NYC Mission Trip Part 2 & Flag of the Week

I'd like to welcome Kelli back to share more about her mission trip to New York.

It sounds like you had a great trip working with the kids at tennis camp. Did anything break your heart while in New York?

One of the things that broke my heart while in New York was to see the community we were helping out and to hear stories about the people that lived there. I take for granted the fact that I live in a house, have my own room, have two parents that are involved in my life, a church that I can be involved in and much, much more that I should be more thankful for. To hear stories about the families and how many fathers are not involved in the home, tore my heart. The church staff told us that many children come home from school to an empty apartment and are there by themselves with other siblings until late at night, due to moms who have to work two and three jobs to put food on the table, clothes on their back and a roof over their head. Since the children are left at home for so long alone, this is when kids get involved in the wrong things.

What else did you do?

Other than the tennis camp, our team was able to get to know one another through various meals and subway rides. Our team was also able to sit down and eat with the Everyday Church staff as they told us about the church and the community they live in. On our last full day, after the tennis camp, we were given the rest of the afternoon and evening to explore New York City. A small group of us were able to walk around various streets in the city, take a ferry to Stanton Island and eat dinner.





Is there any specific way we can pray for the Everyday Church?


God is really beginning to work through Everyday Church and you can definitely see His presence in the community, but there are still a lot of things that we can pray for. Pray for Everyday Church and the work that they are doing. Pray that the staff has the energy to keep on going and to not give up when times are tough. Pray for the community of Inwood and that their hearts and minds are open to hear the news of God and His goodness and grace. Pray that the community will trust Everyday Church and allow them to begin coming to the church services. Also pray for the financial needs of Everyday Church, they continually need support.

Kelli, thanks for sharing your story and pictures with us this week!