"For you, what was the best part of the trip?"

The beginning of May was the most densely packed stretch of activity we’ve had since moving to the Bronx. On Thursday, April 30 a group of 12 from Community Christian Fellowship in Carlisle, PA arrived, ranging in age from 12 to It’s-not-polite-to-ask. They stayed until Sunday. Sunday afternoon Bonnie drove to Newark Airport to pick up four girls from the University of Florida who would stay until the following Sunday morning. The next Thursday a small group from Carlisle Christian Academy arrived, and they stayed until Monday the 11^th.

Ginny (in front wearing the green shirt) accompanied
us on the Prayer Walk around the city. Here they pose
in front of the Survivor Tree at the WTC site.

Tuesday we all took naps.

It’s not that hosting groups is drudgery. Not at all. I love taking people around the city, especially if they’ve not been here before. I love seeing people boggle at all the people, all the buildings, all the bustle. I love seeing people jump right in and have a conversation with someone who doesn’t look like them. Some take to it quickly, some need a little nudge, and some never quite get the hang of it – at least during the brief time they’re with us.

So despite the long days, we love the groups who come. And the teacher in me particularly enjoys seeing team leaders and members alike learn things about God and the world He created. Here are a few of their responses to the question, “For you, what was the best part of the trip?”:

• Knowing that everything we were making or doing was going to someone right there in NYC who really needed it and needed to know about the love of Jesus and how special and loved they are.
• The best part for me was helping the students become aware of how many lost souls are out there.
• The best part of the trip was really just seeing the impact that we were making and it was amazing to see all of the dedicated people willing to serve the kingdom of God in a large city. I loved preparing meals for the homeless and handing Bibles out, I also enjoyed the prayer walk, it was fun and eye-opening.
• Working with the Homeless downtown. It was so cool to serve them, and talk with them. It was also awesome as a leader to see the kids love on them.
• I really enjoyed being able to make people smile, especially when they were having a rough time with life at the moment.
• The best part of the trip, for me, was what I found to be most meaningful and that was my time at the homeless shelter—The Living Room. I was able to speak with an older woman there and I will never forget that experience—I see homelessness in a whole new way now.
• Being able to see my students engage in serving others hands on!



Members of two teams praying for a man
on the subway (who is blocked from view)

• Being able to talk to people and reach people for Christ.

I could go on, but I think you get the picture. These responses encourage us, but they also humble us, because we know with absolute certainty that it is not because we are so wonderful that these teams have such great experiences and have such an impact. All the credit and glory goes to God for using broken and weak people to further His kingdom.

(If you’re curious about what the trips look like, visit our Facebook page and look through the photo albums we post after each team.)