March Madness (to a whole new level)

Maybe you remember last year when we "stepped on the gas" and held a week-long outreach event in the South Bronx. Well, this year we're doing the same thing.

Times four.

That's right. When the light turns yellow, sometimes you just gotta step on the gas!

So this year we're partnering with InterVarsity's NYCUP (New York City Urban Project) and their Spring Break Plunge teams of college students who are coming to NYC for their spring breaks throughout the month of March. Four different teams. Four different sites. Four different outreaches.

Yes I, too, am tired just reading about it. ;)

How can you help?? Well, thank you for asking! It might sound cliche, but please pray for us! So, so many prayer requests--

• for good weather. We will be more visible if we can be outside. We can't be outside if it's not good weather. We have indoor contingency plans for Weeks 1,2, and 4; but Week 3 we're returning to Padre Plaza. Please please pray for warmth and sun!
• for favor with the "powers that be"-- whether that's in a park (Week 1), the play-yard of a housing project (Week 2) or in a charter school that serves primarily children in the foster care system (Week 4), we need favor with those who run these places.
• for unity. The devil would love to distract us from the work we're doing. And a great way to do that would be for there to be disunity on our team. Pray that we all continue to work as a united team!
• for energy and strength. I remember how tired I was last year at the end of one of these weeks. The upside is we know we are not going to be doing this by any strength of our own! Pray for me also as I'll be running our current program even while this is going on in March. There's a lot of exciting stuff going on in our current program too. Pray that I'll be able to give it the attention it needs without burning myself out.
• for the right volunteers. God knows who's coming for our volunteer teams, but we have no idea! Pray for college students with willing, flexible, adaptable, teachable hearts who are ready to serve and love on these kids! Pray that they will have just the right skillset to make these outreaches go well.
• for the details. There are so, so many details and logistics. Pray that we will think of them-- preferably ahead of time!
• for encouragement and joy. Pray that we won't be so busy and distracted that we miss Jesus in our midst. Pray that we experience him and get to know him better each day throughout March.
• for salvation. There are so many kids in the South Bronx (where we'll be Weeks 1,3,4) and in East Harlem (where we'll be Week 2). Many (most??) of them have never heard of Jesus. Pray boldly with us that children would hear about and believe in Jesus this upcoming month.

I'm sure there are more things to pray for, just as I'm sure there are more details to think through that haven't even crossed my mind yet! The good news is, Jesus knows all those prayer requests and all those details already and has them under control. We're banking on that!

Thank you for praying!!