Jullian, Isabella, and Random acts of kindness

:) It's always good to start out with a smile.

It's been several days since we last spoke, so I'm glad to communicate with you right now! So, what has been up? Let me "sum up."

Tuesday Carey and I went to Breakfast Ministry. There were 3 tables, which is a good amount for it being the beginning of the month, which means the first week of checks for everyone. It's good that they come for breakfast though, and then they can save their money for other meals that won't be provided for, or basic necessities, or maybe a little treat--because everyone needs that once in a while. Despite it being so early in the morning, I really enjoy going to Breakfast Ministry. Giving really makes you feel happy, and just a smile and a plate of hot food can completely brighten someones day.
I've been thinking about that a lot lately. It's that little acts of kindness that stick in your mind. I remember the first week we were here, a boy about my age on the bus gave up his seat for me. That may seem small, but for someone to do that is really kind, especially because it wasn't like I am old or a little child that really needs a seat, and I don't even think I had my brace on that day. And to be honest, people don't usually give up their seats unless it's an extremely frail old person, someone holding a baby that can't work, or an obvious disabled person(like on crutches, a cast etc.). If people notice they will give up their seats for a pregnant lady...so, it just really stood out to me. And it has made me think, and has me doing more of those kinds of things. My team is really great with my knee, they always offer me a seat first, and that kind of thing makes me more inclined to offer people my seat too. Just yesterday a guy on the metro saw my knee brace and jumped up and gave me his seat. I wasn't especially limping or anything, but that was the first time a stranger had done that because of my knee brace. It made my day.
If it seems like I'm going on too much about the seat thing, then you haven't stood on a thirty minute train or bus ride smashed into a bunch of other people, some who don't appreciate you smashing them, all while trying not to put your butt in the face of whoever is sitting in the seat you're standing by.
Don't get me wrong, I really like public transportation! I like bus and train rides, unless I'm especially tired, because of all the different kinds of people you see. It's especially enjoyable if you are seated near a baby or little kids, because ALL the children in New York are extremely adorable. :)

Tuesday was a pretty eventful day, cause after Breakfast Ministry and devotions us girls went on a Barnes and Nobles trip while Ben went to Manhattan to visit a friend of his from college. I had already read my chapters, so I was able to find a present for Mercy for her birthday, and after purchasing a Pumpkin Latte and a cinnamon scone from the Starbucks, settle down and start reading Deathly Hallows. It was a nice break from all the other reading that we're doing. I really like the books we have done, and I'm learning lots from them, but sometimes it's nice to slip into a fantasy world for just an hour. Especially a fantasy world that I have friends in :D It's nice and familiar there, while being exciting too! Wow...I'm really nerdy. Haha.
We had Spanish class then, though we were half an hour late...oopsy. But it was a fantastic class! We practiced witnessing in Spanish! We paired up, having one person listening while the other person told them about Jesus in Spanish! I did it a couple of times, cause Dorine had the others pair up with either Carey or I because we are more fluent in Spanish. It was a really great exercise, and I felt that I did pretty well. :)

In the evening we did our Victory Over the Darkness chapters we had read over the weekend, and I looked at Abby's Scotland pictures...if you haven't, you should, cause they are gorgeous. Makes me want to go!

Wednesday! Wednesday is Bowery day! Always quite enjoyable. This Wednesday however, Trevor, the cook, wasn't there. Being so, things were a little chaotic. They had two people doing what he usually did, directing everyone, along with extra workers in the kitchen. Plus us. Mel, Ben, and I bagged candy for the community all morning :D It was fun though, cause Daniel, one of the guys there helped us. He is from Puerto Rico and has wonderfully broken English :) We served the guys and then ate with them. Carey, Mel and I sat with Daniel for a while. Mel taught him to be Canadian :) She had him saying "eh?" after everything he said. It was hilarious. I learned a lot more names, which I'm glad. I met Warren, who is 47(but looks probably 10 years younger), and going to school to be a drug counselor, which I think is pretty cool. We met Bryan, who is extremely tall with GREAT hair. I got the name of Elliot. Elliot is my friend--the first day we went to the Bowery I always gave him a huge grin. He came to know me as "that girl who is always smiling!" I think that's a good thing to be known by :D Our friend Edwin came after lunch with the guys, so it was nice to see a familiar face. He is very fun to work with. His birthday is next week, he turns 26, so we're going to make him a card! Maybe we'll bring something delicious to eat.
In between serving the guys and serving the community, Mel and I went back to bagging candy. Ben was having a good conversation with one of the guys, I think. Anyways, we were a little tired, so we got crates to sit on and just chilled back there bagging Necco Wafers(they are gross candy) and having an all around good time back there by ourselves. You can't hear anything that goes on in the pantry when the door is closed, and so we sang our lungs out. Mostly Oh Canada! Which is a favorite song on our team, and just had good talks and LOTS of laughs. Mel and I are good laughers and good sleepers. Those are skills we possess and use quite frequently. :D

