The MoM Signal (It's totally like that Bat signal.)

Hey everyone!

I have a meatier post in the works, but I just wanted to update real quick and send out the MoM signal to get you all praying. Tomorrow (Monday the 30th) is the beginning of Summer Achievement Program here at Exodus! Please, please, please be praying for all the Exodus staff and tutors, our three amazing volunteer groups and our two pairs of brave individuals, the 250+ some kids and counting coming to program across the three sites, and for Shannon (boss lady) and me if you happen to see this. Not that we covet your prayers any less as the week goes on...
Here's to a great first day of SAP!

While I work on a "real" first post...

A week and a half away!
(Lyrics rather hastily slapped on pictures are from the Broadway classic "Annie," from the song called rather appropriately titled "NYC.")

Perspective.

Reflection on the summer at large. 
At least 3 other posts are still pending, so keep checking back!

 “I know the whole world is watching, and I wish the whole world could see what I see. Sometimes you have to go up really high to understand how small you really are.” 

- the words of Mr. Felix Baumgartner shortly before free-falling from 24 miles in space faster then the speed of sound towards earth, 10/14/2012 (the Red Bull Stratos Project.)

Link to video here.

This summer's personal themes have undoubtedly been uncertainty, the known and the unknown, and trusting God. Y'all are going to get a post elaborating on that at some point in the next week, but these were the major undercurrents and stretching points in my summer. Heck, they were themes this spring when I felt the call to sign up late in the game for this whole adventure, and that was even before the continent changes. I felt, going into New York, like I was entering a freefall. All I truly knew was I had a call, and all details beyond that were unknown. While what I was going was not nearly to the status of the Red Bull Stratos project, it was not very hard to put myself in Mr. Baumgartner's shoes, standing at the edge of vast expanse with someone telling me patiently to disconnect the oxygen. To simply trust.
And with much coaxing and self doubt, God enabled me to jump.
Now, at the end of the summer, I still empathize with Fearless Felix. I do wish the whole world could see what I saw. And sometimes, you truly understand how small you are. New York, as it turns out, is great for that. I am just one fairly untalented, messed up, sinful person. I am as small as it gets.
 And while the idea of that may terrify some, it comforts me. Because the smaller and the weaker I am, the bigger, the stronger, the more powerful and mighty our God is.
And He holds us in His hand.

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."

Matthew 10:29-31 (ESV)

Lost Resolve.

One of the boys from the 5 year old class just gave me the biggest hug while he was supposed to be walking inside with his class.

I can no longer say I won't cry.

The lack of a title indicates depth.

The subway stop by work.

Currently, I'm sitting in the lobby of the Inwood Exodus, in the same chair I always sit in, holding the macbook I always work on. Attendance is done, my to-do list conquered, and the pre-kers are all napping downstairs while everyone else is at the park enjoying what is by far the best weather we've seen all summer. It is eerily quiet and the sunlight is streaming in by the front doors. It's lovely.

It is also my last day at Exodus.

...I am trying very hard not to cry.

The Eighth (and the week following it.)

Dear Central Park,
Come back to Michigan with me?
Think about it.

Another monday, another week at SAP Inwood!
The week started as smoothly and uneventfully as the week before. As unnerving as it was, it was extremely nice! The day went fast and the next I knew I was at Malecon (Malecon!) for Malecon monday with the new missions groups. Good times, man. Good times.

Tuesday, like many before it and many to come, meant Costco day with the fantastic BobbiJo. This time she brought along two SYEP workers from the Heights location with her so they could get more hours, so we each claimed one to drive a flat-bed for us (costco flatbeds are the devil!) and set out to conquer the store. This was all very good and well, but then right there, in the middle of the produce section, the guy who was sent to come with me starts asking me questions about Jesus. He's extremely atheistic, but he initiated the whole conversation. It was fairly intense and I know that I fumbled over my wording about ten times over, but I'm confident God can use my words regardless.

Wednesday is field trip day here at OE, and so by 10 AM, all the kids, volunteers and tutors were off on three big buses to the Liberty Science Center while Hannah and I lamented our fortunes for being admin and therefore unable to go. To add to the unnerving quiet in the building, our internet was out, thus rendering 9 out of 10 projects we had to get done obsolete. By 2 PM, we'd officially gone absolutely insane. I'm still not entirely sure how we made it through the afternoon, but I recall it involved Hannah chasing an ice cream truck.
We don't cope well with the quiet.

Thursday, like tuesday, was a "drive-to-the-Bronx-and-conquer-Costco" type of day, followed by some mopping up of miscellaneous projects back at Inwood before catching up with the mission groups over homemade mac and cheese back the the Washington Heights Exodus. Just hearing some of the stories of how God threw one of the groups together was amazing! It has been super weird to be on the flipside of the "one-week-trip group" experience, but it's always pretty neat to see, even from afar (as I don't get to interact with the groups often) what happens in and through their lives in their service.

