Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Safe in the Bronx -- Really!

We have noticed that when we tell people we're moving to the Bronx, they often respond with something less than enthusiasm, not because they question our motives or calling, but because the only associations many people have with the Bronx -- other than the Yankees, which may well inspire widespread animosity -- is that of a violent, lawless, danger-zone. We tell people that New York is actually a very safe city, one of the safest big cities in America, that we've been there a number of times and have always felt safe there.

Notice how I've used the word "safe" three times already? (Four now, I guess.)

Well, here's some outside confirmation. This story from NPR talks about the declining murder rate in New York City and about who should get the credit. Ultimately, we don't care too much about handing out credit, but the fact remains: New York City is a safe place.

Really!

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Scouting Trip

I was stingy with my vacation days in 2012, so I had a full week left that I had to use by the end of January, so Bethany and I took a long weekend (with the support of Bethany’s mom who watched our girls while we were gone – thanks Gayle!) and came up to the Bronx for what we’re calling a scouting trip. We have several basic questions to answer about moving to the Bronx this summer:
  • Where will we live?
  • Where will our girls go to school?
  • Should one (or both) of us get a job of some kind, even if only part-time?
Each one of these questions will take considerable time and energy to answer. We understand that. They will likely not be answered quickly, or with one visit, or with one meeting. We understand all that as well.

Doesn’t mean we like it, just that we understand it.
Foggy fire escape at night

Regardless, you gotta start somewhere. So we made several appointments with several people with the goal of making progress toward answering one or more of our basic questions.

We talked to a friend of ours, Dorine, who works closely with Fellowship Chapel and the breakfast ministry they run, and who works for the public school system. We had lunch with her and she told us some good stuff about how it all works in the city, because it’s rather different from school systems in PA that we’re used to. For example, elementary schools are based on where you live (that’s the same), but for high school, kids can essentially go anywhere they want in the city (that’s not the same). There are private schools and charter schools and Catholic schools and good public schools and less good public schools.

OK, good. Lots of stuff to think about.
From Dorine's balcony

Then she showed us her apartment on the 25th floor. Quite the view from 25 floors up.

The next morning we had an appointment at Manhattan Christian Academy, a K-8 school that's been around since the 1970's. We knew of the school because Priority 1 has helped out with an after-school program called Operation Exodus that operates there. We got the tour, poked our heads in a couple of classrooms, and got to have a decent talk with the principal, as well as to share with them who we are and what our story is. I told the husband/principal and wife/admin counselor that I really liked the "spirit of the place," that there was a good, peaceful feeling there, and they responded that they've heard people say similar things before. We really liked the school. One possible concern: They said that for next year's 1st grade class, we would essentially have to apply now. Eek.

Then we went straight to the World Vision Storehouse and met with the director, Tim, to talk very generally about what we were doing and if there were any options for partnering with them there. Priority 1 has been bringing groups there for a long time, because they always need help (anybody relate to that?). What with my several years of warehouse experience, we thought there would be potential there. And there still may be, but not right at this moment.

Thanks, Diana and Daryl!
And that’s where a lot of this stands: Possibility exists, but it won’t work out right now, in this moment.

Our questions remain unanswered, but we met some great people, got to walk around this town some more, and got to worship with some great people on Sunday morning (I even got conscripted into playing my guitar and singing backup, which was fun).

We had a couple of smaller tasks before we headed home Tuesday morning, but they mostly involved food we intended to purchase and take back with us. Chambersburg, we love ya, but you can’t match the bagels and Parmigiano-Reggiano we can get here.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Freaking Out Our Friends


I freaked out another friend last night. He asked if we planned on staying in our current house when our third child arrives in May. I told him that we were planning on moving, but not because of the baby: We want to move to New York this summer.

“New York? You mean upstate, or the city, or…”

“Um, the Bronx.”

“The Bronx?!”

I could hear the shock in his voice, and his unspoken follow-up, which was either “But it’s so dangerous!” or “Are you crazy?!”

His response, Bethany and I have noted, is not uncommon. Apparently the Bronx has a reputation.

He seemed to recoil for a moment. I had alarmed the coils right out of him.

So I explained what and why and (we hope) when. He asked what kinds of people we would be living among, that is, what the ethnic makeup of the neighborhood would be. I said that it would be mostly Hispanic, though the Bronx’s Little Italy is only a couple of blocks away, and there are a good number of west Africans there too. It is New York City, after all, so there are all kinds of people there.

He also asked about money, and how far along we were in our fundraising. We’re still pretty early in that process, I said, though we have started gathering something called a MOST Team around us (It’s kind of like a prayer team who also acts like an advisory board), and that our church missions committee was fully on board with us, as are our pastor and church staff.

Then we talked about lots of other things: politics, Germany, accordions, hurricanes, and kindergarten.

My friend asked his question because he wanted to know if we were looking for a bigger house once we become a family of five. Ironically, we will likely be getting a smaller place after the baby is born. Funny, huh?