yes, it's been a while. Only two days remain of my life in the Bronx. It's hard to believe how quickly this time has passed.
To give you a quick update:
-We had our last Power Hour on Friday night... I'm so glad we were able to get to know those kids and I will miss our time there. I'm sure living in the projects is difficult in a lot of ways, but it was encouraging to see the community they had already built at their age. I'm also glad to say that I gained a pen-pal! Her name is Amber and she is one of the most intriguing eleven year olds I have ever met!
-Today, Bronx Fellowship held a booth at a neighborhood block-party called RapFest '08. Christian rappers gathered to spread their music and the word of God. This event was geared towards net-working with other Christians in the Bronx community, as well as reaching out to the teens that were there. This was definitely an "out of the box" experience for me and I really enjoyed it.
-Tomorrow we are holding a V.B.S. in the New York Botanical Gardens, and we are going to be focusing on the importance of prayer! Pray for good weather
-random: Heath's new nickname is 'Chewbacca'... given to him by a three year old that attends my house church
I must say that I've enjoyed my time here in the Bronx. That would probably surprise most of the locals, and I definitely haven't experienced a normal lifestyle up here. Yet, I would like to say that I've come pretty close. I've learned that we are all broken people, we've all got problems, and we all need Jesus. Being here has made me realize what a wonderful community I have back in Abilene; I want to make the most of the time I have left there and dive into those relationships. Community is such a blessing.
For entertainment or learning purposes, I have many stories to tell from my time here in the Bronx... most have some type of redeeming quality. I've learned that Southern kindness/hospitality can be misunderstood up here.
I'll post a few more pictures from V.B.S. and RapFest here in the next few days! Hopefully I'll be able to see some of you when I come home this next week. Thanks again for your support and prayers! I love you all
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
two weeks left...
This week has been kind of tough emotionally. I'm not really sure why, but the internship has been significantly harder for me lately.
CTA, the teen ministry, is going through a time of discouragement and lack of growth. Heath, Danielle, and I met with George yesterday, and his spirits were down. Keep him and this ministry in your prayers.
It's funny how while one ministry goes through a dry-spell, another seems to flourish. Jared, Heath, and I meet several teens on thursday nights at the local McDonalds.... we call our study time University Ave. Not only have the boys been coming consistently this summer, but they have started to form more questions about Christ and his teachings. It's been really great to see their thoughts and attention-spans transform throughout the summer! I hope they continue to seek and question once they're back in school.
I was very encouraged by the response we received this week during the prayer stations. (Recently, the prayer stations have been less successful, and I honestly think it's because of the weather.... 95 degree days with 90% humidity... Yes, it's very hot!!) It's been nice to reconnect with people who have stopped by during the previous weeks; they offer words of encouragement and have even prayed for us!
Tomorrow we have our second to last reflection time, which will hopefully take place in Central Park. These times have allowed us to breakdown a lot of what we are thinking and feeling. This internship has given me a whole new perspective on domestic missions, as well as working with people in general. It's also made me realize how important it is to take time in your week to reflect, pray, and be quiet with God.
I am also starting to get prepared for BFC's Vacation Bible School which will take place two weeks from today. We will be focusing our time on what it means to pray, while exploring the New York Botanical Gardens here in the Bronx. Please pray for good weather! We really want to be able to do this for the kids before we leave.
That's it for now... we're still enjoying the city and our time in fellowship with the church. I love you all
CTA, the teen ministry, is going through a time of discouragement and lack of growth. Heath, Danielle, and I met with George yesterday, and his spirits were down. Keep him and this ministry in your prayers.
It's funny how while one ministry goes through a dry-spell, another seems to flourish. Jared, Heath, and I meet several teens on thursday nights at the local McDonalds.... we call our study time University Ave. Not only have the boys been coming consistently this summer, but they have started to form more questions about Christ and his teachings. It's been really great to see their thoughts and attention-spans transform throughout the summer! I hope they continue to seek and question once they're back in school.