Friday was a pretty typical day. It's strange to think that I have such a thing as a typical day here now, but apparently I do. It passed quietly and productively, as things as Exodus go, and in the evening, Hannah and I wandered around the Heights a little before enjoying a pizza/movie date back in the S.C.A. (Stereotypically Crappy Apartment.) 'Twas loverly!

The AMTRAK center in Penn Station.

Saturday was a very strange day, very long day, and while I'm still not entirely sure I understood what all happened and when or why, I know it involved the 9/11 memorial, Wall St, the east side of Central Park, a waffle truck, picking up a mission group at Penn Station, the mission group accidentally getting split between two trains, a little bit of freaking out, the group being just fine despite aforementioned freaking, creating a ghetto bus-route to Target to supplement for the fact that the correct train wasn't running within a 40 clock radius of me either way, buying air mattresses, dropping air mattresses off at the MTW apartments, and a late night dinner and Duane Reade (Duane Reade!) run with a friend. To say "phew!" would be lazy writing, but...phew!

New York, I know I said I wouldn't let you steal my heart, but...

Sunday, like all sundays, began with Church, a visit to a few cute stores in the neighborhood (the Flatiron district is my favorite!) before going to do perhaps the ultimate tourist activity, going to the observation deck of the Empire State Building. I loved it! I normally hate heights, but I honestly loved it. I was, however, exhausted by the previous day's adventurings, and thus I went home straight after the Empire State Building to take a three hour nap. Not the most effective use of free time, but dang it all if it didn't feel great!

 Third week of July recap coming at you shortly, and maybe, if I can find the correct wording...bonus posts? WHATTTTTTTTTTTT?!

Week 'o the First

Meet Alanna, one of our adorable pre-k kids here at Inwood!

...and then, quite suddenly, it was July, and with it, the much spoke of, much anticipated Exodus Summer Achievement Program (SAP.)

 I started the week out by subbing for our lovely new receptionist, Hannah, at the Inwood site, as not only was her flight delayed, causing her to get in at 6 AM the morning of program, she was ill. That coupled with the fact that not only was it raining - it was pouring, this prohibiting us from walking the kids up to the local public school for lunch or to the park to get their wiggles out, should have made the day crazy chaotic. But it was amazingly calm! Tutors, coordinators and admin all commented on this at the end of the day, and in the end, we all had to chalk it up to God. We all crawled home after a twelve hour work day, grateful but exhausted.

The next day Hannah was feeling better, but being that she was indeed, new, and there was and (and still is) a truly daunting amount of thing to be caught up on, I was told to spend the rest of the week at Inwood helping her catch up. Tuesday and Wednesday were spent in much the same manner that monday was, although thankfully we had better weather for both! By 8:30 wedneday night I was the only one awake in the apartment, everyone was so beat from SAP. I simply couldn't bring myself to go to bed before 9 the day before a holiday so I kept myself entertained by baking and catching up with my sister. Relaxation squared!

While I couldn't make myself go to bed early the night before the fourth, I had no problems sleeping in the day of! I then spent the better chunk of the afternoon aimlessly wandering up and down piers on the Hudson as they all successively closed, before staking out a spot for Emma and I to watch the fireworks on 12 Ave. I still can't mentally comprehend the fact that I saw the Macy's fireworks. Weird business, man.

America!

Friday, every single person at Exodus had holiday hangover. Most of the kids were tired, sunburned and cranky, and the staff was loopy from lack of sleep. The day dragged, but once you've hit that mental stage in your tiredness where everything is hilarious, life looks pretty darn good! After work, I went down to Riverside Park and caught the Hudson Warehouse's production of "King Lear." Not the Shakespeare in the park, but still great!

Go to New York, get cultured?

Saturday morning I laid in bed and did nothing productive at all, showered, and then took the subway down to Battery Park. I wandered around a little bit then caught a ferry for Liberty Island, which, while I didn't have tickets for the Statue of Liberty itself, was SO cool! By the time I got back to Manhattan, it was maybe 5 in the afternoon, so I visited the well-famed Department 21 (where one can truly notice how big "Downton Abbey's" influence on fashion has been,) and Bowling Green before heading up the Herald Square and conquering the terrifyingly large Macy's, as I tragically needed new sandals. I always end up in Herald or Times Square, man.

Carmen Sandiego was kind enough to leave Lady Liberty alone long enough for me to see it.

 Sunday I went to church (it was folk band sunday!) and then went to the Museum of Modern Art, which, oh my gosh, people, is the best museum of all time. I know I said something to that extent about the Cloisters, but I lied. MoMA is the best. By far.

Oh, hello "Starry Night." Nice to finally meet you!

In summary: the week of the first was almost ridiculously busy, but in a pleasant way.
Recap on last week coming soon-ish, if we're lucky!