Apartment

Hello to all of our family, friends, supporters, encouragers, etc. Sorry we have been off line for the month of July (we got a little distracted with the small move and all)! Many people have emailed and called asking for all the updates and prayer requests. So here they are:

We arrived July 16th to a newly renovated apartment located on a tree-lined street in one of the greatest sections of New York City – Upper West Side. Although the first place fell through (see the blog dated June 25^th), God showed his hand of mercy and provision in a greater way. To view some photos of our new home please visit - http://picasaweb.google.com/pastorgg/OurNewHome02! Despite it being a two-bedroom one-bath apartment (a little small from where we are coming from) it is big and spacious for a NYC apartment. It has plenty of sun light with windows facing north throughout the living room and bedrooms. We have a nice size living room for entertaining, a dining room off to the side (extra bonus), and a kitchen with a half wall to allow full viewing of the front area from the kitchen. Daily we enjoy the private backyard (a common sitting area with a playground area for the kids), and short walks to two well-known parks (Central Park and Riverside). Although we brought our car with us, we love the short one block walk to either the red lines (1,2,3) or the blue lines (A,B,C). God has truly given us a gracious entry into New York living. Thanks for all of your prayers and advice.

UPDATE - UPDATE - Jaylen and Camryn

Jaylen

Because of your faithful prayers, God has opened a door for Jaylen to be accepted into one of the top middle schools in our district! We just got the call late Wednesday evening. We feel this school will undoubtedly continue to build Jaylen’s academic strengths while helping to develop and grow areas of weakness.

While Jaylen is missing all of his friends at home in NC, he is meeting new friends daily. He has even learned to skate board on a new board called

“Rip Skate”. George tried to “rip skate” and almost “rip more than his skate”! He is looking forward to joining a soccer league and attending a major league soccer (MLS) game on August 17 between NYC’s Red Bulls and Toronto. As most of you know Jaylen loves nature, lakes/ponds, animals and bugs. We have all of them within minutes of our apartment. Central park has given him access to all of the things that he thought he would miss in NC. On an outing to Central Park’s Turtle Pond, Jaylen not only caught two turtles but discipled a NY teenager in the art of catching turtles. In fact, the teenager went on to catch four turtles that day and thanked Jaylen for his tutelage!!!

Camryn

Camryn continues to be the life of ANY party, subway, taxi, etc.! Like Jaylen she misses all her friends in NC (even to the point of tears last night before bed)! However, she has many new friends both young and old. One friend (Chakira) lives in our building and has taken on the status as our “second daughter”. They are inseparable!

The other day I asked Camryn what she liked and disliked about NYC. She said she liked the fact that all the stores and shopping was near our apartment but did not like the fact that she HAD TO WALK EVERYWHERE! When she thought about it some more she said she had one more thing that she did not like. She went on to say – IT STINKS (referring to the typical smells of any large city – trash, dog (and sometimes human) urine, and body odor)!!! I told her that it did not smell all that bad and she replied, “I am lower to the ground than you are Daddy – IT STINKS DOWN HERE”!

UPDATE - UPDATE - George and Tondra

After unpacking and getting our new apartment set to live and entertain, we are finally rested and ready for what God has for us. We are excited to be on one of the greatest ministry teams that one could ask for. One of the over all tasks that we have been assigned is continuing to building and cover the marriage and family ministry – a task we are not only excited about but feel called to. Within the next few weeks we will organize a meeting with leading couples in the church that have a heart to lead and disciple other couples through NYC. From there we hope to start 10-15 small groups that will give hope to couples and families throughout the city.

In addition, the excitement is in the air for MSNY-Harlem! We have met many people that have expressed interest in helping us to build this site. Right now, the plan is simply to survey and get to know the land, the people and the cultures. We are meeting with old and new Harlemites and people with a great desire to reach this historic neighborhood. We have no doubt that God is going before us preparing the way and setting his divine hook in the hearts of individuals, families, government officials, community leaders, the hurting and the lost. God has called us for such a time as this.

Wow what a journey! We are here! We continue our journey of faith like Abraham and Sahara – leaving our land, our family and friends and going to a place that he has showed us in a distant land! What an amazing adventure we are on – following God, trying to obey his voice, fulfilling the call, establishing his kingdom and sharing the good news of our Savior. We would not exchange one day or moment of our adventure. Where God calls – He provides. Where God is – that’s where we want to be – in His perfect and divine will!

We need your prayers...

• Although Jaylen was accepted into one of the top middle schools in our district, we still need your prayers for Camryn’s school. Registration will happen soon so please ask God for his divine will to open the doors of the right school.
• The right teachers, classmates, friends, etc. for Jaylen and Camryn. Also pray that God’s light will shine through them in miraculous ways to their teachers and friends.
• Please continue to pray for us (especially our kids) as we are really missing our friends and family in NC. It has only been three weeks and we are missing everyone dearly. While we are meeting new friends, it is still hard to say good-bye to all the friends that have been apart of our lives for the last 10 years.
• Key contacts for Harlem and God opening doors of favor – meeting location, community people, government officials, business people, families, etc. Pray that God would send partners and like-minded people to help run with the vision.
• The divine plan and strategy for reaching the city. Specifically where to put our hands and where to place our feet. There are so many ways to reach a city, but we believe God has a specific strategy and plan.
• Financial partners that will see the vision and want to stand with us.

UPDATE on our New Home

We are one step closer to embarking on our Big Adventure. We are signing the lease for our new apartment in NYC this week. Please check out the photos -http://picasaweb.google.com/pastorgg/OurNewHome. It is located on the Upper West Side just a few steps from Central Park!! That's what I call the Eph 3:20 blessing. It's definitely a downsize from our current home, but God will multiply the space like two fishes and five loaves of bread. Now we are packing and getting ready for the move on JULY 15. Please pray:

• We are able to sell all our furniture that we cannot take with us.
• Our move is met with the peace and provision of God. We need to raise around $25,000 to cover moving expenses and the initial fees for the apartment.
• For the strength and joy of the Lord as we depart and take this big leap of faith.
• For our kids to hear God's call to NYC and for a greater purpose other than going to the "Hello Kitty Store" and the BIG "Toy-R-Us" store in Times Square!!!

Thanks for standing with us.

Update on our home

Our house has officially been rented. After one month of being on the sales market with no viewings, we decided to rent and sell in another year or two when the market rebounds. The second day being on the "rental market" it was secured by a great couple. Thanks for all of your faithful prayers. We will be leaving for NYC on July 15. We leave on this Monday (June 16) to find our new home in the BIG APPLE. Please pray that we find the right location, right price, right school district, right neighbors, right landlord, right where God wants us...close to Central Park! What are you waiting on - PRAY!

UPDATE – UPDATE – UPDATE

Thanks to God and the four years that many of you have stood with us, Tondra is now a graduate with her Masters in Counseling from NC State University in Raleigh, NC. She has proven that you can be a wife (to a busy pastor in two cities), mother of two, friend and faithful intern without giving up on your dreams and educational pursuits. Again, thanks for standing with us through prayer, keeping the kids, sending encouraging cards and helping us to push through for breakthrough. “THIS GRADUATION IS FOR YOU.”