Pre-field Training in NYC

Paul and I are spending the month of July in New York City, living in upper Manhattan, helping with MTW's pre-field training for their new missionary candidates. We've never done this before so are praying God would use us in the lives of the couples and their families we are helping through this training. We each have two couples to "mentor" and are enjoying getting to know them. We are spread throughout the city in different ethnic neighborhoods and the church where we have our meetings is in Queens. We are living in a predominately Dominican Republic neighborhood in a little flat on the fifth floor of a six floor apartment building (with no elevator :-}). Here are some pics of our neighborhood.

Each group of candidates is helping in a different church. I'm working at New Life Fellowship (Pete Scazzero is the pastor, author of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality) and Paul at Ascension Presbyterian (PCA). So basically we do whatever the church needs us to do. We just finish ed VBS and Paul's group will begin theirs next week. MTW's Global Training and Development department provide the training this month. Topics covered are things like language learning, contextualization, team issues, church planting, etc. There's lots more to it. We've only been here a week and have three more to go. We're praying for lots of energy, skill in mentoring, opportunities to be a witness in our neighborhood as we do things like laundry at the local laundry mat, and usefulness at the churches we are working in. We're learning the subway system and how to get around, where to find groceries, etc. Here's a picture of the families I'm working working with waiting for the subway.