Hurricane Sandy

 I know this is kinda late to be posting this but here it is.  On Sunday night there were a lot of quietness around here.  By nine o'clock on sunday night there was no mass transit at all.  A lot of the train tunnels in downtown manhatten were flooded and some roadways.  On we decided by Saturday night that we would not be working on Monday because of the storm.  On Monday morning we went out to see some waves at the beach before the storm started.  I also should mention that we decided to play some football in the hurricane just to say we did.  By Monday night we had decided not to work on Tuesday either which was exciting.  So on Wednesday when our boss came up we decided that we would just take off for the rest of the week.  We decided to go down to PA to get our books together for our christmas displays.  On Thursday all four of us went down to VA to get the books.  It was only three days and we had already forgotten what it was like to get up at four o'clock in the morning.  It took most of our day to go down and get the books and get back to PA.  When we were down in VA we got a lot of questions from the staff down there.  When we got back to PA we met the new guy that was coming up here.  On Friday we spent most of the day getting the display books together.  We decided to come back to the city on Friday night and spent the weekend hanging out.  The whole next week we did not work either because of the gas shortage.  We decided that instead of having to sit in a line for gas for four hours we just would not go out and service.  Instead we volunteered with MDS.  So we had about two weeks off because of the hurricane which was nice. During this time we cleaned the house and painted one room. 

October 2011

Great times in the house this week.  Monday and Tuesday were both short days.  Now on Wednesday we had a really short day at the warehouse, only from about 7:30 to 12:30.  Spent the afternoon playing some basketball and playing guitar.  This evening we have some visitors and listening to christmas music.  Yes we are actually doing that this time year.  And had a surprise birthday cake at lunch time today thanks to Esther King.  It was special to have a birthday cake a couple of days in advance.  Either way I am having a good time here in NY and the coming into winter and I am not sure about the snow in the city but I am looking forward to the winter.  Can't wait to go snowboarding again.  It is also football season again so its time to toughen up for some injuries in the next couple of weeks.  I have already had some and I only played two weeks now.  The first time it was my thumb jambed bad enough I could not use it for a couple of days.  Then I didn't play for a couple of weeks because of my injury and some visitors.  Then this last Saturday I got an ankle injury and a knee to the side of the head.  So its just been just me playing some football.  But this is my life in October so far and we will see what the rest of the month will hold.

Boys Camp and Youth retreat

On August 26th we left for boys camp at Camp Andrews.  It was a hard and stretching week.  It was kinda nice to get back into a week of routine.  I was a counselor for six ten year old boys.  We had a lot of fun and a lot of testing times.  It was good to get to know some of the boys from the neighborhood.  Four of the boys from my cabin were from within about five blocks of our house.  I had known some of them from boys club so it wasn't too bad.  what helped my cabin to go smoothly was that five of the six boys were there for the first time, but the hard part was that both of us as counselors were there for the first time.  But all in all it was a good week, teaching young city boys about the woods, and the bugs was quite a lot of fun.  We got home around six o'clock on friday evening and then had our debriefing meeting at seven and that lasted till about nine.  We all had a lot of laundry to do before nine the next morning which is what time we were to leave for youth retreat.  That was an awesome weekend, just hanging out and chilling with the youth from up here.  Playing games and walking through the woods in the dark, and going barefoot in the dirt and grass, I miss that so much.  That weekend did not consist of a lot of sleep.  Then on the way home I had an accident, someone ran into the back of me and pushed the rear door way in and smashed the back window in.  Do not worry no one was hurt.  We had thought about taking someone else with us and if she would have come along someone probably would have been hurt.  Also about the same time that it happened the pastors wife from up here, whose van we were using, laid down to take a nap and felt an urge to pray for those using the van.  So we owe her a big thanks for her prayer and God a lot of gratitude for putting it on the heart of her to pray.  The two girls in the back seat were laying down so the glass that did come forward flew over them and the two guys in the middle were pretty much protected by the seats.  It was amazing because the guy in the passenger seat found glass in his lap.  And there was glass on the floor by the passenger door. 

 this is the rear of the vehicle

Then on Tuesday it was not a good day to start work off after a week off.  At my first stoore it took four tries to print the invoice right and then at the next store my hand held wouldn't even print.  So I had to come home and try to replace some things and the finally figured out that it was just a cord.  All of this pushed my day back about two hours.  But I got everything done I could and things just happen they way they do. 

