The mission office is a beautiful white building on the corner with a curving staircase that goes up to a sun-lit floor with a baby grand piano. A baby grand piano in an office? These people obviously appreciate inspiration. More so, the woman who leads our internship lets us work on the roof sometimes. What's better than a view of New York City in the sunshine? (Rhetorical). Red petals in their flower boxes perfectly frame this mini oasis in the midst of a world of vulnerable people.
I am torn. On the way to the internship we see many types of people. This is obvious; it's New York. On the subway alone you can basically play a game with who you can find. Someone who is a musician, someone who is looking for food, someone with a hairstyle you've never seen, someone speaking a language you can't identify, someone trying to take a nap. Tons of someones all going different places. The hard part comes in the discrepancies in types of needs. Today I passed Steve Madden, Aldo, Bare Minerals, and H&M. Shopping, anyone? It is hard passing these places and really wanting to go there, all the while having the people in mind that we were sent here to help. My purse has two oranges and a granola bar in it, along with a resource card. These are for moments like one we experienced today; a man with no shoes asked for help. "Anything" he said, like so many others. But then he didn't like those types of granola bars. Oranges he did like, so that was good. Don't forget that people have different preferences/affinities. He said he didn't want the resource card. We just... tried the best we could... because the subway kept moving and he got off somewhere different than us. Because he went on to another block with different moving faces. I hope he gets shoes from someone soon.
Our first task was to make a list of types of vulnerable people. If you were wondering, with InterVarsity's NYC Urban Project, I am on the Vulnerable People team. Because the abbreviation is VP we joke that we are pretty boss. Vice Presidents, that's us. What does Vulnerable People mean? It's a title I really had to get used to. It was kind of awkward to tell people. Yeah, me, a rich white kid is on a team advocating for "vulnerable" people. Patronizing, my cynic voice told me. What I've learned since those first assumptions is that vulnerable is an accurate term to describe the populations we are here to advocate for. I use the word advocate meaning to speak up for, listen to, aim to provide needs for, and connect points of provision for. Is it because we are better people or coming in as all-knowing superheros? Absolutely not. It is a privilege to serve and we are blessed to be able to reach those that may be stranded, currently, in situations like poverty, abuse, exploitation, and inadequate care. People like these are consistently vulnerable to being taken advantage of by a system that does not provide them with resources they need to be safe and successful. Yikes, that paragraph was longer than expected. I really hope you understand what I'm trying to say though. So many people here and around the globe have the CAPABILITY to thrive and live life well, but are simply not empowered or given resources to do this. So here we are.
I may write more later simply because my mind is now a bucket of chaos and if you've made it this far then you probably want a break.
This is my square one. God of heaven didn't design earth to be a place of suffering, and his son died so we don't have to suffer. However, not everyone loves him so this place is a bit of a disaster. Because of this, spa parlors hold women trapped in a slavery they didn't choose, and little kids that are going to fall through the cracks just because mom and dad weren't able to get jobs that help them to be in safe places, and cheap clothes come from people who tirelessly work for nothing. What do you do then? Just let all of that surround your existence in silence? No, no you don't. Pay attention because Jesus paid attention. Contribute because you have the ability. Read because you have the internet. Love because you have a heart that's compelled toward helping others.
And if all this overwhelms you (as it does myself and oh, ANYONE), start with prayer. Please start with prayer with me.
We all have jobs, families, and social lives, and you might be a little mad and say, "Anna I have tons to do, why are you telling me about problems I can't do anything about?" I understand. And it makes sense. But we can all at least do SOMETHING. At least start with prayer.
Other things I'm thankful for: the kids I'm getting to know because of this program, a brilliant subway system, and iced mochas that are made with really, really rich chocolate. Appreciating the little things, like these, and roofs, and plans for city camp that starts tomorrow!<3
Anna
"Pay attention because Jesus paid attention."
ReplyDeleteThat is a great line, Anna. Praise God that He is fine-tuning your heart to be more attentive! And yes, prayer is the PERFECT place to start when all that we give attention to becomes overwhelming.
Sounds like this will be an immensely formative experience for you! I hope some of it runs off on your readers (like me!).