A Long Time Coming

Good day all my merry followers. I'm back. Yes it's a little late, but I'll just blame that on Sandy, our little hurricane friend. Though actually it's my lazy side's fault, he didn't have the discipline to sit down and write.
Because of Sandy, we've sort of had a really long weekend; our speaker wasn't able to come up so we had Monday and Tuesday off as well as our usual Saturday and Sunday, plus today (Wednesday, Oct 31) we weren't able to help as we usually do at the Bowery Mission because public transit still wasn't running. And as any of you who have ever had a long weekend know, no matter how much you promise yourself that you're going to get your work done early so that you can enjoy the rest of the weekend care free, you always manage to end up with a pile of stuff to do the last evening of the break. (If you're catching my drift, you understand that I'm really just making excuses for my being lazy by making myself sympathetic and relatable to you. If you weren't catching my drift, I just told you it so it doesn't really matter, just smile and nod).

I usually save this for the end, but I'm just so happy, thankful, and excited that I'm going to start off with this: I've raised all the funds for my trip! Thank you so much to every one who gave, I am truly thankful for all the support that everyone's shown me. But don't think that just because I've raised all my funds that you've lost your chance to give. Most of the team still need at least some of their support. If you felt or feel you were or are supposed to give, consider giving to other STEPpers. If you would like info on finances or donations, you can contact Toni at 7sons@fickett.info or Vicky at vlandis@bic-church.org. Thanks again so much! :D

This week was a pretty basic week, so I'll try not to bore you (or myself) and keep it concise and to the point, hitting the major events of the week that I'm now going to inform you on.

Sunday was an average Sunday. We went to church as usual, and it was good as usual. I took a nap after church (very characteristic of me, if you haven't noticed yet reading my blogs). I was woken up for dinner after which we watched End of the Spear. For those of you who have not seen it, two things: 1) watch it and 2) it's incredible and you should probably watch it. It's about some incredible people who were willing to lay down their lives to save an unreached people. After the movie I did my blogging which was posted last week at that time.

Monday came next, as usual, which I'm guessing you know, but since Rebecca Black left out half the week in her song "Friday" I thought I'd clarify the weekly order of days between Sunday and Thursday. So yes, Monday we again went to Doctor Lou's house to talk about biblical interpretation. It was cool for me, because most of it was stuff I've heard from Dad's sermons before, so I was building on what I already knew. We then came home for a quick lunch and were off again, this time to the after-school program. Now I know what you're thinking, "isn't that usually on Wednesdays and Thursdays, not Mondays?" And the answer is yes, but do to a previous, super exciting engagement on Wednesday that you will hear about soon, we helped with the after-school program on Monday instead. It was fun, as would be expected. It's cool to see the kids opening up and starting to except us as one of them, to be known as not only a volunteer but also a friend.
We got back around 6:45pm, had dinner and a chill, hang-together evening.

Now continuing our Days-of-the-Week lesson, I present to you the day that follows Monday: (dum-da-da-da-dum-daaaa) Tuesday. I woke up just in time for our morning group time after which I had some breakfast, which is usually a bowl of cereal. We then did two more sessions (#4 and #5) of the Anita Keagy series "Seeking God First." Wow, if you want an honest challenge and call to read your bible daily, you sure won't be disappointed in what Anita has to say. Definitely an encouragement as well as a reminder of how important our time with God really is.
We had the afternoon "off" so to say. I mostly did some catch-up reading in the books we were assigned. After dinner we (Reneé, Eryca, Beth, Aaron, and myself) had another Spanish lesson with Dorine before going again to the Spanish prayer/bible study service. So far we haven't really learned that much, but it's good to start conditioning our ears to hearing spanish and our minds to spanish culture. The five of us came home to discover Karla feeling very sick with a sharp pain in her right side. Believing it to be appendicitis, and in full awareness of the potential danger of such situations, Bonnie, along with Bekah, took Karla to the Hospital Emergency room. Those of us who had to stay back at the apartment pretty much just sat around praying, talking, and generally waiting on news about what was going on. Eventually only one person was allowed to be with Karla, so Aaron and I went and picked up Bekah via bus. We got back a little before midnight and waited another two hours before we finally got the news on the CAT scan results. Thank God it was not appendicitis. It turns out that it was just an ovarian cyst. Bekah and I were the only ones still up at that point, and were glad to finally go to bed in full assurance that Karla was going to be ok. Bonnie and Karla got back around five in the morning.

