The Big Apple!

I've just been chastised for not keeping this updated. So let me tell you about my trip to the Big Apple last weekend!

How much do I love NYC? I'm definitely a big-city-girl, no question about it. I really don't know how to explain it, but being up there and blending into city life is like a breath of fresh air to me. It reminded me a lot of Tokyo. Maybe this is one reason Japan sits so well with me.

For several years now, I've been spending time with a couple of high schoolers (Hope & Noelle) in a discipleship relationship. October 17 was Noelle's 18th birthday, so she and I flew to New York together to celebrate. We stayed with her brother in Harlem, where he just moved to take a teaching job. Can you imagine teaching inner-city like that? It's definitely a ministry. Pray for him!

In just 3 days, Noelle and I romped around the entire city seeing things like the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Square (ask me sometime about my fascination with NBC/Today Show), Statue of Liberty, Battery Park, Ground Zero, Wall Street, Court District (Law & Order!), Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, Times Square, Little Italy, and Chinatown. Can you believe that? We sure saw a lot! It was Noelle's first time in the city, so it was fun to experience it through her eyes.

I have to admit one of my very favorite parts of this trip was worshipping with the Eastside congregation of Redeemer Presbyterian Church and hearing Tim Keller preach. My heart was truly refreshed as I joined this community before our Father. More on that later...

This was my second fall trip to NYC and I do believe it shall become an annual thing. The leaves weren't quite changing yet in Central Park, but the air was crisp and this Florida girl got to wear a few warm clothes. :) Join me next year!