I was very encouraged by the response we received this week during the prayer stations. (Recently, the prayer stations have been less successful, and I honestly think it's because of the weather.... 95 degree days with 90% humidity... Yes, it's very hot!!) It's been nice to reconnect with people who have stopped by during the previous weeks; they offer words of encouragement and have even prayed for us!
Tomorrow we have our second to last reflection time, which will hopefully take place in Central Park. These times have allowed us to breakdown a lot of what we are thinking and feeling. This internship has given me a whole new perspective on domestic missions, as well as working with people in general. It's also made me realize how important it is to take time in your week to reflect, pray, and be quiet with God.
I am also starting to get prepared for BFC's Vacation Bible School which will take place two weeks from today. We will be focusing our time on what it means to pray, while exploring the New York Botanical Gardens here in the Bronx. Please pray for good weather! We really want to be able to do this for the kids before we leave.
That's it for now... we're still enjoying the city and our time in fellowship with the church. I love you all
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Engaged in Central Park
Heath Newton asked for my hand in marriage on Monday, July 14, in Central Park! So now we have officially been fiances for one whole week!
We went for a long walk around the Reservoir in Central Park, and then made our way to the pond. He wanted to take me on a row-boat ride while we waited on my parents to meet us. (They convienently had their cell phones off... Heath had told them to "stay busy") He pulled the boat on shore and walked along a trail of rose petals. He proposed in a little gazebo located at Wagner's Cove! It was perfect.
We read through journals that he had been keeping for quite some time and just enjoyed our time in that moment. I am so happy that we were able to celebrate with both of our families there; we went to dinner in Little Italy (see picture below) and then walked around the city!
I am so blessed to have Heath in my life, and I look forward to our future together!
We went for a long walk around the Reservoir in Central Park, and then made our way to the pond. He wanted to take me on a row-boat ride while we waited on my parents to meet us. (They convienently had their cell phones off... Heath had told them to "stay busy") He pulled the boat on shore and walked along a trail of rose petals. He proposed in a little gazebo located at Wagner's Cove! It was perfect.
We read through journals that he had been keeping for quite some time and just enjoyed our time in that moment. I am so happy that we were able to celebrate with both of our families there; we went to dinner in Little Italy (see picture below) and then walked around the city!
I am so blessed to have Heath in my life, and I look forward to our future together!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Random Bits of Information #2
-The smallest county in America is New York County, otherwise known as Manhattan.
-Throughout the fall of 2008, Coney Island is going to be renovated and reworked to become a strip mall.
-Metro (trains and buses) don't take bills, so have your Metrocard or $2 in change ready.
-take advantage of the Staten Island Ferry- it's free and gets you relatively close to the Statue of Liberty, along with a view of the NYC Skyline
-Some more favorite restaurants: Rainbow Diner in the Bronx, Cafe Duke's (Manhattan, close to 42nd St.), Penang's (Manhattan, Malaysian food)
-Visit Magnolia's Bakery- located in Greenwich Village and famous (at least on the Food Network) for their extra sweet cupcakes
-Favorite places to walk around and take pictures- I still love all of Central Park, but Fulton Landing is also great! Located right under the Brooklyn Bridge on the Brooklyn side
That's all for now. I'll keep posting pictures!
-Throughout the fall of 2008, Coney Island is going to be renovated and reworked to become a strip mall.
-Metro (trains and buses) don't take bills, so have your Metrocard or $2 in change ready.
-take advantage of the Staten Island Ferry- it's free and gets you relatively close to the Statue of Liberty, along with a view of the NYC Skyline
-Some more favorite restaurants: Rainbow Diner in the Bronx, Cafe Duke's (Manhattan, close to 42nd St.), Penang's (Manhattan, Malaysian food)
-Visit Magnolia's Bakery- located in Greenwich Village and famous (at least on the Food Network) for their extra sweet cupcakes
-Favorite places to walk around and take pictures- I still love all of Central Park, but Fulton Landing is also great! Located right under the Brooklyn Bridge on the Brooklyn side
That's all for now. I'll keep posting pictures!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Pictures!
there are several pictures posted at the very bottom of this page... just scroll down
enjoy! We're also having a church wide gathering tomorrow so I'll try to upload some of those soon. Until next time....
enjoy! We're also having a church wide gathering tomorrow so I'll try to upload some of those soon. Until next time....
