NYC Trip Part 2-The City June 4-9th, 2016

June 4th,We made it. We got to our AirBNB and have napped all afternoon. Just woke up. Loving this place. The couple has done a great job on making us feel welcome and it is a gorgeous loft. Pictures to come. Probably posting once a day or so. We took a nap and walked around Ridgewood Queens, where we are staying. It is an up and coming hipster neighborhood so we felt very old! HA! We were going to a pizza place that our hosts recommended but it was packed with people from a street fair so we found this little mom and pop Mexican Deli. Food was delish...homemade.

Went back to AIRBNB and slept like babies!


Sunday, June 5th  We ate a quick breakfast and made it to Graffiti Ministries/E. 7th Baptist Minstries for church and fellowship.

 Afterwards, there was a Volunteer Appreciation Meal(that I helped start way back in the 80's). A local restaurant donated a pig and they roasted it out front. It was DELISH!!  Thanks to FBC Georgetown for a spectacular meal.

 Thanks to Graffiti Church photographer for these pictures.

Thanks to Michele Dunn Canada for this lovely pig photo.

 After that, sat in a restaurant and caught up with friends. Then moved to our fave Polish Diner, Odessa in the East Village for perogies, sauerkraut and kielbasa. Afterwards went back to Graffiti for Night Church.  Slept like babies after all the walking and sitting at restaurants!

Monday, June 6th 
Russ and I ventured over to Governors Island which reopened in 2012. We had not gotten over there since it opened. It was spectacular. We rented a surrey bike and rode around a bit but mostly walked. Phew!! Afterwards, we took the Ferry back and went to a restaurant in the West Village and saw an off off Broadway magic/comedy show and it was hilarious. Russ got picked on for several things. We laughed all night.  Made it back to Ridgewood late and went straight to bed. Slept like babies again!!

Tuesday, June 7th 
Went and visited friends where we used to live at Metro NY Baptist Association. It was good to see them and visit for a bit. We also took a friend from Montgomery out to lunch at one of our favorites, Pier 72. Georgia and Geno were still there running the place and remembered me!!  She is up there for summer missions.  Went down to the East Village and visited with the staff at Graffiti for a while, remembered a lot of fond memories and laughed more. Stayed with some Manhattan friends tonight and had great fellowship and prayer.

Wednesday, June 8th 
Went to the High Line Park, which also was created after we left and it was fun. They converted some old RR tracks into a park where visitors can have some "green" and enjoy some art and peaceful times. It was beautiful. Kind of chilly that day. We bought some hot chocolate and shivered a lot!   Visited Chelsea Market and as we were leaving, we got a surprise rain storm. We had to run across the street and wait for the bus in the rain. It was fun and we laughed the whole time. Got back to our friends apt soaking wet, dried off and took a nap on that lazy afternoon.  Ate pizza for a late lunch and enjoyed more fellowship. Ended up going to the Wed night meal and Bible Study and though the people have changed the "personality" of the Wednesday night crowd has not. Great to be there and experience it again!

Thursday, June 9th. We packed up and headed out to the train station to return home. Here is what I wrote that day on Facebook:

Today, we will be getting up and getting things packed and ready to head back to Alabama. We have so enjoyed seeing friends and seeing the city. We are sad we didn't get to see everyone. Another time. Get ready for more train adventures though.
We love this city. It is no surprise to most of you. God is here. He is working in remarkable ways that don't make the headlines. People ARE coming to know Jesus. People ARE serving others. People ARE kind and friendly here. This is no more "sinful" a city than where you live. There just happen to be "more" imperfect people here.
Thanking God for those followers of Christ who live here and who LIVE OUT their faith every day despite the challenges of city life. They are social workers, teachers, business people, missionaries, pastors, students, etc.
If you or your church want to come and join in on what the Lord is doing, contact me and I can get you connected.
If you come, be ready for everything you think about people to be challenged and changed. God WILL change you into more of His image than you could ever imagine by being here.

Ciao'