Johnny 5 from Short Circuit.



Johnny Five aka Collin

Even though Collin almost got arrested, and even though he wore a "do-rag", and even though he STOLE the last peach green tea from me, i had a great time hanging with Reverend Doctor Collin Rockafeller. Even before we left for NYC Collin and i had some really cool chats. He has such a fresh take on life and to following Jesus. He was the first to share an "insight-on site" and he did an amazing job and showed some real courage to share parts of his life with some people he had only known for a short time.

i am really looking forward to getting to know Collin even more this upcoming year he is a truly special guy. But he does wear Michigan State stuff so i dunno....


here is the NYC trip in Collins words:

"The diversity in New York was the first thing that I really noticed. Compared to what we are used to seeing at home, it was very different to see so many different kinds of people. There were people from every part of the world, all speaking different languages and all interacting and living and working in the same place.

It was really cool to get to know eleven people who were for the most part strangers. I thought it was very powerful hearing others speak about their personal issues and their past openly with the group, as well as doing it myself. It takes a lot of courage to just spill your guts in front of a bunch of people who you don’t know that well. The way that all of us were so open and accepting of each other was very good to see. I feel that I have made friends that I don’t want to lose. I hope after New York I can still see everyone, and continue building relationships.

Also, after going to New York and interacting with all of the people and the little kids, I realized that kids are kids. It doesn’t matter where they grow up or their family’s socio-economic position. Kids just love being kids and having fun, which is what they do best. Through spending time with everyone from the Taft House, I was able to remember what it was like to just let loose and have fun. I was able to remember what I was like when I was younger. I had forgotten how much fun it is to play in the water, or swing on the monkey bars or play tag. It was a great experience.

Finally, it was great to see all of the sights and experience a lot of what New York City has to offer. Between Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, and seeing Phantom of the Opera, I felt like I got to see much of New York from a tourist’s stand point. However, I would love to go back. Even with all that we were able to see, there is still so much more to see and do. It was a great trip and I’m looking forward to more fugo activities."

Bebo

Bebo aka Becca

I am assuming you have heard or sang the song Undignified by David Crowder. (I know it has been recorded by many other artists, but just hang with me) The lyrics go like this:
"I will dance, I will sing to be mad for my King.
Nothing Lord is hindering this passion in my soul.

And I'll become, even more undignified than this.
Some may say it's foolishness,
but I'll become even more undignified than this
Leave my pride by my side."

While we were in NYC at the Taft Houses this song echoed in my mind as I watched Becca dance and sing with the kids from Taft.

One day when we were doing music outside, the ladies that were running the Taft Center told us not to do music on the steps in front of the building because many of the tenants would throw stuff out their windows down at us. So you kinda get the picture that doing the music outside was not going to be a welcomed thing. This didn't stop Becca. Without hesitation, she moved the kids a few yards away and began singing and dancing. She lead them in some crazy songs and fun motions and the kids jumped right in and had a blast.

She was undignified. She wasn't worried about what others may be thinking or about how dorky she looked; she knew that she was there to be Jesus. To share love. To smile. To laugh. And she did. The entire trip Becca was an encouragement to everyone around. She was willing to do whatever was necessary to see God's love expressed.

Personally, it was great to have Becca along on the trip. I have known her for several years, and she has always been a someone who has lived out her faith by putting others first and serving whenever or wherever it is needed. But on this trip, I was able to see Becca's heart.

It was like she was finding Jesus again for the first time. She exuded joy and wonder and appreciation and humility and love. It wasn't necessarily something she said or did. It was just around her. (Check out Acts 4v13.)

Thanks Becca.

below you can read about the trip in Bebo's words:

"I started this trip with a variety of emotions. I was excited and anxious to get there, nervous about the relationships I was bringing along and leaving at home, and confused on exactly where and what we were really doing. I had spent the majority of the week prior to departure on the other side of the country and the remaining time working the equivalent of a week's work in 4 days to make up for all the time I missed. Regardless, I was packed and found myself standing in Nate's driveway in the middle of the night that Sunday not really knowing what I was getting myself into.

Things were soon revealed to me as we jokingly discussed the drawbacks of our beloved Baptist van. Driving there I grew more and more nervous realizing I really was oblivious to the future and this is out of the ordinary for me. I like to be prepared and ready for what is to come so I can give my all at any moment thus encompassing the fact that I HATE to stand still. The thought of not knowing what to do with myself makes me cringe.

However, there was no need to worry for God was already at work. At the first rest top, Nate challenged us to pick a word we wanted to work on over the week. Something we could offer over to God, an area of improvement for ourselves. So thinking about all my anxieties, I choose the word surrender and desired for this trip to be about God's agenda and not my own.

That Monday, our first day at the Taft house, I passed the first test. When we arrived in the afternoon, a group of southern elderly ladies were already set up and ready to present a Bible school. Determined to follow their plan, they were somewhat uncooperative and we became miffed about what to do. Lingering outside WAITING for what to do, a wave of calmness came over me. I remembered that this was God’s plan and that we were only a part of it. I asked if I could pray with the kids of our group and right there, on the steps of the apartment building, we gave it over to God.

He worked his miracles all right. About 15 minutes later we were engulfed in a water balloon game and kids were already starting to warm up to us. We worked it out to come back to the Taft house each afternoon and neither the kids our ourselves could wait to come back.

Another thing that moved me about our openness to God was our willingness to step out of our comfort zones for these kids. We were warned that the kids had a different life from what we were used to and came from hardships we would probably never know. When I arrived that first day they seemed different and foreign, almost beyond us and untouchable. We sat with them in their classroom on the outskirts confused about what to do when I saw a little girl struggling to get into her chair. I immediately jumped up to help her and she gave me that innocent little kid smile like you have just saved their life. I felt the walls come down right there as I realized these kids need and want my love just as much as the 4 and 5 year olds I left back at home in my all white Christian Reformed Bible school class at work.