We went to Operation Exodus to see our kids, of course. I really love them. There are a couple that already have special places in my heart. Of course, I love them all, but there are two especially--Jullian and Isabella. Jullian is such a cry baby. He really is...he cries for his "mami and papi" for the first half an hour we are there. But really, when those kids cry and miss their parents, I can't blame them. I feel so bad. They are preschoolers, and they are in school all day, and then in an after school program! That's a long time to be away from mommy and daddy, day after day. So I always just comfort them, and tell them how much fun we're going to have. But Jullian is just my little guy, he always tells me when he leaves, "But I'll be back!" He isn't bad, just a little immature...he always tells me great stories, and is easily distracted. He loves Spiderman, and apparently the two of them are friends. Yesterday he was mad at me because I told him he had to sit down, cause it was sitting time...he told me Spiderman would beat me up cause he had talked to him :P I told him that I had talked with Spiderman too, and he said that I should tell Jullian that he needs to sit and listen :) I also got to play football with him for a while yesterday as well! We actually got to go outside(which is a treat for the pre-k). By play football, I mean I tried to teach him how to throw :) Yes, ME teach a boy how to throw a football! Wooo!
Now Isabella! She is a dear. Funny thing is, the first couple of time we went, she was really bad, I mean, she just didn't listen at all. But she has really gotten better. Her main problem is just that she is in her own little world. She LOVES to dance. We play music and just dance a lot of the time, and that is her favorite thing in the world. One day she was especially fidgety and not sitting and finally I said "Isabella, why are you having such a hard time listening and sitting?" And she says "I just wanna dance!" I think I started to understand her a lot more after that. She reminds me a lot of my cousin Grace, for those of you who know that little dear, which is probably part of the reason I'm so fond of her. She has a song for washing her hands, sung to the tune of Frere Jacque:

Top and bottom, top and bottom,
In between, in between,
Rub them all together, rub them all together,
Now they're clean, now they're clean.

As you can imagine, sung by a 4-year-old, this is ridiculously adorable.

Yesterday we also helped Mr. Jones at the Love Kitchen handing out grocery bags before Operation Exodus...there were tons of people, it being the beginning of the month. We actually got a little swamped and ended up having to close the doors. There were like 45 people line up outside. It's hard when you have to turn some people away, the facility is really small and they are only given it for so much time.
I also got a letter from Michelle yesterday!!! :) I love getting mail! *hint hint*

Today we went to World Vision, and put away lots of yarn and paint, and I stacked TONS AND TONS of stamps. They were awesome...really pretty ones that you could make awesome cards and stationary with. I was really hungry at lunch, and so it was especially delicious.
We found these "China markers," which are basically bible highlighters! Matt, who oversees us volunteers, let us take a pack! Sweet? yes!

We came back, and were going to go to the Spanish church tonight, but not everyone is caught up on reading, and Mel was feeling a little icky, so we have just chilled here. This has been a crazy long post, but it's to make up for the crappy little on last time.

I've finished Jeremiah, and I'm reading John now! Man, there is such good stuff in John. I love how there is proof of the Trinity within the first 10 verses of the first chapter :)

Kay, I love you all so much! And I need to give you a talking to...SEND ME MAIL! Emily, my team-mate, gets packages and letters every day. You guys need to step it up, cause you are getting shown up :) For reals though...I love hearing from you! If you send me a letter, or a package(:D) I WILL write you back, for certain! I'm going to put my address on here again. Any packages should be sent through the post office though, NOT UPS. Thanks!

Evi Long
c/o Priority 1 Ministries/UDC
490 E. 181st St., Apt. 4A
Bronx, NY 10457


Love always in Christ!