Half Way
I apologize for not writing on this very much. City life and public transportation have started to take their toll on me! Throughout this past month, we have met so many new people and continued on with our summer ministries.
We were getting such a positive response from the prayer station that we decided to add another block of time there each week! On Wednesday and Friday afternoons, we set up near a major intersection in the Bronx and offer prayer to that community. Some days, more than fifteen people have stopped to write down their prayers and talk to us about God. Again, I thought I wouldn't like this type of ministry very much, but I love it! People here are so open about their faith, and also about the issues that they face daily....
Bobby, Margie, Kim, and Maria have expressed an interest in Bronx Fellowship. They met us at the prayer station sometime within this past month, each expressing that they needed a Christian community and wanted to pursue a new relationship with Christ. In this, I'm learning the kind of tough part about ministry. Times when you think a person will follow through and continue to show interest in the church, and then does not. It's tough to know when to stop trying to contact them, and when to keep trying. Please be in prayer for the people that we meet each week through this ministry, especially the four listed above.
Last week, I started meeting with several women for Conversational English. We meet one on one each week to study simple phrases and passages from the bible to help develop their english skills, as well as learn a little about God and his application in our lives. (We are using the Friendspeak curriculum, which is a form of the Let's Start Talking material.) I meet with Zenida and Basilisa on Wednesdays, and Olga on Friday mornings. These women have been so gracious to invite me into their homes and let me meet their families. We also are thinking of adding an hour onto each lesson to focus on practicing english with their children.... School just ended and several of the kids won't be able to practice english for the entire summer! Hopefully we can get that started soon as well.
I've learned a lot from house church thus far. I've learned that even though it is a much smaller body than I'm used to, they still face the struggles and hardships of other types of churches, as well as experiencing positive times. My house church meets on Sunday mornings in the apartment I'm living for the summer. We discuss the scriptures together, have time of singing and worship and prayer, share communion, and then eat lunch together. It's been a great experience so far.
I have enjoyed hanging out with the teens through wednesday night bible study at my house and the "Call to Arms" (CTA) devotional time at Melissa's house (another church member). It's been interesting for me to notice the different styles of communication here in the Bronx. Be in prayer for the CTA ministry being lead by George, Melissa's younger brother who is also a Bronx Fellowship member. Teens have been less consist with this ministry which is discouraging for him.
I am very excited to say that my parents and Heath's family will be here in less than one week!! I'm glad to show them around the Bronx and let them meet the people we're interacting with all summer. And it's also wonderful because our families never get to see each other since we live in Tennessee, and they live in Texas! Good times.
I'll try to post pictures as soon as I can figure out how. (We were able to go to Brooklyn last night to watch the fireworks. Our view overlooked the NYC skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge! yes, it was amazing.) In the mean time, if you want to look at Heath's blog to gain another perspective of the summer, his website is heathnewton.blogspot.com.
Again, sorry for the delay in posts.... I will do much better for the rest of the summer. Smile! Pray for us.
Katie Claire
We were getting such a positive response from the prayer station that we decided to add another block of time there each week! On Wednesday and Friday afternoons, we set up near a major intersection in the Bronx and offer prayer to that community. Some days, more than fifteen people have stopped to write down their prayers and talk to us about God. Again, I thought I wouldn't like this type of ministry very much, but I love it! People here are so open about their faith, and also about the issues that they face daily....
Bobby, Margie, Kim, and Maria have expressed an interest in Bronx Fellowship. They met us at the prayer station sometime within this past month, each expressing that they needed a Christian community and wanted to pursue a new relationship with Christ. In this, I'm learning the kind of tough part about ministry. Times when you think a person will follow through and continue to show interest in the church, and then does not. It's tough to know when to stop trying to contact them, and when to keep trying. Please be in prayer for the people that we meet each week through this ministry, especially the four listed above.
