Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Fact 1
"Violent juvenile crime triples between after-school hours 3:00 - 6:00pm. After-school programs help to reduce youth crime and other at-risk behavior." -- The Children's Aid Society
Monday, August 30, 2010
Interested in sharing your NYC story?
If you have served with us in NYC this past summer or even in years past and would like to post share a story from your time with us? Share a special photo or video clip? or what about telling us your story in video? Please email us
Skyscrapers & Gucci
The next few post are going to be by Ashley Gonzalez, from 12Stone Church. This was 12Stones first year serving with us in NYC, they served July 3-10. These blog post are a great perspective into a week serving in NYC!
July 4, 2010
"After sitting for so many hours between carpooling, waiting for our terminal to be called, just watching for Jonathan to be one of the million people checked by airport security, and almost a 2 hour flight later we arrived safely to New York City.
Upon arrival we were less than fanatic about city life than we were about showering, orientation, and sleep.
We took a bus, the first time for most of us, across the city to Manhattan which is where our Hostel and Bobbi Jo were waiting for us. Strangers had no shame staring us down with our obvious fascination of graffiti, local garage shops and homeless men smiling and feeling completely comfortable in their disparity.
Erin's loud amazement of every, single gas station we passed only drew more stares as if in Atlanta we rode around in horses and buggies.
There are drunk, homeless men, broken bottles and trash on streets. Loud conversations, immodest dress, and daring looks of opposition on many sides. There is a fear, and a spiritual poverty over this place. Sure the building are bright and shiny and tall. People walk around with Dolce, Gucci, Prada, Coogi, and the latest sneakers and fashion. Some spend carelessly, while others haggle desperately.
As much fun as we as a team have and dedication to this trip before this weekend, I believe the precise moment of this mission began at orientation. Sitting on a balcony eating New York pizza and learning of four other young women who were joining the team here allowed the purpose to set in. In silence we all reflected on why we were here and just how great this could be for us.
We raised questions, concerns, curiosity and then, like the children you know us to be, scampered all over the Hostel and across roof tops. There were a few ambulance sirens, a questionable SUV at the corner street, people sitting in their doorways, and helicopters above in the sky. But even with those elements like we see in the movies and hear about from New Yorkers nothing could explain the peace felt just laying on the rooftops and watching the city.
We cruised through Time Square, shopped and dined in China Town, and took the wrong train towards Brooklyn, instead of Manhattan. We ended up almost in Queens. Ooops, did I just tell you that? It was an adventure.
Tired, full, and anxious we all forced ourselves to rest and sleep. Despite our preparations we do not know what to expect on Monday. And as great as surprises are, sometimes just not knowing can drive you crazy.
With prayers and thanksgiving to God we have released all power and Glory to Him. We just focused on flexibility and openness to whatever may come."
July 4, 2010
"After sitting for so many hours between carpooling, waiting for our terminal to be called, just watching for Jonathan to be one of the million people checked by airport security, and almost a 2 hour flight later we arrived safely to New York City.
Upon arrival we were less than fanatic about city life than we were about showering, orientation, and sleep.
We took a bus, the first time for most of us, across the city to Manhattan which is where our Hostel and Bobbi Jo were waiting for us. Strangers had no shame staring us down with our obvious fascination of graffiti, local garage shops and homeless men smiling and feeling completely comfortable in their disparity.
Erin's loud amazement of every, single gas station we passed only drew more stares as if in Atlanta we rode around in horses and buggies.
There are drunk, homeless men, broken bottles and trash on streets. Loud conversations, immodest dress, and daring looks of opposition on many sides. There is a fear, and a spiritual poverty over this place. Sure the building are bright and shiny and tall. People walk around with Dolce, Gucci, Prada, Coogi, and the latest sneakers and fashion. Some spend carelessly, while others haggle desperately.
As much fun as we as a team have and dedication to this trip before this weekend, I believe the precise moment of this mission began at orientation. Sitting on a balcony eating New York pizza and learning of four other young women who were joining the team here allowed the purpose to set in. In silence we all reflected on why we were here and just how great this could be for us.
We raised questions, concerns, curiosity and then, like the children you know us to be, scampered all over the Hostel and across roof tops. There were a few ambulance sirens, a questionable SUV at the corner street, people sitting in their doorways, and helicopters above in the sky. But even with those elements like we see in the movies and hear about from New Yorkers nothing could explain the peace felt just laying on the rooftops and watching the city.
We cruised through Time Square, shopped and dined in China Town, and took the wrong train towards Brooklyn, instead of Manhattan. We ended up almost in Queens. Ooops, did I just tell you that? It was an adventure.
Tired, full, and anxious we all forced ourselves to rest and sleep. Despite our preparations we do not know what to expect on Monday. And as great as surprises are, sometimes just not knowing can drive you crazy.
With prayers and thanksgiving to God we have released all power and Glory to Him. We just focused on flexibility and openness to whatever may come."
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Sign up now for 2011 Mission Trips!
Yes, it is still August of 2010, but 2011 will be here before we know it! It is never to early to start planning for 2011 mission trip opportunities. MTW has opportunities for your church or college group to serve both in New York City with Operation Exodus and around the globe!
