" If That's the Joy " Quiet reflection and sealed by this song....

" If that's the joy You give Your own,

I'll take a lifetime,

A thousand years would still not be too long for me;

If that's the love that You pour out on those who serve you,

I'll serve you, Lord, from here until eternity."

All he asked was that I labor in His vineyard,

A broken fence to mend, a stone to roll away...

In the quietness of the 3rd floor apartment, my heart has been pondering, seriously thinking about the joy ...it makes me feel small and unworthy, that God called us...to labor at Sugar Hill...the blessings and the precious moments have far outweighed any sacrifices that we thought we needed to make... 

As my heart quietly speaks to me....these blessings came to mind...

... Footsteps on the stairs, coming down 20 minutes early for breakfast... that's odd, I think. One of the boys walks in, says I'm sick and tired of something hanging over my head, I'm going to go make a call. As he turns to leave, he tells Papa and I, you can pray....and so we do.... later he tells me quietly, everything gonna be alright!!! ☺️ We quietly rejoice together!...

... Another morning, another boy, early, can't sleep he says...he settles into the couch and he tells Papa and Mama about his hopes and dreams and we wish him well and think....how are we so lucky? 

... The evening is late, night has approached, the other 3 are in bed and again one needs to talk....we look at something from all angles. We promise to pray 🙏...

... Another boy, his contagious grin... Something amusing happens on the subway train and we glance at each other...a big grin...or on a Saturday, we've been apart for hours....we meet up with the guys and there is that big grin again...it melts Mama's heart 💜! Like truly, he is glad to see us!!...

...the table conversations, which range from very humorous to serious.... where we laugh till we cry...

... Devotions, the boys prayers...the morning I stayed in bed, not feeling well and Ron says, one of the guys prayed for Mama that morning!...

... Our foodie guy, who sometimes asks the night before, Mama, what you making for breakfast? He likes to know, that way he can think about it longer!...

.... waffles and sausage for supper and the very hearty thanks for the delicious meal!...

...and now we are in the last week again.... Caden goes home on Friday and I said at breakfast, I hate these weeks... it's so glad/ happy and sad all rolled into one... they get packed up....all the rest of the guys heave a heavy bag and go down....the one departing....says again.... goodbye and your heart breaks for just a little bit again! It's the price we pay for loving and calling all these wonderful boys ours!!!! ...

... And then the WhatsApp conversations after they are home....blest be the tie that binds!....

I type this and my heart is full! It's not for everyone, we each have our place to fill, but if God is calling you...here am I....send me! We've talked about and wonder why??? Why isn't the list long to come be Papa's at 762 St.Nicholas Ave?? You won't regret it! ☺️

Hello! The day is a fair bit chillier than last week! I've been home alone... busy with laundry, some house cleaning, made granola, cookie pizza, dishes... Ron just walked in....he was on a walking tract tour with Caden and Ethan.... this evening, we drive to Kendon's for supper at New Jersey. I hear they are fixing ribs... always our pleasure to go and dine with them!! 

Last Monday evening was our Tribeca service. The 8 of us from Sugar Hill went...it was some disappointing....there may have been 5 or 6 attendees and those can't sit still either. You might need a drink, or go out, come back in....but we sang and Tim had good thoughts on Kindness....us 8 were richly fed at least!! 😀We walked some, caught a train for part of the way and ate in a restaurant called ZOI Mediterranean! It was a neat place.... some had duck, short ribs, chicken skewers, sushi, fettuccine and I had a small 4 cheese pizza! All 8 of us shared dessert.... French kiss creme brulee and cheesecake with pistachio cream on it!!! Most lovely and good!!!! The pistachio cream was so good!!!! 🤗

Tuesday....Ron and I walked up to Broadway to Harlem Public for a late lunch. The day was sunny and warm, so we chose to sit outside to eat. Never a dull moment, as you watch humans and dogs going to and fro!! Ron and I shared a peanut butter burger and sweet potato fries!!!! SO GOOD!!! It was Jamin's turn to cook....he did great! He grilled meatloaf patties and made ranch potatoes!! 

Wednesday evening was Bible study and sing-out! Supper was Jamaican Jerk stack up! Ethan wrote a good lesson on Living in God's love. Laurence's, Peter, Alistair, Eric and Tony came....we had quite the discussion....got maybe a little uncomfortable with Peter and Alistair.... maybe didn't always agree??!! We talked about renting rooms out in your apartment and having respect of persons.... talked about noisy neighbors.... maybe things we don't talk about in the central parts of Kansas! After Bible study, us 8 went down and boxed assorted tracts and then up to Darrel's apartment for a creme brulee party!! Compliments of Darla....she also warmed up brie cheese and had crackers. We proclaimed it good and after awhile off to our beds! A service guy came during Bible study to repair the non- working mini splits. At this writing, they are still non functioning with frozen up pumps??? 