Last week, I started meeting with several women for Conversational English. We meet one on one each week to study simple phrases and passages from the bible to help develop their english skills, as well as learn a little about God and his application in our lives. (We are using the Friendspeak curriculum, which is a form of the Let's Start Talking material.) I meet with Zenida and Basilisa on Wednesdays, and Olga on Friday mornings. These women have been so gracious to invite me into their homes and let me meet their families. We also are thinking of adding an hour onto each lesson to focus on practicing english with their children.... School just ended and several of the kids won't be able to practice english for the entire summer! Hopefully we can get that started soon as well.
I've learned a lot from house church thus far. I've learned that even though it is a much smaller body than I'm used to, they still face the struggles and hardships of other types of churches, as well as experiencing positive times. My house church meets on Sunday mornings in the apartment I'm living for the summer. We discuss the scriptures together, have time of singing and worship and prayer, share communion, and then eat lunch together. It's been a great experience so far.
I have enjoyed hanging out with the teens through wednesday night bible study at my house and the "Call to Arms" (CTA) devotional time at Melissa's house (another church member). It's been interesting for me to notice the different styles of communication here in the Bronx. Be in prayer for the CTA ministry being lead by George, Melissa's younger brother who is also a Bronx Fellowship member. Teens have been less consist with this ministry which is discouraging for him.
I am very excited to say that my parents and Heath's family will be here in less than one week!! I'm glad to show them around the Bronx and let them meet the people we're interacting with all summer. And it's also wonderful because our families never get to see each other since we live in Tennessee, and they live in Texas! Good times.
I'll try to post pictures as soon as I can figure out how. (We were able to go to Brooklyn last night to watch the fireworks. Our view overlooked the NYC skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge! yes, it was amazing.) In the mean time, if you want to look at Heath's blog to gain another perspective of the summer, his website is heathnewton.blogspot.com.
Again, sorry for the delay in posts.... I will do much better for the rest of the summer. Smile! Pray for us.
Katie Claire
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Random Bits of Information
- It is illegal to talk on your cell phone while driving in the state of New York.
- NYC strictly enforces recycling out of the home. If you choose not to, you could be fined.
- For all of The Office fans, I saw Scranton, Pennsylvania on my way to the camp site.
- Schools throughout the city have been closed for the past two days due to extreme heat. Many of the school buildings are old and do not have AC, so the students cannot attend school when it's 90 degrees inside.
- Favorite local restaurants so far: Pekings Kitchen in the Bronx and Jasmine's in Manhattan.
- Everyone must visit The Mall/The Writer's Walk area in Central Park. It's pretty quiet and very calm... my favorite place here thus far.
That's all I have for right now... more to come!
- NYC strictly enforces recycling out of the home. If you choose not to, you could be fined.
- For all of The Office fans, I saw Scranton, Pennsylvania on my way to the camp site.
- Schools throughout the city have been closed for the past two days due to extreme heat. Many of the school buildings are old and do not have AC, so the students cannot attend school when it's 90 degrees inside.
- Favorite local restaurants so far: Pekings Kitchen in the Bronx and Jasmine's in Manhattan.
- Everyone must visit The Mall/The Writer's Walk area in Central Park. It's pretty quiet and very calm... my favorite place here thus far.
That's all I have for right now... more to come!
The Big Apple
We have now spent over a week in New York, and I must say that I have fallen in love! Last week, our schedules were very busy, consisting of prayer stations and prayer walks, meetings with church members, house churches, playing with local kids during power hour, passing out flyers, and traveling. Whew, the weekend was definitely appreciated!
Doing prayer stations and prayer walks have been a great experience for me. Recently, I think I had forgotten just how important it is to pray throughout my day. We set up a prayer station at a busy intersection in the Upper West Side of the Bronx; we placed a dry-erase board on the table and wrote "Can we pray for you?" Several people stopped and wrote their prayers down, and some even wanted to pray with the interns at the station.
