First, let me begin by saying I am working with a pretty amazing team of people here. It's only been a week, and yet I feel as though I've just spent a month with friends I've known for a life time. In age order, from oldest to youngest, we have: Bonnie (the one in charge), Renee (my fellow Spain Step Team member and blogger), Eryca (who has the same Myers Briggs personality as me, and who is wonderfully sassy), Aaron (he's from Canada, and likes extreme biking), Karla (the energetic, charismatic, crazy one--sort of like me, for those of you who know my crazyness--and she has a wonderful laugh), Bekah (my fellow tea appreciator and tea lover), and Beth (the positive one who always has something to say). I've so enjoyed getting to know each of them and am looking forward to the next seven weeks together.
And the thing about having to share one "small" apartment, its not actually at all bad. We're not here all that often anyways, and we're all so very social that we pretty much are only ever in the main living room chiling together and playing Quelf. Now if you've never heard of the board game "Quelf" like I hadn't, you need to go buy it now. Seriously, stop reading this blog, go buy it, read the rules, play a round, then come finish reading this. It's a game with different cards that have you do all sorts of fun crazy stuff, very full of action and laughter. It might be described as Truth or Dare without the Truth. Anyways, about the apartment. Sharing one bathroom has been a lot less hassle than I expected. Half of us are morning showerers and half of us are night showerers, so it's pretty easy to work out. We actually have more problem waiting to go pee then waiting to shower.
It would pretty much be impossible to include everything we've done this week, or everthing that's stood out to me, but I'll try my best to hit the highlights. Mornings are our personal times to read, journal, study God's word, and pray. On Sunday, after this personal time we went to Fellowship Chapel, which I believe I've already mentioned as the only BIC church in New York. It's a very small congregation, about 5-6 regulars, so the eight of us made up about half the congregation. But let me say, all y'all back in Wisconsin, that that small group of twenty people, at their quietest, sung louder than all you at your loudest. I mean the roof was lifting when they were lifting their voices. So neadless to say, I very much enjoyed the worship. As I wrote in my journal that day,
"You know how I said that people of other ethnic groups can pray the roof off of any place? Well if that's true, than its their singing and praising and worshipping and preaching that keeps the roof raised, Hallelujah!"
That evening we had our first real adventure: venturing out into the city all by ourselves, no Bonnie to help us. We walked down the street to little Italy to buy some bread for Bonnie to go with dinner. We also went to a very good bakery that had wonderful pastries.
On Monday, we started our day by heading to a "mall," if you can call it that, a 6 story building with some basic stores likes BJ's (a Sam's Club type store, except without the samples) and Target, which are the ones we went to. The primary reason we went ot Target was to get Quelf, which I've already informed you about. And if you have gotten to this point in the blog without having gone and gotten it, you need to stop. Open a new tab, go to amazon.com, look up "Quelf," order it, and then swith back and continue reading. Seriously, it's worth it. Bonnie went to BJ's for food and things for the apartment. That evening we had our first session with Ken, our first mentor. Every Monday and Tuesday we will have a mentor talk to us about different topics. This week's were on Sonship and Daughtership of God, as well as The Reality of Spiritual Warfare. Let's just say one can always learn, no matter how much one knows. After our session with Ken, we went down town to Times Square for some tourism, shopping and dinner, which we had at a fabulously wonderful place called Dallas BBQ, that has great food for reasonable prices. We did a little shopping, but for those of you who know me, you know I prefer most other social activities more than shopping, so I pretty much just wander through the stores goofing off and causing general "trouble" to the shoppers on my team.
Here's my journal entry from Tuesday evening: "I am exhausted, and yet so enriched, challenged, and excited." Tuesday morning Bekah, Eryca, and I went to serve at Breakfast Ministry at Fellowship chapel were we helped served about 30 homeless people and read them a little devotional. Breakfast Ministry is something our group will be helping with most Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursday, usually two or three of us helping per day. After Breakfast Ministry we went to join the others to finish our time with Ken and talk about the Reality of Spiritual Warfare. Something that I thought was really cool that Ken talked about was the Present Indicative Action Form of a word, which is a continually being done thing (I hope I'm getting this right, I'm sure some of you English buffs know more about this, but I think it's so cool). So, for example, we must be being crucified continuously, and we must be being filled with the Spirit continuously. It must be something that takes place everyday in my life, all the time. After the sessions and after lunch, Ken headed home and we headed to World Vision to do some volunteering. We helped orginize shelves for the display and distribution center, since they were just moving into a new warehouse.
