The World at our fingertips!

"I used to think that all people from the South were rude and ignorant because they were taught the same things. My conversation has changed my mind. I see that you can listen and we can talk about God in a open and honest way."
- A Hunter College grad from Uzbekistan

Yesterday was our first official day of walking on campuses in New York city. We met as a team to receive training on asking good questions and learning how to listen. Then we split up into 4 teams and traveled to campuses around the NYC metro area.

My team (self named, TSA, or Team Something Awesome) traveled to NYU and Baruch College. Our purpose was to "decode" or learn about student life and campus culture. Within 5 hours we had conversations with students from Ukraine, Albania, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, South Korea, and other cultures. They were Muslim, Agnostic, Atheist, Jewish and Orthodox. Most had little to no desire to know God or thought he had no role in their lives. Our Muslim student expressed the most desire to seek God, although for him it could only be through Islam.

My students were overwhelmed, excited and challenged on our first day out. Please pray for them today as they are on LaGuardia Community College campus and the rest of the week as we go to other campuses and step out in faith.

Today began discipleship appointments and Bible study. Students are beginning to move from excitement to exhaustion. God used it tonight to bring about genuine authenticity as the girls spent time sharing about their life stories in small groups.

Please pray for dependence on the Lord for strength (all of us are exhausted)

Pray for wisdom in how I minister to the girls I disciple. Deep issues are beginning to surface in their hearts. Pray they allow God to enter into those areas and that I would know how to come alongside them. This afternoon one student sat and wept and was unable to put thoughts or feelings into words in order to express what was going on in her heart.

Pray for open doors on campus tomorrow. Many of the campuses have high security and we cannot even enter classroom buildings because their are check points and security where you cannot pass unless you have a student ID.

Praise -

Authenticity in sharing about life together tonight.

Community is beginning to form

2 students accepted Christ today! One at City College and one through students on my team at LaGaurdia Community College! Please pray for opportunities to follow up with them.


Thank you for your prayers. God is at work!

Abigail

Training Opportunities

Hey Everyone!

Thank you for praying. The first few days after the students arrive are filled with orientation, prayer, team building, and training for ministry. Today I have the privilege of training all 120 of the people here for project in how to have spiritual conversation and to equip them to share the gospel. I am so excited! I remember being a student and learning these things for the first time and it changed my relationship with God and with others as I developed a heart for telling them about Jesus and the ability to do so.

Please pray that they would connect with the heart of God as I share.

Another fun fact! This last week a large group of us have converged on New York to reach the needs of the city in many ways.

Here is a Breakdown of Numbers on Project

Students: 72
Staff: 52 (9 of these staff are mothers with dependent children)
Children:
Infants: 5
Toddlers: 2
Pre-schoolers: 4
School aged: 2
Pre-adolescent: 3
Teens: 6
________
22

Needless to say it is hard to eat out as a team! :) This group is split into 5 tracks, or individual projects. They are Epic (reaching Asian Americans in the city), Bridges (pursuing international students), Arts (reaching out to the artist and developing the staff and students in their ability to be good artists and good Christians), and Campus (starting movements of people who are hearing the gospel and sharing about him on the campuses in the city.

So much going on! I am excited to share more with you as God is at work.

Blessings,

Abigail

Live from NYC!

Tribeca summer project is officially launched! Thank you for everyone who has been praying. Long day of getting people settled, but so thrilled for the people God has brought to us! :) Introducing students to the city tomorrow.
I will be discipling Rebecca, Lieryn, and Patricia. Please be praying for me as I seek the Lord in direction for how to encourage and challenge them. Pray for them as they sleep tonight, adjust to the city, and build relationships with students here.
One of my roommates convinced me to join Twitter. You can follow me at: Adancediva to here updates as they happen.

Abigail