Breakfast was at 6:30 on Thursday morning.... guys need to leave the house shortly after 7 and help serve breakfast at 109 pantry. They go into their usual work after that. Shopping took up some of our morning. For 5:30 all 6 of us went back to 109 pantry. We took the subway train and guys walked.... around 3 miles! Not sure what got into them!!! There was a volunteer appreciation supper. We first just all milled around, met various employees and other volunteers of the pantry. Some milled around with some wine, others like us, had soft drinks....we met Wendy, Berniece's friend! Chris Zimmerman's from the Bruderhof bunch were there. After awhile we were asked to go downstairs to the basement and it was set up for dinner! Nicely decorated tables. We sat with the Bronx pantry volunteers, our boys and some 109 volunteers, plus 2 lady employees. They had some slides prepared, so we watched that....got some brief snatches of some former boys! Then they handed out the awards! When they called the person out, you went up and had your picture taken with the CEO....the Sugar Hill mission got a award!!!! Certificate of Volunteer Appreciation....in achieving Volunteer Mission Driven Award!! They wanted all 6 of us to come forward!!! We don't know how to pose and smile 😁 Dinner was so good....buns/ bread, green salad, Roasted lemon pepper chicken, braised short ribs, Orzo and Rice pilaf. A tiny little cupcake and/ or a raspberry lemon tart finished up the meal! We were really impressed with the evening and set- up, almost Mennonite style. A very good evening. Guys went and rode the tram yet....Ron and I walked back to the subway station, walked through Central Park on the top end, it was twilight and so beautiful!!! P.S. We all got a bag of goodies yet.....

Friday.... usual laundry and clean house day! ( Tim and the guys made a cheesecake on Thursday evening and they took half of it to work at the Bronx pantry! The ones they intended to eat it, didn't get any!!!! 😆) In the afternoon, Ron and I took a little field trip to the Brooklyn Botanical gardens!! While riding the subway train, this guy got on, who with his loud music....did some break dancing. But he was somewhat creepy...he got down on his haunches and just stared you in the eye....I refused to make eye contact! He grumbled about the negative vibes, he no more was off and a Spanish guy ambled on ...with his guitar and sang, now that was pretty. In the midst of that entertainment, a young couple was walking by and trying to sell paintings....no takers as far as I could see! And then the Mexican lady with child strapped on the back selling gum and candy. Now Papa did buy some gum from her!! So that was the train entertainment for the day!! Okay back to the gardens.... destination in mind was the cherry tree esplanade!!! Absolutely gorgeous!!!!! Just pink and pink and pink!!!! From the lookout was the best! But we did go down and walk among the trees too!!! SO many people.....so many Jews.....the adults are one thing with their tendrils, almost shaven heads and then long locks beside the face....skull caps ...but the young boys....oh I felt sorry for them! They must have said amongst themselves, let's have a field trip today and let's ALL go to the botanical gardens!!! We seen many and many more descriptions of people and again one realizes how sad this old world is!!! So much picture taking.....we were there quite awhile, finally pulled our eyes away and went home ! Guys went too, after work! 

Saturday.... after breakfast with the guys....Ron and I went to Grand Central and boarded a metro north for Cold Springs! We were not alone doing that either....train was FULL!! We got there and it was lunch time....so we walked several blocks to a restaurant called Riverside Inn. We walked in, no hostess, people kind of looked at us, we wandered here and there.... finally a man came out of the restroom, must have noticed our faces and said, he thought the restaurant was just feeding a funeral crowd!!! Oh thanks, and we departed! On the way out, Ron asked a waiter and we could come back at 5:00 for a table!!! No signage on door... how a body suppose to know. We each got a slice of pizza at Cold Springs Pizza....we walked the trail to the West Point foundry....where long ago they made the cannons for the military. Beautiful walk and old ruins. We also walked a trail beside the Hudson....got ice cream at Mo Moo Creamery and boarded a train back for Grand Central! Super day.... nice and warm! Once back to the city....we took subway trains and went to the Queens Night market.... first evening of the season!!! Caden wanted to get in on it..... the weather turned chilly on us and caught us unprepared with too light of jackets or none at all. Ron and I dined on pupusa's, taquito's and pina colada!!!! Super yummy! Also some bagel pizza things, not worth the $5 dollars we paid! It was too cold, so we caught subway train for home. Guys went to Clay's yet for the evening....Shelda was there also! A wonderful Saturday!!!!

Sunday.....we were 25 humans that worshipped the Lord and had lunch together!!! Our only visitors, besides our attendees was Ray Peachey from Moundridge. Working on a job for Bradbury in Long Island City. It was good to see local Kansas folk!! Simone, Peter, Tony, Shelly, Eric, Ellen, Shelda and Judah joined us also! Singing, Kendon brought the opening, SS and then sermon thoughts. Clay brought those, he had been thinking about the song, That I be Saved and read numerous scriptures. It was a sober message. Darrel added and Caden also had some closing thoughts on Joy, led the song, If that's the joy and gave a farewell speech.....and prayed the closing prayer. Lunch was roast beef and carrots, sweet potatoes, green salad and sour dough bread. Dessert was lemon bars, a little cheesecake that Judah brought and more chocolates from England....courstey of Ellen. We sat and visited before and after dishes. It was rainy and chill....we all did pick up and leave later afternoon.... went to Fort Tryon.... awesome beautiful!! We walked and walked.... right through the middle of a birthday party, Japanese style!!! One man welcomed us to join them!!!! Back to our apartment.... Kaitlyn made burritos and green salad for supper....was good.... desserts were many and varied... leftover creme brulee, leftover cheesecake, pistachio cookies that Ellen left with us.....fun evening... some yodeling went on ...

The sun is shining, life is good! 

That's all for this time and wishing everyone a good week!!! 

Sorry about the longevity of this letter 💌 

My love, prayers and happy thoughts of you, Mama Carol 

P.S. A person hardly ever sees the same person twice here in the city. But we seen this Muslim couple on Friday at the Brooklyn Botanical gardens and when we were in Cold Springs on Saturday, here they were again!!! Unbelievable!! I looked at them, they looked at me, the guy being friendlier then the lady!!! It's a wonder!!! Bye ...