I'm in New York City. I got here this afternoon.
As you know, I am going to be spending the next six weeks here, participating in InteVarsity Christian Fellowship's Urban Project, where I will be serving the inner-city with other college students. A week before I left, I was informed that my task will be assisting Habitat for Humanity in their research to not only expand their demographic knowledge, but also improve their methods of urban development.
I decided to follow suit with the tradition of recording one's experience on the mission field. Before I get into that, I thought I'd share with you how God seemed to have led me to this opportunity.
Last winter, I attended the triennial Urbana 2009 Missions Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. The theme was “He Dwelled Among Us”, and I learned how God’s decision to become a man was a model for the how the church should do ministry. We are to go and meet people where they are at to share the love of God. The attendees of the conference were encouraged to minister in this way, and many people felt God’s call to go and “dwell among” the many tribes and nations of our world.
After an overwhelming week of speakers, seminars, collaboration and prayer, I felt God’s leading to minister to my own nation and my own people. My conviction is that God wants me to live intentionally where I’m at. Like most of my convictions, I wasn't sure what this particular one would look like. While there were hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of exhibition booths at the conference, none had particularly captured my attention.
My friend Drew, who had also attended the conference, had gone on an Urban Project in San Diego the previous summer. He highly recommended the program, so I did some research after we returned from St. Louis. As it turns out, the program is featured in major cities across the country, and even the world. I inquired about several trips, including the one in New York City. With application deadlines approaching quickly, and the pressure of midterms and finals building, I unfortunately decided to abandon the idea all together.
Deadlines passed, and I had forgotten all about the Urban Project. As the school year came to a close, I was feeling a myriad of other pressures building up:
What should I do next fall? Should I move to Santa Cruz? Should I stay here? What about the summer? Should I take this job offer? Should I stay where I'm at?
I was at such a cross-roads with all these questions running through my mind. I could continue my work at the Swim School, or I could take a job offer at Swim and Gym. I could save up money either way, enough to move to Santa Cruz. But should I even move to Santa Cruz? I was so confused! There were so many conflicts with all of these prospective choices.
Then, out of the blue, a third option arose. The director of the New York City Urban Project emailed me and told me that he was extending the deadline for applications, so I should apply if I was still interested.
I was. So I did. And here I am.
