ON OUR WAY TO GETTYSBURG

Well the team went about Central Park yesterday and used the cards to talk with a lot of very interesting people. The Park is amazing and the most difficult part was finding people who spoke English. Afterwards we went to see Times Sqare and catch a meal. By the time we took the Staten Island Ferry to our vehicle and made it back to the hotel, it was almost three a.m.! We are all blurry eyed and have a 6 hour drive ahead of us. However, we are still excited. We have tons of interviews to put into the computer, however our modem is giving us trouble. I am on a borrowed computer at the hotel. Please be patient, we are hoping to have the records in after Gettysburg.

By His blood and our words

Sunday night we had the chance to go to the Apostles church in New York City. While we were there we had a time of worship. One of the songs that we sang had a portion in it that went, "We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. Everyone overcome." That part of the song has been playing through my head yesterday and today, so I took some time to pray it through. As I was praying, I realized that in that one line of a song, the author had summed up the entire purpose of our being on this missions trip. God has called us to overcome the world. How are we doing that? We are spending time daily in an intensive discipleship course and in other studies as well. Through this, we are striving toward a stronger relationship with Him. It is through that relationship with Him that we are going out in the knowledge of His mercy and grace to evangelize. How are we evangelizing? By the blood of the Lamb-sharing how Jesus loved us enough to die for us- and by the word of our testimony- sharing the amazing effect God has had in our lives. Ultimately we know that it is God who draws sinners to repentance. However, by sharing what He has done in my life, I am realizing how grateful I am for my relationship with God, and I want others to know the same powerful God that is now living in me. We begin our first day of witnessing in New York tomorrow. My prayer is that God will give us the strength to overcome what awaits us all for His glory!

-Jessica Eubank

Busy Streets

Today I got up way earlier than I needed to, so it gave me some time to think about some stuff. Last night we all got on the subway and we got to walk around queens... The streets were busy, crowded, and just full of people. Seeing so many people makes you remember just how great God is. God not only sees all the people in the world, He knows them by name. He knows how many hairs are on their head, what their struggles are, He knows their heart, and most importantly He wants them to know Him too. So as we walk around New York today and talk to as many people as we can, pray for us. Pray that we realize how much God loves all these people and know how to show them that love.
-Amber

Apostles Church

Today, we arrived in NY. We settled into out hotel and headed to Apostles Church NYC. We took the subway and it took two hours to get there, but it was an interesting experience. We parked Albatross (the van) in Queens and caught the subway there.
Church was amazing!! Worship was awesome and the teaching was great in the very tall cathedral-looking church. The church was beautiful. I think it was built in the 1700s... or something like that. It was old.
J.R. Vassar (the head pastor) was out of town, which bummed me out at first, but the guy who taught was soo good. I'm really glad that we made it in time for church... We got there right when it started.
They had a reading from the Bible before the teaching started, and I thought this was a little odd at first, but I actually really liked it. They also had communion a bit different than I'm used to. It was a lot like Catholic communion except they said, "his body was broken for you" when we got the elements of communion. It was so cool.
I'm thankful for the worship and teaching time today... It was much needed. Tomorrow we head out to Ellis Island to sight see and then we will go witness in Central Park. Please pray.

-Nea

A Precious Couple

Today Dorothy and I met with a couple at a very trying time in life. He has just been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of cancer that the doctors say will take his life in a matter of weeks. He had just learned this diagnosis last Thursday. This in addition to being estranged from his son made his trip to the beach one of intensive reflection. God lead us to this encounter and we talked for the better part of an hour. They were wonderful and honest, neither professing a faith in God. We explained how God loves them, has done all to save them and is the source of hope and peace. After our visit we prayed together and exchanged hugs. In interest of their privacy I won't share their names but please pray for this precious couple in New Jersey. God is faithful.

Street witnessing does work

Before this trip, I always thought that street witnessing was an ineffective way to give the gospel. The whole idea of it just seemed ridiculous to me. I mean, telling complete strangers that they need Jesus or else they are going to hell sounded like a really bad way to reach people. However, I've been street witnessing on the Jersey Shore and I've realized that most people are open to have deep conversations on things like life after death, the nature of man, and the purpose of life. People are searching for a purpose and for meaning in their lives, and they are willing to hear my opinion on these pressing issues. I've been telling people about Jesus, the only one who can save us and give purpose to our lives. I've been sharing the hope that is in me to everyone who asks, with meekness and fear! (1 Peter 3:15)

-Nea

Boring, Boring, and then there was Yoga guy!

Today we were witnessing as is usual, we used different teams today, it was me and Amber instead of me and Daniel. Me and Amber were having some boring experiences it seemed like nobody was interested in what we had to say after they had given us their belief. we finished up with this lady, and she didn't really have much to say to us. We talked to each other about how the conversation had really been dead, we then decided the next person we came up to would be further questioned on just exactly what it was they believed. We walk just a little bit further and see this guy, tons of tattoo's which were awesome, but my nerve's got to me so I walked a little more sideways. Amber then insisted we talk to him. We turned and walked up to him, then started talking to him, he agreed to give us his time and we began to give him the question's. He gave us his first card which was polytheism. The man then began to tell us he was a yoga instructor and very delved in it's philosophies, me and Amber welcomed the opportunity then something crazy began to happen, I would converse with him on what cards he was picking and Amber would suddenly pop out with these crazy challenging questions. I was amazed at his friendliness even to the challenging questions. We were finishing up and I asked if he wanted us to pray for him, he indirectly said no, but I felt like I should anyway disregarding his decision I prayed for him (Haha...oops). Me and Amber talked with him for nearly 50 minutes! He was an awesome guy but he needed some direction so please everyone who reads this pray that God would give him direction.