Rehearsals start today

After a hardy breakfast and a fast van ride to Church at the Gateway, we joined the band and the rest of the choir members for rehearsal.  Rehearsal went very well ending about noon. While the rest of our group went back to our rented house, Jim, Mary and Colleen were eager to see New York City.  So off we went via the ferry and by the R train to ground zero area  in a drizzling rain. Yes, a typical cloudy, windy New York day. We had hoped to get some of the limited tickets to get in to ground zero with the help of Jim and Mary's niece Dee Anderson who lives in New York. But alas, they were gone.  Standing outside, in the rain, looking up at the three new buildings going up out of where so much devastation happened just made us smile at the come-back-attitude of the people of America.  

Dee joined the three of us for a late lunch at a New York Pizza shop.  It was good pizza.  We were seated on the second floor next to a wall of windows overlooking the area where the wall street protestors had set up there tent city.  Jim and Colleen couldn't sit still.  Off they went, umberellas in hand to see Wall Street and beyond. Their walk took them to in front of Wall Street, past the Federal Hall National Memorial where George Washington was sworn in as President in 1789, into Trinity Church, one of the oldest churches in New York.  Next was the New York Stock Exchange with ornate sculptures and the stately Trump Building.  Then back to join Mary and Dee.  Both were wet and cold but had big smiles on their faces and lots of pictures in there cameras.  

We are all so excited and eager to go to Liberty Island tomorrow.  Check MyWorldWebcams.com about noon Friday to watch a live feed.   God's message being presented in song!

TUESDAY IN GRAND CENTRAL

Praise the Lord for wonderful weather all week in NYC as we have navigated our way through the labyrinth of subway trains and crowded streets. (How many Okies does it take to figure out what train to get on?  Definitely 3!! - ask us about our adventures!)

Tuesday we met with Jhan at the office and filmed an interview to update our Missionary Minute.  Whenever we were with Jhan, we felt as though we were with 'our leader.'  In fact, as we were trailing behind him at Grand Central Station for our last sortie from 4:00-6:00 pm, he turned around and said, "I feel like I'm leading a day care!"  We enjoyed his quick wit and sense of humor :)  Jhan positioned us and we handed out broadsides to people who were changing trains - being careful not to interrupt traffic flow and yet catch their eye with a smile and a step toward them as we offered the tract.  I could see Jhan down the way, and the others were stationed nearby but out of sight.  The responses ranged from one woman who hissed, "Shame on you!" when she read my shirt (which says Not Just JEWS FOR JESUS) to "God bless what you are doing!"- which was very heartwarming.  Many people shook their head or waved their hand away, others smiled or glared, or hesitated, or took the tract without breaking stride.  The staff kept a tally of how many broadsides our group distributed during all of our sorties, and the total came to around 5,000.  May God add His blessing to the sharing of His Message!  It was exhilarating!

Today was our last day, and we were sad to say goodbye to our Jews For  Jesus friends.  Their zeal for ministry and love of Jesus were such a blessing to us, and our vision for their ministry is renewed!  Thank you for standing with us in prayer! ~ Faith Kelley (PS ~ Both Jhan & Stewart recommended Sarge's Deli for a great pastrami sandwich, and they were absolutely right!)

Sortie with Stewart W. & Jhan M.

We got up EARLY to get on the trains & be at Jews for Jesus by 7am!! We went on a RUSH HOUR sortie, which means, "going out" to pass out Broadsides & share Jesus at GRAND CENTRAL STATION!! It was like a FIRE HOSE of people coming at us & it was GREAT!

Stewart Weinisch, a Missionary there took us out & he placed each of us in areas for the best flow of people. He KNOWS what he is doing. It could have been very discouraging because this was the BUSINESS crowd & many have a blank face as they approach & they are in a HURRY. They see our "Not Just Jews for Jesus" shirt, & it either draws them or repels them. God did something wonderful...He brought a subway musician, who played "Above All", "Awesome God", etc. It was such an encouragement!

We also had the honor & privelge of being able to see Jhan Moskowitz, a pioneer of Jews for Jesus & one of our missionaries that TBC supports. We were able to have an inspiring visit with him, then HE took us out on a sortie. We hope to see him again tomorrow. Faith & I topped off the day by going out to dinner with Rebekah P., one of the student interns, now a new friend. - Colleen

Time Square Church

Today we went to church at Times Square Church.  It was just a block and a half away from the apartment we are staying in.  It's a gorgeous building that used to be a theatre, complete with scenes painted on the ceiling, gold columns, draperies and chandeliers.  We got there 30 minutes before the service started, and almost didn't get a seat!  After a full hour of music, the pastor spoke from the 2nd chapter of Haggai, focusing on how to bring the cross into every part of our lives.

Then we took the ferry to Staten Island, where we attended a concert perfomance of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta "The Mikado."  Our daughter Jenny sang one of the roles.  It was so much fun to be able to see/hear her sing!  Her boyfriend, Brian, was also in the production as part of the chorus.
After Jenny's performance, we took the ferry back to Manhattan, jumped on the subway and headed back to the apartment.  Colleen had some interesting conversations with people on the train--be sure to ask her about it sometime!  We're making it an early night, since we have to be up and on our way EARLY tomorrow for a rush hour sortie.
Thank you so much for your prayers!  We have felt them in SOOOO many ways!
In Him,
Frannie

A very full day

Saturday was the beginning of our time with Jews for Jesus. Stewart provided a great bagel breakfast for our training. Experiencing New York is not just about sights, but also tastes. Stewart provided a great training session for us until noon. The purpose of  our work is to be a seed sowers as in Matther 13:18-23. We spread the good news of the gospel and pray for God to increase. The other thing that really touched me was that in putting on a Jews 4 Jesus shirt we go out in public as a figure. We are in a way standing up like our Lord did and are identifying with him.

After a wonderful lunch we all received shirts and went out on our first Sortie (literally means to go out). Our team was partneter with J4J staff and given training for distributing broadsides. I worked on a street corner but was also able to walk up a street and distribute as well as talk to many people in a park. I had several conversations with professing believers and Muslims. Later that night our group went on a second Sortie to Times Square. It was a very bright experience with all of the tourists, cameras, and huge omnitrons. We made it back to the apartment in time for an 11:00PM diner. -Tirzah

Travel to New York

God was amazing in every respect today.  Marilyn, thank you for praying with us and seeing us off.  Thank you Jim and Richard for praying and seeing us off too.  The plane was on time.  All our bags got there with us.  The Ministry van was there at the airport and instead of an hour and a half to get into the city it only took 20 minutes.  We got to our apartment and settled in for the night, pretty tired but praising the Lord for the trip.  Tomorrow will be our first day on the street.  We're looking forward to it.

Our New York City Liberty Mission Team