Here we are! quick night update

Currently is 4.57..... I (Paulien) am wide awake together with Anna.... bummer!

So yesterday we got at our new home after 20 hours of traveling. We had a good flight, for some of us it was the first time in a plane with individual screens. So fun!!  When we were landing we could see this beautiful skyline of Manhattan and some meters next to it we saw the statue of Liberty.  On the airport we got safely through customs. 

On the airport we found out that my bag was missing. Luckily I've learned that you always put some necessities in your hand luggage. So when Jena & I went went to the desk reporting my bag missing ;) we got to talk to this wonderful lady. She asked where we're from etc. and Jena got to share why we are in NYC etc. and at the end Jena got to pray for her and she came from behind her desk to hug and kiss us on the cheek, I got real European kisses, 3 is the way we do it in NLD ;) what a nice welcome :) People were very kind to help us!! 

We got on the train to Penn station. Once we got there we got the full taste of New York City. So many people! ;) People playing different instruments, Quote from Mathijs; here are real musicians. After seeing somebody playing on some buckets. People singing Gospel, Opera. We also met some Jehovah's witnesses, got to talk with them for a minute and apparently one of the man came from a country used to be a Dutch colony so he could speak Dutch with Mathijs and me.  

We bought metro tickets and went home. Well, it wasn't really ideal to travel with our suitcases with the metro during rush hour, but he, we made it ;) we got out and many of us recognized the street just from Google maps ;) 

Our host Ivan welcomed us and showed us the church were we are staying. So big!! The building is a 150 years old and they are truly trying their best to let it be it its original state. We have a big living room for us to use, kitchen & a boys bedroom for Mathijs & a girls bedroom for the girls ;) 

After our tour we went outside to get some pizza for 1 Dollar a slice. CHEAP :) 

During our travel through NYC we really got to see NYC how it is. We saw lots of homeless people, I'm so glad that we're able to work with a homeless ministry! At least for me, I need to learn how to reach out and really see these people as people as you and me, not just as people who want my money. 

So yes, I think I will go back to bed now, to see if I can sleep a little more ;) Have a nice day! 

Paulien- NYC 

prep week!

Hi,
So still 4 days to go before we leave on outreach!!
This week is focused on outreach, get prepped and team bonding! fun fun fun!! We all are so excited and getting nervous ;)

Last monday we got together and around 1.30 we got the announcement that we had 15 min to pack and to be ready to stay somewhere else during the night in our outreach team!!

We got a paper that said
Hello New York Team!
We are so excited that you will soon be arriving with your team! we will meet you at Fila at 2.15. We will not be around too much for the first night, but we hope you get along fine with the program we have attached. you´ll have to make your own dinner tonight. in the morning, walk up to Ungdom I oppdrag at 8 and one of our friends will make you some breakfast at 8.30. after that, maybe you´ll have a little time to yourselves before we have to head straight o some ministry opportunities at a local organization. Cant wait to see you, and we hope you have a great time!
- Silvia

So we got at Fila, a church nearby, there we met our ´contact person´ who gave us a folder with more information. We got send to a different house 15 min walk from the church. once there we were aloud to look into the folder. Then we got send back to the Huse house, near the church to stay there for the night in their basement!

Meet team NY, Anna from Finland, Cristian from Switzerland, Mathijs from The Netherlands, Katie From Norway, Paulien from The Netherlands, Jena from the states, Maja from Norway

During our time there we needed to prepare 2 ministries, talking about the teaching we had before we left, spending time in intercession & worship, prep our dinner & clean, play games & in the morning clean up.

Unfortunately we were not complete as a team cause some of us were sick, still we made the best out of it and we had lots of fun. In the morning we got back at the base around 8 & had an amazing American breakfast. after that we needed to do he ministry that we had prepared the day before! What an amazing experience, it really gave a good view of outreach and how it could be like. All of our teams, students + leaders had no idea upfront what was going to happen.......

Our program is coming together :) we will be working with a ministry called Prison Fellowship as said before.. take a look at www.prisonfellowship.org , see what they stand for and get an idea what we will be doing. We will also work with The Relief Bus... The Relief Bus is an organization who distributes food, clothes and other necessities to people who live on the street in New York. Take a look for more information on www.thereliefbus.org

Please continue to pray for us as a team, our travel and ministries!
Well we´ll come back to you once were in New York ;)

Paulien- team NYC

Exciting Updates!

Currently, Paulien and I (Jena) are sitting in the living room planning for outreach!  God is an extravagant Giver, and we have some exciting breakthroughs!

#1.  WE HAVE HOUSING!  We will be staying at a the Ukrainian First Assembly of God church in Lower Manhattan.  We are about an hour walking distance from Central Park and Times Square, or a 15 minute Metro Ride.  Our contact blessed us tremendously by giving us a significant reduction in housing costs, which is a huge gift to our team from the Lord.  Another YWAM team will be staying from the 23rd.

#2.  We've made contact with Prison Fellowship, and it looks like this will be one of the ministries we will be working with!  This is a ministry to inmates in the prison system.  We are beyond excited.  Please continue to pray with us for this opportunity.  We hope to be very involved with this ministry and using our arts here as well!

We are excited to continue to see what God has in store for our team!  Our God is filled with blessing, and we know He's going to craft such a special outreach for us.

We will continue to keep you updated!  Please continue to pray with us and for planning as we get ready to leave on March 4th!  Just about a month away!

- Jena, Team NYC

Getting Ready!

In just a little over 1 month, we will be heading to New York City to see God do some amazing things. A hybrid of cultures, we are longing to see what's on God's heart, feel what He feels.  Though the Western world, how many captives are still here?  How many people still bound by the grip of fear and death?  How many people still needing Jesus!  People from all over the world travel to NYC to "live the dream," come to the states to "be free."  Let's bring them the reality of freedom, the reality of living the dream... Jesus.

Here are some facts about our outreach:

• Leaving March 4th, returning April 27th
• We are a group of seven:  Maja (Norway), Anna (Finland), Mathjis (Holland), Katie (Norway), Cristina (Switzerland), Paulien (Holland, co-leader), Jena (United States, co-leader)
• Using the arts (dance, music, fine art, photography, acting) to reach out to the people of NYC

We are the midst of preparing for outreach, praying through what God has in store for us.  We are waiting for breakthrough in many areas, but we have plane tickets, and we are going!  We have no doubt that God will craft an amazing outreach for us.  We are also excited to see how God wants to use our art in this city.  We need a creative breakthrough of the Holy Spirit on our ministry and creative ideas.

As mentioned, we are waiting for several things to fall into place.  Will you join us in prayer for the following?

• Housing
• Finances
• Ministry contacts
• Breakthrough of the Holy Spirit on our ministry and personal lives
• Protection and peace

We are excited to update you!  Thank you for joining us in this journey.  God is so good!  Let's exalt His name together!  

- Team NYC