Power Hour is also another weekly ministry that I am very excited about. Every Friday, the interns go to a local park off Pelham Parkway and give a bible lesson, pass out some snacks, and play games with the kids. I am excited about getting to know the kid's families better and building relationships with that community. Danielle and I are hoping to hangout in that area several times each week, trying to 'build some bridges' for Bronx Fellowship.
This weekend was quite an adventure! On Saturday, we took 15 teens to Pennsylvania for a night of camping in the Pokeno Mountains, followed by a full day of paintball at Skirmish. This trip was a great way to meet some of the teens who are already connected to the church. It was really interesting to see city kids experiencing the great outdoor; several said that it was "just too quiet". We were able to spend time in prayer and fellowship; the teens seemed so supportive of each other and asked lots of thought provoking questions. I could tell they enjoyed their time away from their busy lives. Sunday was an exhausting day; we played paintball for 8 hours in high heat and humidity. And in case you were wondering, I have two very large, awful looking bruises on my leg! All in all, the weekend was great and allowed time for growth and renewal.
Mondays are our weekly reflection days. I found a nice, shady bench in my favorite part of Central Park and was able to be quiet and still for a while. I enjoyed people watching, and have realized just how creative God really is. New York is truly a melting pot for all races and cultures. I love it!
And today was mainly spent at the Metropolitan Musuem. We walked the first and second floor exhibits; it was relaxing and very nice to get out of the heat!
--- Apparently there are tornado warnings all across our area, and a tree just fell in the road next to my building! Oh my
Please keep praying for Bronx Fellowship and the people we are coming into contact with. I'll try to post some pictures soon!
Doing prayer stations and prayer walks have been a great experience for me. Recently, I think I had forgotten just how important it is to pray throughout my day. We set up a prayer station at a busy intersection in the Upper West Side of the Bronx; we placed a dry-erase board on the table and wrote "Can we pray for you?" Several people stopped and wrote their prayers down, and some even wanted to pray with the interns at the station.
Power Hour is also another weekly ministry that I am very excited about. Every Friday, the interns go to a local park off Pelham Parkway and give a bible lesson, pass out some snacks, and play games with the kids. I am excited about getting to know the kid's families better and building relationships with that community. Danielle and I are hoping to hangout in that area several times each week, trying to 'build some bridges' for Bronx Fellowship.
This weekend was quite an adventure! On Saturday, we took 15 teens to Pennsylvania for a night of camping in the Pokeno Mountains, followed by a full day of paintball at Skirmish. This trip was a great way to meet some of the teens who are already connected to the church. It was really interesting to see city kids experiencing the great outdoor; several said that it was "just too quiet". We were able to spend time in prayer and fellowship; the teens seemed so supportive of each other and asked lots of thought provoking questions. I could tell they enjoyed their time away from their busy lives. Sunday was an exhausting day; we played paintball for 8 hours in high heat and humidity. And in case you were wondering, I have two very large, awful looking bruises on my leg! All in all, the weekend was great and allowed time for growth and renewal.
Mondays are our weekly reflection days. I found a nice, shady bench in my favorite part of Central Park and was able to be quiet and still for a while. I enjoyed people watching, and have realized just how creative God really is. New York is truly a melting pot for all races and cultures. I love it!
And today was mainly spent at the Metropolitan Musuem. We walked the first and second floor exhibits; it was relaxing and very nice to get out of the heat!
--- Apparently there are tornado warnings all across our area, and a tree just fell in the road next to my building! Oh my
Please keep praying for Bronx Fellowship and the people we are coming into contact with. I'll try to post some pictures soon!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
10 more hours...
Heath and I have enjoyed our time in Tennessee! Friends and family have kept us busy, but I'm so glad I was able to visit with the people I love.
