NYC Mission Trip [Monday, Day 3]

Apologies for not updating over the last few days. They have been packed full from six in the morning until midnight every single day.

Monday was our third day of the mission trip, and it was the first day of our on sight work. On Monday through Friday, we are leading a Vacation Bible School in the Corona neighborhood of Queens. Corona is a primarily Central American neighborhood. Over a hundred years ago, Germans lived in the area and planted Emanuel Lutheran church. Emanuel hasn’t had a real congregation for a couple of decades, but our host pastor, Rev. Dr. Joshua Hollmann, has been working hard over the last nine years to see to it that ministry activities continue there in the hopes of restarting a congregation. And, it looks like some good things are in the works over the next couple of years that perhaps they can have a brand new facility, a partnership with the city, and a boots on the ground pastor.

Where we come in on this effort is that by doing children’s ministry there, people will already have a connection and bond with Emanuel so that the pastor will be working with a neighborhood receptive to his ministry. No matter what happens with all these plans (and we certainly hope they come to fruition!), we thank God for the opportunity to work alongside him in His mission by bringing the Gospel to the children of Corona.

Every morning we begin in the sanctuary where we have opening and storyteller time. Our first day we had fifteen children. Not a bad start! On our first day of VBS we learned about how God is always with us, just like God was with Baby Moses.

But, we wanted more children than this. Throughout the day we had team members on the sidewalk, signing children up for the VBS. This paid off, but you’ll have to wait for the next day’s post to find out how well it paid off!

Is any Vacation Bible School complete without a game of Duck Duck Goose?

Or Red Light Green Light?

The kid in back is giving a thumbs up for snack so it must have been good.

Practicing our songs during music time!

I truly believe that it is vital to celebrate your hard work, so after VBS we went over to Manhattan to take in some sights. The kids were really excited about the subway.

The first place we visited was the Metropolitan Museum of Art. These winged man bulls were in an Assyrian royal court, and I really enjoyed explaining some of the connections these had to Bible history.

We walked all they way from the museum through Central Park, down 5th Avenue, and eventually to Time Square. Along the way we saw various sculptures, fountains, and ornate buildings. We also took a little stroll through St. Patrick’s Cathedral. When all was said and done, we walked over thirteen miles on Monday.

Thank you to all of you who have and are supporting this trip through your efforts, contributions, and prayers. We praise God for this opportunity.