Looking back I feel that God used every minute of every day of that week. The time we spent bonding in the sprinklers to the excitement I saw on their faces when I said they could take the leftover stickers home was priceless. Even on the crowded bus ride to the Zoo, God had a special plan.

I sat in the back with a rather vocal young girl named Fatima. Diagonally from us sat a girl named Shannon who had an attitude that tended to rub Fatima the wrong way. Out of the blue, Fatima leaned over to me and asked me if I would ask Shannon to be her friend. I did, and after a talk about forgiveness, they decided to renew their friendship and forget why they were fighting. God wasn't done though. In about 10 minutes two small boys began picking on a girl named Rosalee. I told them how and why this was wrong and they started to explain the story about why they didn't get along. After a few tears and another explanation of forgiveness, another set of friends had been made. I had never felt more like Oprah in my life.

When I reflect on the trip, I don't regret a thing. Not even our trip to Broadway when we thought we got to leave at intermission (imagine how excited we were for the second half). Leaving for this trip I expected to help people, I never thought God would help me so much. I thought I had my life and everything figured out, but I realized I'm not even close. I'm not worried though, because I have learned to surrender it all to God for he knows what the future holds. I don't need to plan the future I just have to live it. Don't tell my parents though, they still want me to pick a college."

Picante Muchacha

The Picante Muchacha aka Allison.


Allison was an amazing help in NYC as well as a HUGE HUGE help getting things ready before we headed out. She marked a heap of stuff for the garage sale as well as pulled together many of the art projects we prepared for the Taft House. When we arrived in NYC Allison continued to lead the way getting things ready and prepared for the kids. While many of the students were outside running around "like a crazy person", Allison was busy at work inside the Taft Center making sure that the chaos that was outside would transition into a calm place to explore their artistic gifts. She was a huge help!

If any of you know Allison she likes things to be planned and scheduled. She is gifted at making sure things come together and that all the details are met. Well... the NYC Trip was anything but planned!! It seemed that with every subway ride came a new surprise. With every plan came a Plan B.

This is the kind of stuff that typically puts a huge stress cloud over Allison. But early in the week she had shared with our team that she wanted to let God be in control and try not to worry to much about the details of the week. Those words were extremely prophetic.

God stretched Allison in a great way the week we were in NYC. Her attitude was never poor. She always focused on being Jesus to the kids at the Taft as well as the students from Fugo. She was such a blessing to everyone who was along in the trip.

Below are her words about the trip:

"This was truly an amazing experience.

Our first day at the Taft House was really what made the trip. We went in with all of these plans and expectations and God completely threw them all aside. We were completely taken off guard when we arrived only to find that there was already another group running their VBS. Talk about uncomfortable! You could just feel the tension. It was awesome to discover that while the leaders were busy trying to figure out the details, our students had completely engaged the children. The kids at the Taft House were so ready to embrace (I think Bebo grew an attachment that day) our students. Once we all realized that, everything else pretty much just fell away. It was really the encouragement that we all needed.

The rest of the week was spent building relationships. Many of the children were in attendance every day, but there were those few that we were lucky to only hang out with just once. Kalil was a little boy that we met that very first day. In the beginning he really wanted no part of what was going on. By the end of the afternoon he was sharing his artwork (he was quite gifted) with us, asking for autographs and pretty much talking with anyone who would listen. After following us halfway to the subway and several reassurances that we would be returning he decided to rejoin his brother and head home. He never showed up the next day and I found myself looking for him every day after that. I don't think any of us realized how much of an impact these children would have on us. Hearing their stories, watching and playing with them, experiencing their joy are what each of us will keep with us. When we said goodbye on Friday, it really felt like we were saying goodbye to a younger brother or sister. We all expect to see them again some day.

While in NYC I also saw a tremendous amount of growth amongst our students. Not only did they stretch themselves with the children of the Taft House, they opened themselves up to each other. When we started, many of the students did not really know one another. It was beautiful to watch their relationships progress throughout the week.

This was truly an amazing experience.

I feel so blessed to have been able to serve! Thank you to everyone who supported us!!

much love,

Allison"

Thursday in NYC.

On Thursday morning we were up and gone by 6:30. This was after we got back to the hostel at 2am. So we were all working off very little sleep.

We started the day out at Liberty Island. The Noogin Monkey shared and INSIGHT/ONSITE about Freedom. He did an amazing job and gave us a lot to journal about. It was very powerful to reflect on freedom sitting at the feet of what is known internationally as the symbol of freedom and knowing that true freedom is found in Jesus.

Below you’ll see pictures of our team journaling.

This is looking back from The Ferry on the way to Liberty Island.


Mackenzie, Allison, Carly, Zach, Mac.


Zach heard from God in a new way... very cool!

Bekah fillin' her pages.


Carly journaling freedom.



Really Becca isn't sleeping... she's WRITING!



Mackenzie putting thoughts to paper.



Allison reflecting and enjoying some quiet away form the big city.

Jenn deep in thought.


G-Rald scriblin' away.


Peyton writing about staying free.


Mac... don't look.... write!


Collin writin' away.

ummm... this is the... Liberty Bell?

The pictures below are from our trip to the Central Park Zoo. It wasn’t a real big zoo, but we had a great time. The bus ride was quite an experience… just imagine all the looks we got. 40 of us! I had to carry around $100.00 worth of quarters so we could pay for the buses. Both times though, we had just great bus drivers who wouldn’t take our money. Very cool!

This is our group with all the kids form the Center.


Zach and Elvy.


Becca and Fatima.


Mackenzie is way too excited, she was always sooooo loud!