Pe'ru

Starbuxing

For any random big scary looking men on the street, yes I do have a boyfriend, and yes, I am faithful to Him. For any one else out there that does not look like they might hurt me, I am single. Until I get a real boyfriend, I am claiming an alias. I haven't really had to guess alot of what men are thinking up here, they kinda say it one way or another. Perverts. Never thought I'd miss that aspect of Bob Jones. Haha. We carry mace.

There were movie trailers lining the street just outside of work Thursday. Come to find out, Nicholas Cage was here taping for his new movie Sorcerers Apprentice! Mary closed that night so I had nothing better to do than roam around the 5th avenue area seeing if i could actually see them filming --I found them on 5th and 50th. I waved and smiled to Nicholas Cage and he looked right at me and waved and smiled back. Pretty cool. I hear the Prince of England is in the City too. He was in Times Square and went to Ground Zero last night. Today I guess he's going to play a polo match or something. Maybe we'll see him!

We went to Times Square last night and met up with Stephanie from society. It was her brother's friend's birthday and they went to eat in times square and a comedy club to celebrate. I had forgotten just how expensive an Applebee's could be in Times Square...it was cool to meet people here around our age though.

Hillsong tomorrow! Yeah buddy. And then church! I actually get to watch it this week. Really looking forward to tomorrow.

Yesterday was very chill. We cooked a full meal for the first time. We had fried chicken, fried potatoes, salad, [real] sweet tea and a klondike bar. Sounds good, right? It would have been if we had of used a cookbook I think. :) The salad was good. We're gonna get this whole cooking thing down to a science.

City Life

Yesterday was a trip. It was the first time we had made a real grocery shopping trip since we’ve been here. We walked..it's a little less than half a mile there. It’s funny to try to compromise our different brand preferences and eating habits so that we don’t spend entirely too much money. We managed to spend just a little over $60. No idea how long the food will last…but we have it!

Not a whole lot is new..We saw Fallout Boy Live on Today last week..the month of June is going to Rock though! So many good bands are coming for free concerts! We see HILLSONG live this Sunday!! I'm SO excited!!! What else is new..I absolutely hated my first day of work but the past two times I’ve actually kinda liked it. We get paid Friday! It’s a weekly check instead of biweekly, which could be a good thing and a bad thing. Just as long as I can budget the money for metro, food, and housing, we should be alright. We work with an extremely diverse group of people. Two of our managers are gay, one is a girl that dresses like a man and one is a guy. Matt’s actually kinda cool, I didn’t like him at first but he’s really nice to us now. Mary is a “stylist” which I thought was awesome because that’s what she loves to do—dress people! Also, they’re supposed to let her help out with the visuals which is another thing that is right up her alley! Should look pretty good on a resume! I was thinking it would be cool if she could work her way up the ladder—could open up some huge opportunities later on…we’re working in New York City! It’s so cool. I’m a desk associate and I go on the floor sometimes…I actually hate retail but a desk with a register, I can do.

We haven’t really been actively looking for a second job like we did for the first, but we should probably get on that within the next couple days since schools are going to be letting out for summer soon. There is a starbucks just down the street from AT that is hiring baristas. It might be mad busy, but they also make some mad tips. Mary doesn’t seem to be gun-hoe about that option but it’s one, and would be convenient because it’s close to the other job. Whenever one of us is working the other generally kills the time in sbux anyways. So…my logic is that if we’re going to be here for a “shift” anyways, why not work? There’s another place down 2 blocks from AT that is my favorite breakfast spot called Pret A Manger- not really sure how to pronounce that. I say it different every time I think. Anyways, we saw a sign the other day that was like hiring starting at $11 an hour. That would be nice. They have kinda dorky looking uniforms but I don’t really care. Our other options right now that we know are hiring are barnes and noble, near where we’re staying and Fairway which is like a gourmet grocery store that’s supposed to be really nice. God will provide, a second job would be nice for both of us.

As far as a place to stay, we’re still praying. A door closed for somewhere I would have liked to have stayed but we were praying for God’s will so we are looking at other options now. We are thinking about right now staying in the basement of the church until…we find something else. It’s time to try to get settled somewhere…rent there would be super cheap. If we could get permission to remodel the shower area and a room that’s junk right now I think it could actually be pretty nice…we’ll see what happens. Keep praying. 

I found 2 books last night I started reading in Barnes and Noble.. “When God Writes Your Love Story” and “When God Writes Your Life Story” I love them so far..yay for summer reading! It’s nice being able to walk to Barnes….or anywhere really. Lol. We walked to the beach and back last week. Can’t wait til it gets hot! Today it’s kinda icky..weird misting has been happening for atleast an hour. We slept in today til 12:30!! Ah it was heavenly! We both definitely needed that! We got up and I made a big breakfast with pancakes, fried eggs, and bacon. Ah it was so good! And then Mary had to be at work by 4 so I’m sitting in….STARBUCKS while she works. Two Sundays ago we watched church in here. It was awesome-skyscrapers surrounding us and huge people-watching open windows. It’s the life…