By process of elimination, taking out the days mentioned in RB's "Friday" and the ones we've so far used, can you guess which day comes next. That's right, it's Wednesday, the day after Tuesday and the one before Thursday. Oh my, what a good day. It started out nice and early with Aaron and me going to help serve with Fellowship Chapel's Breakfast Ministry. Aaron and I then went to join the others at Bowery mission. Since I still had my wrist wrapped from the sprain/strain I wasn't able to do my usual job of dishwashing. Instead, I got left doing all the little mundane tasks like wiping tables and organizing shelves. It wasn't actually that bad, I just missed my dishwashing job.
On our way home we stopped by a little corner convenience store and picked up Karla a small bouquet of flowers as a little "Get Well/We Missed You/Glad You're Ok/You're Important To Us" gift. She very much appreciated and enjoyed them. And the great thing was that she was already back up and kicking (after having slept most of the day).
We then all got dressed up for our exciting evening out. It started with dinner at a little restaurant called Carmin's off of Times Square with Vicky who had come up to go to our evening destination with us, which was...wait for it... Wicked! Yes, we went to see the Broadway show Wicked! I was so happy and so overjoyed. Oh my gosh it was so good. I just love musicals and all things theatre.

Thursday we did nothing exciting until around 2:20 in the afternoon when we went to help with the after-school program again. We were one team member short sense Karla was on her way home with Vicky in order to make a visit to her doctor. The after-school program was good as usual, with no things out of the ordinary happening.
When we got home, just as we were sitting down for dinner I got a text reminding me that my family was having a video conference to find out the gender of Micah and Tracey's soon-to-be. It's going to be a boy! I'm so super excited to be an uncle, can't wait!

Friday, Friday, gettin' down on Friday, looking forward to the weekend. So ya, Friday we did our usual thing and went to help at World Vision from about 10:00 until 2:00ish. It was a laid back day for them and they didn't have much for us to do, but it was good and productive anyways. That evening Eryca, Bekah, Aaron, and I went to Times Square church again before going to Penn Station to pick Karla up. On our way home we had to take a little detour because of an idle train on the tracks. When we finally got back (about an hour later than planned) we were greeted by Reneé's sisters, Angela and Alicia, who had come to visit Reneé for the weekend. It was then off to bed.

Saturday was an early morning since we were going out with Manna of Life again to help them serve meals to homeless families and to un-hired dayworkers. We had lunch on the job since they had some extra soup and sandwiches. When we got back everyone but Bonnie and I, including Reneé's sisters, went downtown to take the Staton Island Ferry past the Statue of Liberty. I stayed behind because I was very tired and wasn't feeling very good. So can you guess what I did? Yes, as usual, I napped. Oh, how I love naps! When everyone got back I was awakened for dinner, after which Angela and Alicia left. That night we watched Cool Runnings, and it was still a good movie, even after all these years.

That sums up last week, even though it is already half-way through this week. If you have any questions or comments or would like my address please contact one of the greatest people you will ever have the chance to contact, Hope, at constanceh.95@gmail.com. Also, if you would like my prayer request updates you can contact Mike at biblebeach@hotmail.com.

Thanks again everyone for helping me reach 100% of funds needed. So blessed. As usual, with many loves and misses,

~Asher Fickett~

I Guess There Should Probably be a Title

I'm running out of ideas of how to introduce my posts and welcome you. I've already used the general "hello," the happy "howdy," and the desperate, pleading "welcome," and I'm just plain out of ideas. Okay, actually, looking back on just those three things, I really should have more ideas. I guess it's more like I'm walking, not running, out of ideas. Maybe I could just go with a "I don't know what to say" theme. or maybe just a quick basic, old hat "hello," since most of you probably don't even care about the introductions. In fact, me rambling on probably bugs you since you're probably just here to find out about the content of my week, not hear some flattering, flowery, frivolous welcome.

So, um, hello...I guess. Ya, pretty much what follows is, like, what happened to me and, um, the team, like, this week.

Was that a good attempt at short and concise, or was that too bashful? Maybe something more like:

Yo, what up home dogs. Ima give you a quick update here about what's good from my week. Wha' wha'.

There's still something wrong with that, to loose? Maybe a little more structured and proper.

Good day dear Sirs and Ma'ams, Gentlemen and Ladies, how good of you to attend yourself here to the instructive and informative update about my team's and mine own weekly encounters and endeavors. I hope that I find you all quite—

No, that just sounds to pompous and strict. I feel suffocated by too much etiquette and properness. Sorry about that. Maybe I should just go with the everyday, down to earth:

Hi, I'm here to inform you on what's been going on in my life over the past week. I'm so very glad you could make it and I hope you enjoy the tales that follow.

There, much better, now let's get started.