July 4th week

This week was a lazy week for me, kinda nice though.  Monday and Tuesday were nice short days servicing in Long Island, and Thursday and Friday went on an overnite run to Connecticut and Rhode Island.  Wednesday was great and very hot.  Slept in and then played some basketball.  In the afternoon we went to the beach where it is a little cooler and the water is amazing.  In the evening there was a group of people over and we had a cookout.  It was a lot of fun hanging out, playing some music, watching fireworks, and just being stupid, as we all do sometimes.  There was also a house fire on wednesday night which makes the second building fire since i am up here.  A vacant building beside us burnt a couple of weeks ago and now a house a couple of blocks away.

Odd week

This past week was an odd week for a booker week.  For starters I hung out with youth later than usual which meant less sleep on Sunday night.  On Monday I had to drive the whole way out to New Jersey to do four stores and then back to Brooklyn for the rest of the day, so I put a lot of miles on in the morning.  On Tuesday we only put in a half day of work because one of the guys is leaving soon and we went on a "biketrip".  The "biketrip" didn't work out because of bad weather so we just went camping instead.  And on Wednesday we went and toured the Martin guitar plant.  That was very interesting to see how the guitars are made.  It was a refreshing time to go and get away from the city and get into the country again.  On Thursday we left for an overnight run at about 3:30 in the morning.  We got home a little after four this afternoon.  This evening we were cleaning the house and went to boys club. Looking forward to weekend when we can sleep in and play with our new toys.  I almost forgot, the rest of up here all got helicopters too, so now we have about four of them flying around here.  They are a ton of fun, can't wait till we can take them up to the park someday. 

Youth Group

Tonight was a lot of fun.  We went out to Broadway Junction and were passing out tracts, praying for people, and singing in the station.  A lot of us were so excited to be there and some of us didn't really want to go and after a while we could feel the pressure lift.  It was awesome.  The expressions on peoples faces were so fun to watch.  The one time I guess there was a lady who didn't like what was happening and I guess she gave us the finger.  I didn't actually see it but others did.  So while we were singing, even without thinking about it,  we sang louder when that happened.  It actually happened more than once.  Everyone was nervous when we were going.  But after a while we calmed down and sang our hearts out praising God.  It was so much fun.  I haven't sang that many songs in a row at one time for a very long time.  For those back home, it was so much fun, it was getting very close to being as much fun as singing on tour.  I don't no how many of you know how much I love to sing, but I think some people up here found that out tonight.  There were some amazing stories that happened tonight, but I do not feel like writing them out.  All in all it was a great night and we had so much fun.

BAD DAY

Today was one of those days that was not so good.  The day just started out bad and then it wasn't too bad for a while.  Just to say the least when you want to leave at four and you wake up at six its not that much fun.  most of the stores then today weren't that bad.  Towards the end of the day I was doing a store that I should have gotten to in about fifteen minutes.  It actually took a little over an hour to get there.  Stupid construction.  They had exits closed and a lot of traffic on top of that yet, just doesn't turn out that good.  Even worse when the GPS you are using doesn't have some of the roads on.  Just to say the least that i did a little exploring today.  I did eventually get there and then it took over an hour to get home. So my day didn't go like i expected it to.

Great week

Its been a great week so far.  On Sunday a bunch of the youth guys were here and we had a blast.  We started out by watching the hockey game and that ended pretty quickly.  Some of us decided that was boring so we went up into the attic and were working out.  Fun times, fun times.  It was a lot of fun hanging out. Monday and Tuesday fun runs for me and then today we had a lot fun working at the warehouse.  Also started to work out again.  One of the guys has a core work out that we are doing, a lot of fun, but hard work.  Also looking forward to Sunday evening, we are doing a ministry evening with the youth.  We are going out to Broadway Junction and singing and praying for people in the train station.  Sounds like its gonna be a lot of fun.  And we also got some new toys today as well. 