Curious what opportunities there are? Let's chat! CONTACT US!
Curious what opportunities there are? Let's chat! CONTACT US!
MTW Go Global
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Ciera shares of her time at Operation Exodus
I’m Ciera and I was part of my church’s mission team who worked with Operation Exodus the last week in July.
I worked with the kindergarten class at Washington Heights all week. Our theme for the week was forgiveness, so with everything we did with the kids we tried to somehow relate it to forgiving others as Christ as forgiven us. One of the ways we did this was at creative time every day. While we were making our crafts we used the time to talk to the kids and to really get them thinking about who they needed to forgive. Some of the kids would tell me stories of how friends and family members had hurt them, but now they knew they needed to forgive them.
Praise time was probably my favorite part of every day, though. We talked about the story of Joseph and his brothers and how that related to forgiveness. I think the kids really enjoyed watching the skits our team acted out, and it gave them a practical example of what forgiveness looks like. Also, on Friday I had the opportunity to kind of wrap up what we had learned about forgiveness all week and show how the story of Joseph ultimately points to Jesus.
Overall it was an incredible week, but very exhausting and filled with mixed emotions. But as Christians, we live by faith, not by feelings.
I’m so thankful for the time I had to hang out with “my kids,” as I call them, and to get to know them. It’s been a week now since my last day at Exodus, and not a day has went by that they haven’t crossed my mind. I’m still missing them.
I worked with the kindergarten class at Washington Heights all week. Our theme for the week was forgiveness, so with everything we did with the kids we tried to somehow relate it to forgiving others as Christ as forgiven us. One of the ways we did this was at creative time every day. While we were making our crafts we used the time to talk to the kids and to really get them thinking about who they needed to forgive. Some of the kids would tell me stories of how friends and family members had hurt them, but now they knew they needed to forgive them.
Praise time was probably my favorite part of every day, though. We talked about the story of Joseph and his brothers and how that related to forgiveness. I think the kids really enjoyed watching the skits our team acted out, and it gave them a practical example of what forgiveness looks like. Also, on Friday I had the opportunity to kind of wrap up what we had learned about forgiveness all week and show how the story of Joseph ultimately points to Jesus.
Overall it was an incredible week, but very exhausting and filled with mixed emotions. But as Christians, we live by faith, not by feelings.
I’m so thankful for the time I had to hang out with “my kids,” as I call them, and to get to know them. It’s been a week now since my last day at Exodus, and not a day has went by that they haven’t crossed my mind. I’m still missing them.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Reflections from Julie Burke, a volunteer from North Carolina
"My name is Julie Burke and my church just returned from NYC where we were working with Operation Exodus for the last week of July.
I have been a teacher for the last 20 years and I am the mother of 3, so I felt pretty confident that I would be able to handle whatever I needed to do on this mission trip. God sent me here to humble me into dependence on Him. Our pastor described the first couple of days like trying to take a sip from a fire hose. Learning names, walking kids across busy city streets and learning the schedule and procedures were very difficult. At the end of Monday and Tuesday I felt inadequate and discouraged.
Each night when we returned to the hostel our group would meet and talk about the day. Our focus those first two nights was on the fruits of the spirit. I prayed and asked God for peace. God showed up for me Wednesday morning through Ashley - the director. She gave me a quick word of encouragement before our field trip that day, and God's peace came over me. I realized that my adequacy was not what mattered here. God was at work despite my sense of failure, and He is more than adequate. I was able to do my job the rest of the week and leave the results to Him.
I left the week feeling tired, "hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair." I was able to understand that verse in a new, much more real way in NYC. We really do "have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
A few Awesome Effort Students
Each week, a student is awarded Awesome Effort from each classroom, here are only a few of our kids who have worked hard to earn Awesome Effort this summer!
Coming to an End
Bobbi Jo will have time to post more pictures from the summer once she is back in Atlanta, but for now, I just wanted to take a second to thank everyone who has helped to make this summer go so well. For all of the supporters, prayer teams at home, volunteers, associate staff, churches, youth groups, and more.... thank you for being so willing to serve.
We pray that your time in New York brought glory to God. We pray that you learned so much. We pray that seeds were planted or harvested. We pray that you experienced the kingdom of God like never before. And we pray you come again!
Currently, we've got Centralia Pres and Zion Pres at OE. They will be there until Saturday.. pray for them as they finish out their week and return home!
If you have stories you'd like to share about your time in NYC, we'd love to know! You can email any stories to stephanie.heaney@mtw.org.
Also.... check out the new MTW website for generation "y" http://goglobal.mtw.org You can also submit stories there as well.
We pray that your time in New York brought glory to God. We pray that you learned so much. We pray that seeds were planted or harvested. We pray that you experienced the kingdom of God like never before. And we pray you come again!
Currently, we've got Centralia Pres and Zion Pres at OE. They will be there until Saturday.. pray for them as they finish out their week and return home!
If you have stories you'd like to share about your time in NYC, we'd love to know! You can email any stories to stephanie.heaney@mtw.org.
Also.... check out the new MTW website for generation "y" http://goglobal.mtw.org You can also submit stories there as well.
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