Dear Friends and Family,
I am back in Harrisonburg after a week in New York
City! When we were entering the City,
our bus driver announced, “New York, New York, Big City, Big Dreams!” This statement was completely true yet; my
team and I quickly witnessed the brokenness that has put even the smallest of
dreams to death in the Big Apple.
On night one, my Small Group and I were on a prayer walk in
Harlem and witnessed an act of domestic violence right outside of our building. When the police arrived, the girl being
beaten said, “It’s okay, he is my boyfriend,” and the boyfriend said, “It’s
okay, I’m her boyfriend.” That exchange
confirmed the brokenness of the status quo and it became very clear exactly
where God had placed us and why.
NYCUP added to my education of human trafficking and how we
can pray big and bold for the freedom of the 27 million around the world (United
States included) who are still enslaved through this practice. In addition, NYCUP has started a program
called LOGOFF (LOcal Organic Green Fair Trade &
Slave Free). LOGOFF speaks to industries and asks, “What
it would like for God to be the center of their business?”
We stayed in the future site of the Bowery Mission’s Men’s
Program. After morning Bible Study, we
would take steps towards completing the building. Half of our team would go to a day camp for
kids and the rest of us would stay and paint.
We were able to see God transform the walls in the building to provide
peace and comfort for the future residents as they seek the Lord and find rest
in Him.
The United States utilizes 50% of the world’s
resources. We are consumers. While praying about sex trafficking and
LOGOFF, it became clear just how much I have perpetuated brokenness. There is good news though! God’s grace is for all!
In Isaiah 6, the prophet Isaiah encounters the Lord and
states, “My destruction is sealed, for I am a sinful man and a member of a
sinful race. Yet I have seen the King,
the Lord Almighty!” God then sends an angel to Isaiah who places a coal from
the altar to his lips and Isaiah’s sins are forgiven. When the Lord asks, “Whom should I send as a
messenger to my people? Who will go for
us?” Isaiah answers, “Lord, I’ll
go! Send me.”
No matter what we have done, when we encounter the Lord and
ask for His forgiveness, He makes us clean and then uses us as a light to the
darkness of this world and an instrument for His peace!
NYC, or wherever, I have already told God to send me- thank
you for making it possible for me to go!
With all His Love,
EK