Since I usually have something to say before I just jump into my week, I'll say a little something first before I just jump into my week. And that something that I'm going to say, before I just jump into my week, is that I have a sprained (or possibly just strained) wrist. Let's just say that we're not always peaceful little angels, and sometimes we like to horse around a little bit. On one occasion, whilst we were braying, stomping, nay-ing, and giving rides I caught my front, right hoof on a piece of—just kidding, we don't do that kind of horsing around. I still have no idea why we call it that. But yes, during our slight rough housing, I over exerted my wrist and hurt it. I've had it wrapped up in an Ace bandage and have tried to use it as little as possible, but since it's my dominant hand, it probably hasn't been getting as much rest as it should be getting. Anyways, I just thought you might like to know that even though I have a bad wrist, I'm still willing to type up this update for you. See, I really do care. Actually, it's not that bad, I just like to think I'm being a great person. So don't rain on my parade, at least not too hard. I guess you can maybe shower on it a little, but please don't torrentially downpour. Thanks :)

Well, let us start the week at Sunday, since that is usually were the week starts, and since that's were we left off. Since I sort of threw up a little early sunday morning (like around 4:30am, which some of you may know since I mentioned that in passing last update) I stayed home from church. I mostly sat around munching on crackers, sipping ginger ale, and watching a little Netflix. I did a little cleaning and organizing in my room since I had kind of let myself get messy. The saddest part about having to stay home was that, for lunch after church, everyone went to an authentic Spanish restaurant. Since I was sick, I obviously couldn't have managed such foods, so I had to sit home and miss out on one of my favorite meals. But I survived, and Bonnie said there will probably be another chance to go.
When everyone got back from their morning outing, there were plans to go to Central Park for some afternoon reading and recreation. I decided to tag along, though I probably shouldn't have, and ended up feeling a little worn out (from tiring quickly since I was still recovering) and a little extra stomach achey. Also, I'm not so sure it was worth the hassle of getting there and back again since it's quite a long trip, and since there are some other nice parks that are closer to us. It was fun, and I thoroughly enjoyed being in a big park area that was mostly an escape from the city, but like I said, I wasn't feeling too well and the trip just seemed too long and inconvenient. Something fun, though, about our excursion to the park was that we saw some creeper paparazzi guy with a huge camera lens—and I mean really, really big lens, like probably a little longer than my arm and about four times as thick—focused up on what look like an apartment complex or hotel. He was there the whole time we where there, so who knows how long we was waiting for his perfect shot. Any-who, we also got to see what was called a castle but was more of a little watch tower (I believe I included a picture of it in last weeks blog, and will do so again this week). When we left the park, we came back to the apartment and watched "Phantom of the Opera," during which I did some blogging between my favoriter scenes.

Monday morning my alarm did not awake me as it was supposed to (which was probably more my fault than its) and so had to shower quickly and eat breakfast during our morning group devotions. We then took the bus/subway to 110th street, also called Cathedral Parkway, to visit Doctor Lou. He gave us a lesson on Theology and Christology, and talked about how all of scripture points toward Jesus and what he did. It was cool because it was similar to stuff Dad has talked about in some of his sermons. After our time with Doctor Lou, we stopped by a little hole-in-the-wall shop and got some good, New York style pizza. I still wasn't feeling to well, but I could pass up another good meal, so I ate my piece anyway. When we got back to the apartment we started the Anita Keagy vidweo series of "Discovering the Joys of Seeking God First." It was very good, and I think I speak for the whole group when I say I was very anticipatory of the sessions that would follow. The rest of the day was chill-at-the-apartment time, so we did what we extraverts do best: socialized.

Tuesday was such a chillax day that I don't really have much to say about it. We watched the next two video sessions of Anita Keagy's talk, which were both very good, challenging us to truly hunger for God through his word and his Spirit. After we were done with the videos we had the rest of the day to ourselves again. I shared some of my favorite youtube videos, such as Matrix Ping-Pong and some of Harvard Sailing Team's stuff. We talked a lot, and did basic, everyday, sit-around stuff.

Well, Wednesday rolled in while I rolled out of bed a little later than planned (again, my alarm clock seemed to have become dysfunctional). I hurried through my shower and breakfast and we were on our way to help, as we usually do on Wednesdays, at the Bowery Mission. "We" meaning all of us except Bonnie, who usually stays home anyways, and Aaron and Bekah who were helping with Fellowship Chapel's Breakfast Ministry, and who would be joining us later. At the Bowery Mission we helped in the kitchen as usual with whatever we could to ready the two meals they serve, one to their residences and one to the off-the-street homeless. I got to work with washing dishes again, spraying off dishes, pots and pans, putting things through the super cool speed dishwasher, and scrubbing dirty dishes that required hand washing. It's actually quite fun, and fits my personality type of managing chaos, keeping things moving, and enjoying the satisfaction of getting to see progress and seeing things cleaned. Some of the others helped in the pantry, organizing a large donation of Cayenne pepper. They had some sore eyes and dry throats by the end of it, though I didn't escape completely unscathed either. I did have some sore hands from scrubbing pots and sore skin from hot water and hot dishes. After the Bowery we took the subway and bus over to help again with Operation Exodus' after-school program at Manhattan Christian Academy. I always enjoy playing with and being an influence to and just generally helping kids, so I naturally enjoyed myself at the after-school program. Though I did feel I had a little less control that day, partially because the kids seemed a little extra rowdy and also, being tired, I didn't put forth into my authority as much effort and energy as I usually do.
After the kids' program we came back to the apartment and had a wonderful dinner prepared for us by a wonderful Bonnie. When then had a book discussion about the last three chapters of "Search for Significance" that we had been assigned. It was a very good book, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good, Christian read. Just as a forewarning though, in getting his point across, the author gets a little repetitive sometimes, but don't let that stop you from getting the message and learning from what he has to say.

