New days ...

Last night as I was about to fall asleep (in our dorm that has spotty internet at best) I remember that I haven't posted anything since asking for prayer about the indistinct funk ... so here goes.

Things have been a lot better. Thursday we spent some time on campus and I got to do Soulariums at City College with Emily (the woman who is discipling me) and it was just such a good time. The group of us shared sack lunches and really good conversation then went our separate ways. Emily and I got into several good conversations and Stephanie and Kaitlyn were able to see a girl who had been sort of experimenting with prayer recently come to Christ.

Friday most of my time is spent doing staff things and then spending the evening in the Union Square area with Tiffany (the other intern) and Carlee (a friend from WU) and then relax and sleep until Saturday - which was the most therapeutic day ever. Basically I spent the day wandering through Queens (where we live) and Central Park with frequent pauses to read and journal and just reflect.

Since then God has just opened my eyes to how much of the frustration and anxiety I was experiencing was the result of spending more energy focusing on these high expectations of all of the great things I was planning to be (and the consequent high opinions people would have of me) instead of focusing first on seeking him and letting him lead me to the actions which will make me who he wants me to be. This has been a really freeing revelation and it has been coupled with some really good heart-to-hearts within the context of our discipleship group (both the small group that I lead and the slightly larger group Emily and I lead together). God has been breaking through some of the walls that were between all of us and already it is beautiful and exciting.

Yesterday on campus at Columbia university I was able to talk very in depth with a Chinese student, and even share a bare bones gospel presentation (boiled down because of a prior engagement) after she expressed how much she was hurting and desiring peace and hope. She isn't sure if she wants to talk further about it, but she has my email address and said she will let me know if she wants to talk. It was the most natural experience of sharing the gospel (with any clarity) I have ever had, and although I would love to talk with her further, I have a lot of peace in her just having space to digest until God brings another person into her life.

Today Tiffany and I were able to begin collaborating on the second project in earnest and we have come to an idea that we are both super excited about (that includes Carlee and Rachel [who are also both excited] and possibly Lady Liberty [who hasn't expressed her opinion])

Ways to Pray:

For continued growth in unity (particularly among collaborative groups) and growth in openness with each other.

Thursday and Friday we have a guest speaker, Sy Rogers, coming to speak and because he is talking about some heavy stuff (a lot to do with sexuality from his highly personal and rather unique perspective) - please pray that our hearts be sensitive to what he says and how that may effect our project mates

The seeds planted through Soularium and all of our other interactions in the city, especially my Chinese friend who is going through a lot of hard times.


My next journal ... smaller than what I normally use but a great size for my NYC living.