thinking, "Crystal, its the mission field, its supposed to be hard and you're being quite superficial." Well, don't worry...that's exactly what God said. Except He added one more important detail: the conditions in which I live are almost 100% better than that of most of the kids around here. I have running water, hot food, a bed of my own and people who care enough to keep those good things coming. Please pray for the kids of this city that go days without food and years without anyone who really cares about their needs. Pray that God will give me the right things to say to these kids - kids that have little in common with a semi-suburban girl like me.
When I signed up for an internship, I assumed certain things. I assumed that I would watch the professions do their thing and I would just learn by gleaning. I assumed that they wouldn't give me a lot of responsibility because, after all, this 30 year old ministry has a reputation to uphold. I assumed that I would be more of a student than anything else. I was soooo wrong. Of course that's what happens when you assume, right? Right!
I have been assigned to an area in The Bronx that will minister to 100's of kids each Wednesday though what is known as "Sidewalk Sunday School". I'll be apart of a team that takes out a big yellow truck that opens into a stage and we will have 3 Sunday school sessions for the local kids. Then every Friday I personally visit the school and homes of these kids to invite them back to the next week's meetings, invite them and their families to church, pray for them and just love them with the love of Christ. Tuesdays and Thursdays I'll be helping my team facilitate Sunday school for other kids in other areas of The Bronx. That's only the beginning folks - I'll have to tell you about what we do on the weekends on a different post.
You may be wondering to yourself now "is it terrifying to go out into a new area and boldly proclaim that Jesus is the only way?" Yes and No. Yes, I'm terrified, because I'm obviously an outsider; even though my skin is dark, they know I'm not one of them. But, no, I'm not terrified, because Jesus IS the only way and I'll proclaim that fact until I leave this earth to be with Him.
But more important than what God is teaching me about ministry is what He's teaching me about me. God is showing me that certain things about my personality that I previously thought were endearing are actually just annoying. And although I miss my friends a lot, its good spending time with people that don't really know me - it gives me a chance to decide to just be me. So, maybe I exaggerated a little when I say that everything about being here is hard. Watching God work in my life day by day is worth it all and I wouldn't trade the spankings He gives for anything.
I love you family and friends : )
Friday, September 10, 2010
Christian in the City: My Semester in the Big Apple
When I told one of my dear work teammates that I would be spending a semester in New York City working with inner city kids, her response was: "Wow, it'll be just like 'Sex in the City'. Well, not exactly ... there won't be any sex in my city. But this lone star state girl is spending the next 3 & 1/2 months learning the ins and outs of inner city ministry.
I'm interning with a ministry that has been impacting New York's least of these for the last 30 years. I'm honored that I get to be the sponge that absorbs some of this goodness!
WELCOME!!!!! You've found my very 1st blog : ) Do you know me well and wanna keep up with this crazy God journey or did you just stumble here by mistake? Either way, you are more than welcome to be apart of what God is doing in my life. I'll try to keep posts short and include fun pics and in return I'm asking for prayers. Pray for the work God is doing in me and in this city. Pray that I'll learn really good stuff and have God ideas to take back to my community. Pray that a country girl like me will get used to subway being more than a sandwich shop!
I'm interning with a ministry that has been impacting New York's least of these for the last 30 years. I'm honored that I get to be the sponge that absorbs some of this goodness!
WELCOME!!!!! You've found my very 1st blog : ) Do you know me well and wanna keep up with this crazy God journey or did you just stumble here by mistake? Either way, you are more than welcome to be apart of what God is doing in my life. I'll try to keep posts short and include fun pics and in return I'm asking for prayers. Pray for the work God is doing in me and in this city. Pray that I'll learn really good stuff and have God ideas to take back to my community. Pray that a country girl like me will get used to subway being more than a sandwich shop!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)