Thursday, after a shower and a quick breakfast, I went with Eryca and Karla to help with the Breakfast Ministry. It was a good time in which we got to show God's love to about 25 people by feeding them a warm breakfast in a warm, dry room. After clean up there, we went back to the apartment, and Eryca and Karla went back to sleep for a short morning nap. At about 10:30am I led devotions, talking about how God is a Good Father (we briefly talked about Hebrews 12:1-13 and Matthew 7:9-11 and the different aspects of God that are discussed in those passages). We then had some down time before lunch during which most of us did some catch up reading in "Ministering Cross-Culturally" that we were supposed to have read for discussion that night. After lunch we went to the Love Kitchen to help again with their food pantry service to the homeless. As usual, we got there an hour before they open to the homeless so that we could help set up and do whatever was needed for things to happen. After set up we opened and in came the people. This week I helped in the grocery line. I would look at someones "membership" card to see how many people the person was "shopping" for, and would then put the corresponding amount of food in the person's cart or bags. Some people were appreciative, others were greedy for more, but either way, it was nice to be a little taste of love and light to so many lost people.
After helping at the Love Kitchen we again helped with the after-school program, which definitely went better than the day before, with just as much fun, but a little more structure and control. Back at the apartment that evening we had dinner and our book discussion. We then watched the biographical story about Corrie Ten Boom, a women who's family was a part of the Holocaust Underground and who helped save many jews. She herself, along with her family, were arrested and put in concentration camps. She was the only survivor of her family, but she remained faithful to The Lord just as he remained faithful to her. In her later years, she traveled and spoke to many people about the love of God. I cried a lot during the movie, there's no shame it that, it was just so good and moving.

Friday was a bit of a lazy day. I woke up when I was awakened by Aaron. I had some breakfast, after which Vicky and Shari arrived and we helped them carry up their stuff. Shari was doing a talk with us about Discovering Who We Are in God and how God uses ordinary to do extraordinary. One thing we talked about was how too often in life's circumstances we say "yeah, but..." and make excuses for ourselves about how we're not good enough or how we can't do something. We talked about how we need to change our attitude to "yeah, and..." where we look at things in a positive light and in full view of all the possibilities. After the main group discussion, Shari and Vicky were going to take each of us individually to examine ourselves and come up with an individual purpose statement. Shari did the first individual time with Beth while I took a nap and Vicky, Aaron, Karla, and Bekah went to Rite Aid to get some things. I was awakened for dinner, after which Shari talked with Eryca, and Vicky with Reneé. Afterwards, when they were both done, we played some intense Catch Phrase and watched Bourne Identity, a clip of which Shari had used in her talks. I didn't stay up and watch the whole thing since I had see it earlier this August with my cousins.

Saturday was another chill morning. I got up and had breakfast and pretty much just chilled till it was my turn to talk to either Shari or Vicky. I ended up talking with Shari when she was done with Aaron, while Karla went with Vicky after she was done with Bekah. After lunch we had a group discussion and all shared our purpose statements with the team. It was very exciting to see how each person's purpose statement reflected who they were and to anticipate what God was going to do through each of us individually and as a team.
After the discussion, Vicky and Shari headed home and we walked down to Treamount park for some afternoon recreation. The rest of the evening was relax time. At 11:00pm we left the apartment to go to Central Park to partake in a star party. Reneé had learned about it through her Astronomers' Magazine, and we were all very excited. It turned out, though, that the times listed in the magazine were incorrect, and that the event had happened earlier that evening. We were all very sad, but we still had some good bonding time, and Reneé was able to give us our own star party with her knowledge of stars and constellations.

That about sums up our week. As usual, if you have any questions or comments, you can either post those here on the blog, or send an email to Hope (my communicator girl extraordinaire) at constanceh.95@gmail.com. She is also the one to communicate if you would like my Bronx address. Also, if you would like prayer request updates, you can contact Mike at biblebeach@hotmail.com.

Thanks for reading and loving and showing support and praying and everything you all do. May God bless. Much loves and misses,

~Asher Fickett~