GenSend Week 2: New Setting, New Settings

I have never been as excited to hear an alarm clock at 2:30 a.m. as I was on the day my team and I finally got to fly to New York. I was ready to get going and could not wait to finally see the city the Lord had called me to spend my summer serving. I was a little anxious and nervous, but the Lord calmed my every fear and the day went so smoothly. However, I did quickly realize that I over packed, but with the help of some super sweet and respectful guys on my team, I made it to the dorm with both my giant suitcases.

Day one in New York was a super fun and exciting day. Our leader sent us out on a city-wide scavenger hunt in hopes for us to learn how to use the subways and learn to navigate the city. In a matter of 4-5 hours I had seen the Empire State Building, Grand Central Station, the Statue of Liberty (from a distance), Trinity Church, Times Square, Radio City Music Hall, the NYC Public Library, and more. I can’t say I mastered the subways that day, but it was awesome to see some of the greatest places in NYC at a very quick pace.

The following day, I finally got to go to Crown Heights where I would be serving. It was a very eye opening experience to see how divided the community was and how broken both sides were. I was introduced to the word “gentrification” and learned about the effects it was having on the community. What this means is basically that people are moving into the community to take advantage of the low housing rates. This is causing prices to rise, thus displacing lower-income people. Our team’s goal is to meet needs in the community and help each side understand that they are both equally broken and in need of a Savior. He is the only one that can truly bring peace and unity.

The whole goal of the GenSend program is to learn how to live life missionally and intentionally in an urban context. Basically, what that means is that every time we go out, we seek to be led by the Holy Spirit in whatever we are doing and to be obedient when He gives opportunities for gospel conversations. So the following few days, we spent our time hanging out with kids at a local elementary school and spending intentional time hanging out in coffee shops in our neighborhood and engaging people in conversations. We met some amazing people who have been in the community for many years and got to form relationships with them that we will continue to be intentional in so that we may point them to Christ. One lady we met while walking down the street was named Fatima. She has lived in the neighborhood for 17 years and was a very kind and passionate lady. We talked with her for a while and exchanged phone numbers and hugs and have plans to have dinner in the future. We also met the owners of several local shops and are excited for the opportunity to visit them throughout the summer and continue having conversations with them.

While I loved every moment of the work we were doing, I still felt a little bit ineffective and like I had not done anything. However, the Lord quickly brought Colossians 3:17 to my mind. “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Sometimes you may be asked to meet needs in a tangible way, and sometimes you may be called to just talk to people. To let them know that someone loves them and cares about them, and to let your words point them to Jesus, the greatest gift they could ever receive. It is not our job as Christians to save anyone. That is between them and God. The only thing that we are supposed to do is to plant the seed and to share with others the hope that we have in Jesus.

Sunday morning, I had the incredible opportunity to go to Hillsong Church. As always, God did His thing and the message was exactly what I needed. I am in a completely different setting than my small-town Alabama home so every day I must continue to adjust to my new setting. Much like I have to adjust myself to this new place, I also have to daily adjust the settings of my heart. Colossians 3:5 tells us to “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” It continues in verse 8, “But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” And in verse 12 it says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Every day, we must wake up and decide that we are going to put on the things in verse 12. We are imperfect human beings who have a sinful nature, and if we are not intentional about putting on the things that will lead us to godliness, then we will revert to our default settings and we will get caught in sin. We also learned the importance of standing in awe of God and the things he has done. One thing that the preacher, Carl Lentz told us that stuck with me is, “Wonder matters because it will protect you from perpetual wander.” If we are not in awe of the things of God and what he has done for us, we will wander astray and seek worldly things to satisfy our needs.

Sunday afternoon I got to attend my first service with Mosaic Baptist, the church in Crown Heights that I am spending my summer with. It was amazing how people from all different races and cultures came together to worship. When we get to Heaven, we will worship with every nation, tribe, and tongue and it was amazing to have a glimpse of what that will look like here on earth.

My first week in New York was full of many learning experiences, laughs, adjustments, and new friendships. I am looking forward to the rest of the summer and getting to watch the Lord work in the relationships we are forming, and provide opportunities for us to share the gospel with the people of Brooklyn. Please continue to pray for my team as we seek to live our lives on a mission.

