Mission Trip ~ New York City 2018 {Part 2}: Hei-Hei Does New York

This was our third year participating in our church's mission trip to New York City.
But it was the very first year, my friend and fellow Mom sponsor,

brought along a TOY!
At first glance, you might think this a bit of a nuisance (he sure was loud).
But he grew on us.

In a "Flat Stanley" kind-of-way.
After a couple days, we began seeing something significant.

He was highly recognizable and was a great conversation starter.

Pretty soon, Hei-Hei was everywhere and everyone wanted their picture with him.

Hei-Hei broke through relational barriers and so many people just came up

to us to talk about him.
One day, as we were on the streets of New York handing out Bibles,

Hei-Hei was sitting on the book table.
An elderly lady just stopped and stared at him and soon

was asking if she could have him!

It struck me that having a little fun item like Hei-Hei sticking out of

your backpack can be a terrific tool in striking up conversation

with folks and ultimately being able to share the Gospel, 

the Good News of Jesus, with them!!

  

This was the delightful couple I sat next to on our flight to New York from Dallas.

They were with a group of folks from Park Cities Baptist Church taking a tour 

of New York City and eventually Amish country.

This was the lovely couple Grant sat next to on our flight in New York City.
God prompted Grant's heart to share the gospel with them and he

spent nearly an hour going through a gospel tract with them

and they BOTH prayed and asked Jesus to be their Savior!!

Hallelujah!!!!

We met this sweet young man on the subway heading to church on Sunday

morning and we discovered by simply making conversation that he is

a brand new pitcher for the New York Mets originally from Crowley, Texas!!!

Meet Drew Smith here and here

Even the NYPD loved Hei-Hei and wanted their picture with him.
I was able to leave some gospel tracts with these brave men and women
as we had to keep walking!!

Mission Trip ~ New York City 2018 {Part 1}

In the Fall of 2017, our family began talking about this trip.

How life-changing it is.

The leadership training all the kids receive, especially the boys.

This would be the third consecutive year that Ashlyn and I would attend.

When I approached Grant about it, I was surprised

 that he agreed so quickly to plan on going.

You see, Grant still struggles with a lot of internal anxiety.

A new school schedule, new teacher, new food, new clothes,

sudden change in plans, all produce an uncertainty that unsettles

and worries him and he manifests those anxieties by refusing to participate.

With great emotion.

I couldn't believe he didn't balk.

This year, the fund's for Ashlyn, Grant, and I to attend

this two-week trip came to us with relative ease.

All glory to God!!

In previous years, our family has taken on several

fund raisers and job opportunities to earn the funds for our summer ministries.

Every year, the Lord has completely provided exactly what was

needed at the exact time we needed it.

Between working, prayer, family gifts, and church missions scholarships

we were able to pay for our expenses.

The last two summers, I just couldn't get the child care

for my being away for two full weeks on this trip.

So I always missed the first training week at summer camp,

and just joined them at the airport in Dallas to fly to New York City

for the week of street ministry.

This year, I made an effort to attend the first full week of camp

training, and what a blessing it was!!

During the training week at camp we heard teaching sessions on:

Biblical Leadership

Servant Leadership

Leadership Training
How to Trust God

Cross-Cultural Evanglism

Cultural Adaptation

Introduction to Language Acquisition

Effective Ministry Strategies

Bible Storytelling

The teenagers participated in chapel times and group games

that built a team spirit among them.

The preaching this week made their hearts tender to God's direction

and leading in their lives.

 They "grew in wisdom, stature,

and in favor with God and man."

For me personally, I was challenged to pray for God to move in my

heart and the hearts of our teenagers.

Oh boy.....did He ever answer in a big way....... {To be continued}

Happy Freedom Day 2018

Pictures snapped last week in New York City while on our mission trip.

They remind me that freedom isn't free and that some people

hate our country and the freedoms we enjoy!

May we never take for granted this great land

and may we always be vigilant in defending those freedoms

we have been so lavishly spoiled with!!

Freedom Tower

FDNY Memorial Wall

9/11 Memorial

When you're trying to slow down summer

These "lazy days of summer" sure have been busy!!
Two of my teenagers and I are going out on a two-week mission trip this week,
and we've been busy making lists, dusting off luggage, shopping and packing.

We've had to be absolutely intentional about carving out some slow time

to just enjoy each other and the simple pleasures of this season!

These are glimpses of what we've indulged in the last couple weeks

 as we've had time.