Well, I finally feel as if life here in New York is becoming routine. The subway system is starting to feel a lot more familiar, I'm not getting lost very much anymore, and each day is beginning to have a rhythm. This is good. I want to feel as at home here as I can, and it feels like that is starting to happen.
Our various projects are going really well. There are lots of things I could tell you about the prayer station, Power Hour (kind of like a sidewalk Sunday school for kids), or our house church meetings, but that's not what is really on my mind.
Our friend Mary is in the hospital. We met her a little over a week ago when we went to have a Bible study with her in her home. She's been a member of BFC, but hasn't been around much lately. So last Wednesday, a few of us went over to meet her and study with her. I ended up playing with her 3 year old grandson, Isaiah, during the meeting. We played hide-and-seek (always in his little bedroom, where he hid under his blanket every time!), colored, and talked about Spider-Man.
Mary took her grandson in when her daughter could no longer take proper care of him. Yesterday, during our visit with Mary at the hospital, she was very upset about the state of her family. She believes her children have turned out poorly, and she believes it is all her fault. Please pray for her. Pray for her health, that she will heal quickly and get out of the hospital soon so that she can go back to work and continue to provide for Isaiah. Also, pray for her spirits, that they will be lifted by the Lord, the provider of divine healing and comfort. And pray for her children.
There is one story from the prayer station this past week that I feel compelled to share now, in light of Mary's situation. A few new teachers approached our station yesterday afternoon. They were three young women who were doing their training with the New York City Teaching Fellows (really cool program - Google it), and they were so passionate and excited about teaching here in the Bronx. They've been trying to get to know the area, to know the population of students they will be working with, and they asked a police officer what the biggest problem was in the Bronx. They expected to hear him say something like robbery, or gang murders, but he didn't. He said the biggest problem is that there are not enough fathers. Absent fathers who are not around to provide their children with the most basic need - to know they are loved by their father - is the biggest problem that plagues the Bronx, according to one police officer.
This is a spiritual battle. Children are growing up without knowing the love of their fathers, and ultimately, without knowing the love of their spiritual Father. I think that police officer is on to something.
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