Many of the Firsts :)

Within these past five days, I have had many new firsts!!

• Watched the movie "Rising Girls"
• Visited a K-Mart
• First Visit to the Safehouse!!! :)
• Dinner Date with friends from Texas (Shout out to the Carignans)
• Night out in the city with the group
• Shake Shack! Just...Yes :)
• Laundry in the City
• Attempt to finish the book "Girls like Us" //I highly recommend this//

The movie Rising Girls was a highly satisfying documentary like film, with a movie like feel. Also, the information is elementary age appropriate as well as mind quenching for the aged human being. Various aspects and stories from women in numerous countries are revealed, and how they became "Rising Girls". I don't want to be that *spoiler alert* gal, so no more details shall be shared, GO WATCH IT!
P.S. Wadley is so Adorable.

I didn't want to be the tiny tiniest bit late for an event I needed to attend... so I arrived an hour early sort of by accident. *oops* Anywhoo, since I had some time on my hands I visited a K-Mart! I see the commercials on TV back home for this store, but never actually was in the location to visit one. Let me tell you... ITS FREAKING COOL... well actually it was just really conveniently placed because I really needed to buy socks for my flats... walking around in the city has really revealed how woosey my feet are. Seriously though, DFW lets protest to get K-Marts when I come home! (that sell fair trade LOGOFF products of course) ;)

My first day at the safe home was a blast! For those of you who do not know what a safehome is, here is a brief description: a location in which victims of trauma (in the case of this missionary internship they are survivors of human sex trafficking) can have a safe place to stay, restore, and rebuild their life. I will admit I was a bit nervous to converse with such, what I personally viewed as fragile beings, but they are just like any other girl. They like to be pampered, they love the beach, they like to go on bike rides and walks. All the while there is a slight verbal barrier, this will only strengthen my desire to fluently learn a 2nd language even more so. It's really inspiring to see people of multi-cultures combine as a unified support system to rebuild each other under one roof. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to converse with these ladies, whether it be through verbal sound or actions. Also it is not just a one sided impact, as much as I am there to help them during their restoration period, they are having a significant impression on my own journey of growth  as well. No one is ever fully out of construction, until we reach the BIG G, and even then we might be forever learning. So on that first day, the girls and I baked chocolate chip cookies! Oh my, my, my, what a lovely treat that was for my taste buds! We also watched Sherlock Holmes and painted each others nails! I cannot wait to see their smiling faces again this coming week!


This past Friday as a group we had free time and decided to grab a treat at the legendary Shake Shack and wander about Times Square. It's been wonderful to see many of us going from strangers to knowing each others quirks to pondering ideals with in one week. I truly see so much potential for everyone of these people called to intern with NYCUP Summer 2013! Love you all!  

XOXO -Manda

NYCUP Summer 2013 (first weekend impact)

   New York City Urban Project 2013 (NYCUP)

Its only been three days since I have arrived in my short term home (hopefully to be long term one day) in New York City and I have already connected with many wonderful people and participated in various events.

The opportunity to  even be here is an absolute blessing and I cannot express my appreciation for those who have made it possible!

After my interesting morning adventure to the housing location, I settled into my cute dorm like room, then we split into groups and went on prayer walks around the neighborhood. We are staying in the Inwood /Washington heights region. As we were walking around we noticed numerous daycares, that particularly struck me, as many of you know, God has given me a passion for kids.

Day two is the one that is still reminiscing in my mind, and will stay with me hand in hand the entire trip, and pleasantly intrude on my life back home. NYCUP introduced me to the feed 500 hundred program. The program is designed to help the homeless People in a way that makes them feel accepted. First of all, I will outwardly admit that about a year ago homeless People use to freak me the heck out. Something I  genuinely believe makes the Feed 500 program impact the volunteers experience differently than say working in a soup kitchen, is the fact that we approach the homeless People in what you could say would be their natural habitat, in which many New Yorkers would just walk by. Opening up to the conversation was very basic by offering them food. Some may not accept, but we are also equipped with resource cards if they desire other needs we could not necessarily provide. I met 3 unique People yesterday Joseph , Brother James, and Nick.

Joseph is an older man who loves to create artwork, my group and I ran into  him after coming out of the Subway staircase. He welcomingly told Matt and I his story. He was a homeless Person for 15 years and was approached by a man who offered him housing, he was skeptical because people have deceived him in the past when offering help towards his situation. With that being said, it is very difficult for myself not feel angry with the people who have deceived the helpless, but like I said earlier I was once freaked out by homeless People, and that's where grace intervenes into my thought process.  

Brother James is a blind man, which was caused by a systemic disease and we also ran into him on the subway. Despite his situation and disabilities, he has a very humorous upbeat personality and  has 3 daughters. Our conversation with someone who merely could have been a stranger to me, literally brightened up my day. Homeless People have a story just like everyone else and I was fortunate enough to have had them open up and share their struggles they have gone through.  The immense hope many of them have is doubtlessly admirable.

Honestly I could go on for pages about this past weekend but I have more adventures and learning experiences to get to! I will keep this blog updated every few days! Also, I might be posting some original poetry. 

Love you all back at home!!

P.S.
If your a Grammar Person... Or perhaps even a non grammar person you noticed that the P in People is bold and underlined. This did not go without a purpose. The homeless are PEOPLE.. so please lets treat them with the respect and the love PEOPLE deserve. All assumptions and stereotypes aside, not all PEOPLE are the same. :)

xoxo -Manda