We Are a Family

Time is such a strange concept when you think about it. As I look back on my time here in NYC, time seems to be contradicting itself in my mind. On one hand, it is so weird to think about how a month ago, I had no idea who most of these people were. All of us on this summer project have grown so close in such a short amount of time, it is really unbelievable to me. We are a family. These people, who were strangers to me not that long ago, are now some of my closest friends. We have all been through such an amazing experience together and have grown to know and love each other so deeply. Because of this strong bond between all of us, it feels like we have been living together for a year! Every single day has been so jam-packed that we have all come to the conclusion that one day on this project is equal to about four days outside of project.

On the other side of the clock however, this adventure has seemed to happen in the blink of an eye. It has gone by so fast that we keep having to remind each other that we really do have only two days left together. It's surreal that in a matter of days, Jordan and I won't be able to sleep in together long after everyone else have gotten breakfast. What am I going to do without the nightly rituals of me and Courtney laughing till we cry over Vines? I won't be able to do silly accents that don't even make sense half of the time with Jessica every night. Who am I going to say "Get outta here" to when Kristy is back in her lovely Texas? Who will make me laugh like Hannah does when she gets in her sassy mood? What am I going to do without my crying buddy Stephanie and her sweet heart? My nights won't be the same with all of us unable to go to NYCUM and hang out with all the boys doing silly kid Christian songs and dances, getting superpowers from Cassidy, and watching Carvis just be insane. No one will ever give me a weirder comment than Alex did about my teeth being small. And how in the world am I supposed to live without Kelli, my Asian twin, being there for me everyday?

As I look back on this summer project, I see the growth that has happened to all of us. My first post was full of doubts and fears about my inadequacy when it comes to sharing the gospel with strangers. I never believed that I would be called to something like this and I was scared out of my mind about what I was getting myself into. At the end of that post, I prayed that I would be able to help at least one person come to know Christ -- and miracle of miracles, it happened! On this trip, I have talked to a lot of people from different religious backgrounds about their faith: Muslims, Jews, atheists, agnostics, even people who proclaimed to be "Christian" yet had no idea who Jesus is. This trip has widened my eyes to see that the idea and the message of the gospel is something that is almost unheard of in NYC. In every conversation, I had to rely on the Holy Spirit to speak through me. I honestly had no idea what I was doing half the time. But somehow, God used me to help a girl named Evelyn ask Jesus Christ into her life. I can't explain to you how amazing that feeling is! God believed I was adequate enough to help out this girl, who came from an atheist home, and teach her about the gospel. It blows my mind! I know that it was not my power, but the Holy Spirit through me, that saved Evelyn that day.

This journey in my life is quickly coming to an end. With two days left, it is finally sinking in that I will not be able to see more than half of these people for quite a long time. These dear friends of mine, who have walked with me through unbearably tough revelations to rejoice in His wonder, will soon part ways. It makes me sad to think about this but, I find joy in the fact that I have been able to experience all of this with them! We are a family. And they will always hold a special place in my heart.