Wednesday we went to Bowery Mission, a place that gives men a second chance and helps them get back on their feet. In addition to helping rehabilitate, dress, feed, and supply 80 men, they feed three meals to the homeless of that area of the city per day. So naturally, with all those meals needing to be to prepared, we helped in the kitchen. I was primarily a dishwasher, scrubbing pots and pans, and sending loads of trays through the dishwasher. And believe it or not, though I suggest you go with the former of "believe it," I actually enjoyed the job, it gave me some solitude and control. I got to do the dishes how I wanted with my system, it fit me quite well. One difficulty to work with, which I'm sure any of you who have worked with a group of more than ten people will understand, was trying to follow under the commander of two or three different people who often times had differet things for one to do. A bit of shuffling and multitasking was required, as well as patiences and a slightly compliant spirit. That evening we realized, via Facebook, that it was Bonnie's birthday. So under the guise of touring some more of little Italy, we got her to let us go out without any suspicion. Also, under the guise of asking her advice about pastries, we found out that she likes the fuit tart patstries from the same bakery we had gone to earlier in the week. So we got some pastries (enough to write out "61") picked up some balloons, party hats, party blowy things, and some candles. Then we came back, and set up a surprise all while Bonnie was in her room at her computer. When she came out of her room it was a fun surprise, we had even washed the dishes for her.
Thursday this week we also went to the Bowery Mission again, though on most weeks we'll only be going on Wednesdays. This time we mostly worked on unpacking a new donation of food and orginizing the pantry, which was quite a feat with lots of pasta, and cans and boxes of food. That afternoon, back at the apartment, I finally got a nap. Naps are God's gift to us like tissues are for noses, something that is very much needed and never has enough poems written about it. Anyways, that evening we had a hairdying party where all of us, minus Bonnie, dyed some part of our hair blue. I did part of my bangs, which I hope to figure out how to post a picture of.
On Friday we again went to World Vision. This time we were orginizing the Pick Line, which is where they store all their excess stock. (Little "God is Good" blurb. As I was typing this, my phone started to glich and wouldn't let me scroll to the bottom of the page and write. After refreshing and trying a few more times, I asked God to help it work, and guess what, it did! Love him!) So anyways, Friday's work wasn't nearly as demanding as Tuesdays. The rest of the day was moslty chill time. Aaron, Karla, Bekah and I went for a run, but unfortunately for my body, I haven't done any actual legitimate running since freshmen Track. That afternoon I also took the Strengths Finder Test, which helps you pin-point your top five strengths and gives you some ideas that you can use to capitalize on those strengths. In the evening Bekah, Eryca, Aaron, Karla, and I went to Times Square Church, planted by the author of "The Cross and the Switch Blade," David Wilkerson. The worship was so awesome, lively, and spirit filled. We will definitely be going back.
Today, Saturday, we started our day by praying mapping in teams. We walked around certain areas of the neighborhood mapping what areas people would likely gather, and praying for those areas and people. We then did some "Intentional Sight Seeing" around parts of New York City, sort of a type of prayer walk around the city. We ended up at Dallas BBQ for dinner again, and it was still definitely very good. When we got home I got to Skype mom and dad, and now here I am blogging to all you who are still reading this and didn't chicken out when you saw how long it was :)
Some basic updates and reminders. I still need to raise about 40% of my funds by November 1st if I want to continue through with the missions trip. Please continue to pray and ask God what he might be asking you to give. If you have any questions about donations or how they work or different ways you can give, you can contact my financial advisor, Toni, at 7sons@fickett.info. Also, if you want to send letters or packages to me while I'm New York, you can contact my Communicator, Hope, for the address to our apartment, since for safety reasons I will not be posting it on the blog. Her email is constanceh.95@gmail.com.
Thank you so much for all your prayers and support. Loves and misses,
~Asher Fickett~
YES! I have an official title and everything :) what a great update!
ReplyDeleteHey you!! All this is so beautifully familiar to me! praying for you buddy, and will be sending you some financial support soon!
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