While still in Abilene, Heath and I attended a mission workshop featuring Tom Wymore. He discussed several ways in which we can truly show others that they are valued and loved by God. His main topic focused on the idea of 'redemptive listening'. It was really nice to be able to make connections with other students who were also going through the World Wide Witness program this summer.
We also took a Maymester course entitled Teaching the Good News. A lot of material was covered in one extremely short week; I feel like a gained a lot of insight into what I personally think the Gospel is. We covered various topics including the gospel, salvation, evangelism, and the kingdom of God. I'm looking forward to implementing what I've learned into my time in the Bronx. For those who don't know me, I tend to come off a little shy and quiet; this summer, it is my hope that I become more active in seeking relationship with those around me and show them love.
We will be flying out of the Nashville airport at 10:50 and should be meeting up with our fellow interns in the Big Apple at 2 or so! I am so grateful for this experience already. I look forward to giving you updates and sharing pictures with you. (Not quite sure if my apartment will have internet access, so it might be a few days before my next post.) Thank you so much for your prayers for my fellow interns and the Bronx Fellowship Church!
While still in Abilene, Heath and I attended a mission workshop featuring Tom Wymore. He discussed several ways in which we can truly show others that they are valued and loved by God. His main topic focused on the idea of 'redemptive listening'. It was really nice to be able to make connections with other students who were also going through the World Wide Witness program this summer.
We also took a Maymester course entitled Teaching the Good News. A lot of material was covered in one extremely short week; I feel like a gained a lot of insight into what I personally think the Gospel is. We covered various topics including the gospel, salvation, evangelism, and the kingdom of God. I'm looking forward to implementing what I've learned into my time in the Bronx. For those who don't know me, I tend to come off a little shy and quiet; this summer, it is my hope that I become more active in seeking relationship with those around me and show them love.
We will be flying out of the Nashville airport at 10:50 and should be meeting up with our fellow interns in the Big Apple at 2 or so! I am so grateful for this experience already. I look forward to giving you updates and sharing pictures with you. (Not quite sure if my apartment will have internet access, so it might be a few days before my next post.) Thank you so much for your prayers for my fellow interns and the Bronx Fellowship Church!
Saturday, May 3, 2008
First Post!
Finally! Sorry to all of you who have been checking for new information... life has been crazy for the last few months, and now my journey to New York is about to begin!
To catch you up... I've almost completed my Junior year here at ACU! Only three exams to take before it's official. This past week was wonderful; Tuesday Night Kids Church came to a chaotic close and have been able to spend lots of time with the people I love. I also found out that I am going to be interning at AISD Early Head Start program starting this fall. I'm looking forward to actually experiencing what the Social Work profession is all about.
(I am also hopeful about getting a great job for next semester, so be in prayers for that!)
Heath and I will be coming to Franklin on May 24, so please don't miss us on Sunday! We'll be flying out early on June 1.
Thank you for all of your support and encouragement throughout this semester. I've been getting so excited about this experience. I can't say that I'm ready or prepared for the culture shock though!
Please be in prayer for this mission to the Bronx and the people we will be in contact with there. (For more information about the Bronx Fellowship of Christ, visit bronxfellowship.org)
I love you all, I'll been in touch again soon...
To catch you up... I've almost completed my Junior year here at ACU! Only three exams to take before it's official. This past week was wonderful; Tuesday Night Kids Church came to a chaotic close and have been able to spend lots of time with the people I love. I also found out that I am going to be interning at AISD Early Head Start program starting this fall. I'm looking forward to actually experiencing what the Social Work profession is all about.
(I am also hopeful about getting a great job for next semester, so be in prayers for that!)
Heath and I will be coming to Franklin on May 24, so please don't miss us on Sunday! We'll be flying out early on June 1.
Thank you for all of your support and encouragement throughout this semester. I've been getting so excited about this experience. I can't say that I'm ready or prepared for the culture shock though!
Please be in prayer for this mission to the Bronx and the people we will be in contact with there. (For more information about the Bronx Fellowship of Christ, visit bronxfellowship.org)
I love you all, I'll been in touch again soon...
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