This is My Desire

Can I just say, I miss Chick-Fil-A. much. A week and a half into living in New York City is about a week and a half too late to be trying to start a blog about it but I will try my best to recap what's going on in my life up here for anyone who cares. God has brought me here. Evident through answered prayer requests more so than actual situations so far. My sight is learning to be blinded in trust to what God is doing. I’m getting to the point where I’d rather be closing my eyes and hanging on instead of trying to figure out what He’s doing. Guys, I serve a faithful God! I feel like I'm learning that inside out so far this summer. God's showing me things about myself that I really need to surrender and allow Him to continue to change in me. I am so blessed to have Mary with me, I totally was not expecting her to actually come but God saw fit to allow her to be up here so far. I'm so thankful, God knew that I would need the help and encouragement and I am excited to see how He’s going to work in her life this summer! It’s different trying to live with someone, so far we haven’t killed each other. The city is expectantly very different from home. It's also a completely different world to actually try to live here rather than just visiting. And I have never in my life seen time literally fly, it’s crazy how fast the days go by here for real!

Everything seems to be working out...just in weird ways that I would have either never had thought would happen or just I knew with God they would happen, but it's just not happening how I thought it would, or in my timing. I'm being shown over and over that God's way and His timing is way better than mine. I'm also realizing how weak I am on my own and I simply can’t have control over situations, I need God. Not myself, and not anyone else. I am so limited on my own.

Things have seemed to be tough, and not working out, but then we see specific answers to prayer, and it encourages us to keep going. We were praying that we would be able to both get a job in one week, at nothing less than $10 an hour, and at the same place. Six days after we got here I was hired at Ann Taylor Loft right smack in the middle of the city, one block from times square, and one block from 5th avenue--the next day, exactly ONE WEEK after getting here, Mary was given a job at the exact same store. We were both hired at $10 an hour--starting pay. It sounds like I made the criteria up after I got the answer to prayer because it was so exact. Isn't God cool? Like that's just one example of answers to prayer. He's doing crazy things but I can definitely tell Satan's at work too. He's out to discourage and to deceive our efforts. The big thing right now we're struggling with is money and a place to stay, but I know that God will provide. I feel like I should stop saying “if God wants us here then..” because He’s already been blowing my mind with what He’s already given me. I don’t need to be testing Him like ‘God, I’m not sure if you want me here yet…can you just show me this to let me know if you want me here…’ I am a stupid sheep and I want reassurance that I shouldn’t stick with the "comfortable" pasture rather than going to the one where He is leading me into, but He is a faithful shepherd and I know that we are in His hands and I can trust Him with every aspect of my life.

It’s been crucial for me to remember to take a step back and look at what God is doing and has already done and not focus on the current problems that seem to so easily discourage me. I am praying specifically for a good place to stay right now. We’re really looking for something small and with a kitchen so that we can cut back on our food expenses by cooking. Groceries here surprisingly are about the same as back home-the only difference is my parents usually buy the groceries :) so it will still be something to get used to.

To be honest, it’s not comfortable here right now. It’s hard because we don’t have a set schedule because we are with the pastor and his wife. I think it will be better when we get our own place. We are waiting to see what God will work out :).

At times I feel crazy for moving here, and I can get discouraged but then I have to remember that God is providing and worrying is futile. I have big dreams for this city. I am so excited to see how God is going to use me. After the first full day I was here I went up to my bed and sat there listening to “My Desire” by Jeremy Camp. This is my heart and my prayer

You want to be real, you want to be empty inside
You want to be someone laying down your pride
You want to be someone someday
Then lay it all down before the King

You want to be whole, you want to have purpose inside
You want to have virtue and purify your mind

You want to be set free today
Then lay it all down before the King

This is my desire, this is my return
This is my desire to be used by You

You want to be real, you want to be emptied inside
And I know my heart is to feel You near
And I know my life is to do Your will
It's to do Your will

This is my desire, this is my return
This is my desire, to be used by You
This is my desire, this is my desire
To be used by You

All my life I have seen
Where You've taken me
Beyond all I have hoped
And there's more left unseen

There's not much I can do to repay all You've done
So I give my hands to use

This is my desire, this is my return
This is my desire, to be used by You

This is my desire, this is my desire
To be used by You

Reality hit and I started crying and praying. I knew it would be hard, I knew that I would have to have a certain level of trust and patience than I had ever experienced before. This was crazy, this was a dream and a nightmare but I was still stoked to see how God was going to use me. I have daydreams of having a small bible study on our friends roof up here. Watch live services from the church we go to back home and have just a small set of speakers and atleast 3 people there to hear the gospel and good worship. I am really praying that we will be able to make good strong relationships with the people that we work with to be a testimony for Christ and maybe that be the base for this new ministry. If I could see one person saved this summer, it would be worth it all but I am totally expecting God to blow my mind.

I can’t explain the hurt I feel for the people here, I am so burdened. I see thousands of people everyday...thousands of people with different faces, lives, a different eternity without Christ. I want everyone to know. I need boldness. I need to remember why I’m here. The words “Jesus loves them” has come into my mind so many times up here. When I start to judge thinking I’m so much better, I stop and think Jesus loves even them. I need the heart like Jesus, the heart that says Jesus loves you and let me show you how awesome He is.

Please pray for us to find an affordable place to stay, patience with each other, a second job, and the new people we are working with that we could build good relationships and be a strong testimony of Christ.

My Desire lyrics - Jeremy Camp lyrics

My Desire Video - Jeremy Camp Music Videos

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