Saturday 4-21-12

Today was awesome. Wat more can you as for a beautiful day for sleepin in and then some ballin aka basketball.  Lots of fun with the guys playin three hours of basketball.  Had some of the guys over last night after boys club and hung out till about 2:30 or so.  Lots of fun times telling the city guys about the amish and the country.  They get kinda scared thinking about camping out in the middle of the country with all the animals and stuff. It's kinda funny the way they talk about stuff like that and we think stuff like that is normal.  They could hardly believe that we would go and camp out, in the middle of what they would call nowhere, with no guns or knives for protection.  You kinda have to know city kids to know how they would act.  Anyway, we had a lot of fun hanging out and then today again with ballin.  Every Saturday the youth guys get together at the park and play a sport.  We were playin football, and today was the first day for basketball.  A lot of fun but after three hours and not being used to running and jumping that much the calf muscles get sore. Not that cool, mix sore muscles and blisters, bad combination.  Either way it was a fun day.  I am also very jealous that I could not be around for the ballgame last night, makes me wanna play ball so bad.  But, its one of those things that I need to give up for a year or two.  To the Ball team, have fun this year, it makes the whole year go better if you go into and come out of the game with a good attitude no matter what happens.

Yesterday was a good day for me.  I didn't have to leave the house until about six o'clock and got home around three thirty.  Today was a little different I left the house around six and didn't get home till about six forty-five.  Last night was one of the guys last night here so we had a party here with youth guys to see him off.  Had a good supper of rice and chicken and then just hung out for a while.  None of us got to bed before eleven o'clock.  So it was a late night for everyone but was a good time hanging out and sad to see him leave but thats the way that life is.  We get to make new friends and then we get to see them move on in life.  Anyway, I just want to say a big thanks to everyone who is praying and ask that you continue to pray. The days are getting a little easier, but are still hard.  Once I start to think about home the days and evenings are hard but with the grace of God I can get through the hard times. 

Thanks

Again I just want to say a very big thankyou to those of you who were praying the last two days.  I just wanna ask you to keep on praying as the days go on and the adjustments are made.  The days seem to be getting a little bit easier but it is still a challenge being away from home.  For me it is a lot harder to stay up here away from all the action but I have to rely on God to help me through.

first run by myself

Today I went on a run by myself.  The first time SCARY!  Actually it was not that bad.  I got all of the stores done and was back home by six o'clock.  It was an interesting day all in all.  It is exciting though getting out there by yourself and distributing books.  Very interesting the people that you meet.  Was mostly in CVS's today so it was not too bad.  Got mostly parking lots to park in and not a lot of street parking.  It is exciting when people ask you to bring certain books into a store.  This is a sign that even if it is only one or two people that there are still people out there who appreciate the things that we are doing.  It also interesting to see what some of the stores do not want on there shelves.  Some stores do not want some books because of the what the title includes or something that is in it.  All the other guys are away this weekend took three of the them to the airport tonight and the other left on the train this morning so I am alone tonight and then this weekend I get a free trip home to pick up another van and some more books.

First overnight run

Thursday and Friday we did an overnight run.  On Thursday we put in almost 15 hours of work.  We left the house at 3:30 a.m. and got to the motel at about 6:15 p.m.  We serviced about 20 stores.  On Friday we didn't leave the motel till about 7:15 and then got back to the house around 6:30.  We serviced about 12 stores then.  We also had to put in a lot of shippers which are cardbourd displays that have books for easter on them.  Thank goodness we only have to do them for christmas and easter.  They take up half the time at each store.

First week of work for CBNOVA

Thursday was my first day of work.  I was riding with James King of Thursday and Friday and we got rid of a lot of books.  On Thursday we went mostly to CVS's and then on Friday we went to a couple of Wal-Mart's.  Wal-Mart sells a lot of books and Bible covers.  We had a lot of books from other stands on our displays.  At one of the Wal-Mart's we almost redid the whole rack.  A lot of empty pockets and very few books.  Last night we also had boys club.  A lot different from it back in Lancaster.  A lot more boys and a whole lot more rowdy.  On saturday we played football with some of the youth from church. I am a little sore but am looking forward to my time here in NYC.  It has been a lot of fun so far and as I get to know the guys here even better it will get better.

Just to let everybody know, I got up to NYC ok.  This is a picture of most of the stuff that I brought along up.  Today I spent most of my time at the warehouse sorting books.  It all looks a little scary now yet but I think that it will all come together soon enough.  I leave on my first run tomorrow morning at 6 o'clock.

orientation

Orientation was a blast, it makes me excited about going. Getting to know one of the guys that is there and one that is going to be coming. It was also a lot of fun to see the people from down there that I got to know over the phone. So I guess I will be leaving on wednesday morning for New York.

I started this blog so that i do not need to send out email updates while i am in New York.