NYC- first impressions
So....where does a person start? The last couple days at home were good! Our children Doyle, Monica and their family ( our grandies) came to spend some days with us. Arriving in time to help move the heavy furniture upstairs. Have you ever walked through your empty house, especially the main floor, without a lot of mixed feelings.... that is how I found the last days to be, so mixed up! Excited, scared, sad and yet wanting to move on with what God has for us in life. We dumped ourselves and our suitcases into Charles house and lives and they graciously took care of us. Goodbyes all around and a delightful Thanksgiving spent with family.
Saturday November 30 did roll around... after waiting for 10 months or so.... left Charles house early to catch our first flight out of Wichita. We had such a short connection at Minneapolis the way it was....and we were a bit worried about that already....and then the minutes ticked by, as we sat out on the tarmac and waited for the plane to be de-iced. Must have been some heavy frost....we walked off the plane, walked fast and sort of run at times to the gate....and walked straight on the plane to our flight to NYC....whew....made it!!! Landed a little late, the pilot was fighting some wind or something....trying to set the big bird down and we came in fast and hard. Glad to be safely ( home ) Randy and Rachel came to get us and it was SO good to see them!! They hadn't had lunch yet either, so we went to Jackson Hole diner for lunch....the unit is known in there and we were greeted warmly!!! We all had burgers for lunch and Rachel and I shared 1.... they are huge! Elmer and Mary Ellen were waiting for us at Sugar Hill Mission.....and they and Roger and Elsie greeted us at the front door! It felt good and where we are suppose to be!! The men and boys had orientation with Dextar, the new boy. Us ladies camped out on the kitchen and fellowship hall and watched Elsie cook supper!! And of course talked... Elsie fixed chicken and sausage gumbo over white rice, potato salad and corn bread with roasted corn meal that Mary Ellen brought from PA. Delicious! The unit boys stayed home and worked on Christmas program and us 4 couples jumped on the subway and headed to Hudson Yards....a very upscale mall with thousands, no they said 2 million gold and like color Christmas lights. Awesome beauty! We walked into one store and watched a robot make coffee and assorted drinks. Elmer ordered a hot chocolate and was told," Elmer, you made a good choice"! Once home, we all gathered on 3rd floor and had brownies and ice cream and " shell " sauce. Some had hot tea and others coffee drinks. Off to bed , after a incredible day!! Our guest apartment is a mess, with 4 boxes and 4 suitcases and 2 backpacks and where is anything?? Randy's plan to leave Tuesday afternoon and then we will move to 3rd floor! I don't want Tuesday to come....😢 Today has been crazy..... now that does not sound right for the Lord's day.... breakfast at 8:30, there are 5 MI guys in the city, staying in the basement here....they joined us....so we were a table full! Baked oatmeal, home made yogurt ( Elsie makes it...super good! ) and sausage links.
Morning worship...a full sanctuary.... Poughkeepsie came, Randy's friends, some from Mifflinburg, the New Jersey tract couple Kendyon Ecks and her parents from Paxton NE. Adrian and Tina Eicher from Southern Ohio. They brought Adam, from Burkino Faso....we had SS, sermon was by Elmer and then Randy and Rachel were given a lovely farewell and it began to become weighty to me, the huge responsibility....!!! Elmer had a welcome for us too...reading a scripture out of 2 Corinthians 12-8. The unit boys sang 2 quartet songs...the first song was : If this is where you want me, this is where I want to be. And so with God, we will do the best we can.... another take away from today. Randy and Rachel are lovely house papa's and much loved and so we fill like we have big shoes to fill..... like pops wears size 14 shoes!! Remember us in prayer!!
Lunch was in the fellowship hall, pork loin with apple filling on top and then stovetop dressing. Gourmet potato's , green salads, fruit salad and bread. Angel food cake with butter sauce.
Now we are sitting in Randy's apartment with Dee-dee, a atendee, who is coming to the faith... Elmer and Mary Ellen are visiting with her and we are listening to her!
Don't know what the rest of the day holds.....
Goodbye for now! Love you all, like I said we covet your prayers, we feel like we need your help so much!
We love it here! God is good!!
Love, Carol