GenSend Week 1: Phoenix Orientation

Wednesday morning as I entered the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, I was overcome with fear, doubt, and anxiousness. I questioned if I was doing the right thing and if I could actually do this “traveling by myself” thing. However, in my moments of doubt I thought back to a mission trip I went on in March. I had a lot of fear about that trip also, so much so that the night before I left for the trip I almost drove home instead. But that trip was honestly life changing for me. It was where I began feeling a strong calling for missions and also where I found out about the GenSend program and began my application. Had I let my fears hold me back, the doors that are opened for me now, the things I have learned, and the growth I have experienced would not have happened. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us that the devil is a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. The enemy knows the goodness that lies ahead of you, and he tries to hit you where it hurts to stop you from chasing after God’s plans for you. I knew that all this uncertainty and fear was just a sign that God was about to do something big, and the devil just couldn’t stand it. So with that thought in my heart and mind, I walked to my gate and prepared myself for the incredible adventure the Lord was about to take me on.

 God also taught me a lot about perspective during the flight. It is crazy to me that standing on the ground looking up, the clouds seem to be as far as the sky goes. However, when you fly, you realize there is so much more beyond the clouds. You just can’t see it because you aren’t in the proper position to see it. I think that is kind of a metaphor for our fears. When we are standing low and looking at our fears and situations that look so much bigger than us, it is hard to see that there is more beyond them. However, when you take your stance upon the solid rock, and look above to God and learn to see things from His perspective, you realize just how small these things you are anxious about really are and it changes things.

Side note, my sister made me a playlist of her favorite Christian music to listen to on the plane, and she absolutely killed it. Shoutout to you, sis!

When I finally arrived in Phoenix, I was met with many smiling and welcoming faces. Within minutes, my fears and anxieties were gone. I could not have hand-picked my team any better. They are some of the most godly people I have ever met and we are a perfect balance of humor, encouragement, and talent. Oh my gosh, talent!!!!! My team is so so talented. I could go on and on but I won’t for now. Just stay tuned to my Snapchat stories. I am sure you will see plenty there. ;) In no time, the people who were strangers days before turned to family. The unity and bond we experienced was something that only comes through a common love for Christ and the desire to make His kingdom known. We are family because of the cross.

Night by night, our worship sessions got better and better. One night as we were singing, I noticed myself subconsciously dancing. Not like for real dancing, but just a little bouncing and rocking if you get me. I recalled a time where I was challenged to “dance” in the river of God’s mercy and grace, and from that let my worship overflow. I started praying, and just trying to figure out why I had not come back to that “river” where my worship overflowed. God spoke to me and said, “it’s because you don’t like it in the river.” Like what does that even mean? I love to worship. But He kept going, “The river is challenging. It pulls you in and it is constantly moving and taking you places and you don’t like that.” And that hit me. I think sometimes I come to the river and I only put my feet in. I just worship a little bit and pray a little bit and I don’t dare to get in all the way, because I know it will draw me in and take me places. The shore is comfortable, but the river will get me somewhere. I don’t want to be so afraid of what God may ask of me, that I fail to go in deeper with Him. I want to get all the way in.

That night, we looked at the passage in Matthew 14 where Peter gets out of the boat and walks on water towards Jesus. Most of the time, we look at this passage and only see that Peter got out of the boat, took his eyes off of Jesus, and then began to sink. However, this time we looked at it a little differently. At least Peter stepped out of the boat. What about the guys that stayed in the boat? What kept them there? We were asked this question, “What is keeping you in your boat? What is preventing you from stepping out and walking towards Jesus?” Matthew 6:21 tells us that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. I do not want to store up so much treasure in my “boat” that it keeps me there. The cross before me, the world behind me. I want to step out and fix my eyes on my Savior’s precious face and walk to Him and with Him daily and never look back. I may fail, but at least I had the courage and faith to step out.

One last thing I learned was that worship has a way of drawing people in. On our next to last night in Phoenix, a handful of people gathered in the stairwell and began singing together. Little by little, people kept coming in and joining. Before we knew it, we had been there for hours and never once grew tired of singing praises to our wonderful and merciful Savior. On another occasion, my group just began singing old hymns at dinner. People kept dropping by our table to listen, and at one point we had an older man standing at our table sobbing. He said to us, “that’s the most beautiful sermon I have heard in a while.” I sometimes get so caught up in making things sound good, and taking time to plan perfect details and forget that worship doesn’t have to get so complex. We can gather with a guitar in a stairwell or just use our voices at the dinner table. God can take those situations, draw people to Himself, and do big things from a small effort.

My time in Phoenix for orientation was amazing. I learned so much and I am so incredibly excited to see how God uses my team these next six weeks in New York!! Please keep us in your prayers as we serve 3 neighborhoods in Brooklyn. Let’s do this!!!