The other day when I was talking to my family on the phone, they asked me if I was actually doing any work or if I was just sight seeing and exploring New York all the time. The answer is I have had plenty of time to do both. Like on Saturday, I got a chance to go to the Ground Zero memorial and museum. We spent 4 hours in the museum and still didn't see everything we could have there. It really is a beautifully done memorial to all of those that lost their lives on 9/11. It just got to the point where it was so emotionally draining and so mentally overwhelming I couldn't look at anything or read anything else. I'm definitely glad I went because even though thankfully I was not directly affected by that day, it is still a huge piece of history that I was a part of. If you do travel to New York, it is so worth spending a day to go visit there.
As far as doing the ministry work that I told everyone I was going to be doing, Friday we got the chance to help out at this really awesome food pantry called the Common Pantry near Central Park. In the training sessions we had throughout our time at Fort Wayne, we talked a lot about dignity and how to present our help and support for people who need it while keeping their dignity in tact. It can become very easy to give those who need food whatever we have that is cheap and what we don't want because at least they are getting some food. The Common Pantry takes a little bit of a different approach. They make sure to have plenty of fresh produce and healthy choices for families to have. And what is even cooler than that is that the families get to pick the items they want! It gives them a chance to feel like they get to plan a meal or two with their food options rather than just being given a bag of stuff they may not even want. It really was beautiful seeing the joy and pride on these people's faces when we were able to give them food they actually wanted.
So there are these things that apparently happen in Northern areas that we don't really experience down in Florida. They're called snowstorms. And according to the news and things I have heard from several people, this one coming up may be one of the bigger storms in NYC history! Definitely makes me wish I was back in my sunshine state. The mayor has ordered that the city be shut down tomorrow because of the weather. Thankfully, we are staying in a very safe and warm building with groceries that we have already stocked up on to get us through a day of being stuck inside. But don't worry, we have a list of projects to do tomorrow so we won't get too bored. I would ask you to pray for the people that are going to affected by the storm in any way. We are staying right next to the hospital and I always send up a little prayer whenever I hear sirens coming or going. Hopefully, there won't be a need for many sirens tomorrow.
Next Sunday is when we fly out to Haiti! It still kind of shocks me whenever I think about that. I do plan on putting out one more little post before we leave so be looking for that. Because after Sunday, who knows what my internet availability will look like. Can't wait to tell you all about it! :)
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