Our third week in New York City marked a few things for all of us. To begin with, it was our last full week in the city. That week also contained our last full week at Grafitti 2 and our last visit to the South Asian Community Center. Jared, Kelsey, and I made more headway on the great amount of items we had to inventory. At the beginning of our last full week, we didn't think we would finish by the next Wednesday. However, we were diligent in our pursuit of completing the task set before us and we were successful (and with very little time to spare!). Colton and Kendra continued helping with homework, leading some of the games, and forming close relationships with several of the children.
During our last week at the South Asian Community Center, another group from North Carolina was volunteering as well. Due to the abundance of volunteers and the small work space, several from our group and most of the North Carolina group headed out to the Jackson Heights Square, or Mars Hill as it is called by locals. While there, we did as we had done before...we cleaned tables, swept the ground, and spoke to locals.
We had Friday morning off and took it easy doing laundry and shopping for groceries. That afternoon, we headed out to Bensonhurst to help pass out Bibles at a subway stop with Pastor Chris from Metropolitan Baptist Church. However, it was canceled due to rain. Saturday morning we traveled back to Bensonhurst to help Amanda and Julius, from Lighthouse Chinese church, prepare for their Memorial day service on Sunday (6/26). We were helping them teach and lead the children's service while the parents attended the main service. We preapred Bible stories, crafts, and fun games for the children to play. That afternoon we were again scheduled to help Pastor Chris hand out Bibles, but again it was canceled due to poor weather.
Our Sunday afternoon activities with the children at the Memorial day services went off without a hitch. The weather, unlike the two days before, was beautiful, and we all enjoyed our time with the children. Sunday evening, Colton, Jared, and I traveled back to the Upper West Side to attend Tim Keller's church, Redeemer Presbyterian Church while Kendra and Kelsey went back to Hillsong Church at Union Square.
Seeing as that Monday was Memorial Day, we had the day off to explore the city as we chose. Jared and I attended a small Memorial Day Street Festival near Wall Street and also toured Trinity Church (the church in National Treasure). That evening, we had the wonderful opportunity to hear the New York Philharmonic perform at their annual Memorial Day Service at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. It was beautiful!!
Our last Tuesday and Wednesday in the city were spent in the same fashion as the others, with Colton and Kendra working with the children at Grafitti 2 and Kelsey, Jared, and I scrambling to finish the inventory. Wednesday evening, our group, minus Kelsey and plus two other summer missionaries staying at the MNYBA building, walked to Times Square for our last hurrah and a bag of candy from the 3 (or 4) story Toys"R"Us!
Thursday morning we set out for the airport (all except Kendra, whose flight was for the next day). We arrived without any issues and thus ended our grand adventure to the Big Apple. It was a wonderful trip to the beautiful city where God is working in incredible ways through anyone who is willing. And we were willing!