NYC after NYCUP

So, I wasn’t as diligent in my blog writing as I would have hoped this summer. Between farmer’s market runs, cooking, meal planning, research, and sharing life with the other interns, it was hard to find time and brain power to write an insightful update.

Now that I have some time and have gotten some sleep – here we go! I guess I can best summarize my time with NYCUP with four “S’s” (Fun Fact-I like to make lists that alliterate)

#1 - Stewardship

Mondays became our planning days – We would brainstorm and decide what meals to prepare for the rest of the week. Then we would go out to usually the Union Square Farmer’s Market and the Whole Foods across the street. We would have to budget our time and money effectively to make sure we had enough food and that dinner would be served on time.

#2 - Studying

We spent a great deal of time being students of LoGOFF. First, we researched what each term of LoGOFF meant and what that meant to us as followers of Christ. Then, we were given the task of re-working and editing the LoGOFF packet created by last summer’s interns. It was a good foundation, but our team saw areas of improvement and worked on enhancing it into something great and practical. Our team led 2 LoGOFF workshops to get others perspective and input for the document.

#3 -Social Media

When we weren’t inside the convent meal planning, researching or cooking, we would be out in the city scoping out LoGOFF retailers. On days we would go out, we usually picked 3 destinations. Inevitably, we would always find other LoGOFF places along the way- a wonderful problem to have! I remember in practical, we were on our way to sustainable NYC, and we found an organic, raw juice press place and an organic and vegan bakery! It was cool to talk to the store managers of those places and see that they cared about the earth and its people the same way we do.

#4 - Self-reflection

Much of my time with NYCUP was introspective. We prayed…a LOT. Each morning our team would pray for what we needed that day- prayers for energy and a deeper faith were common. We would open and close our meeting times with the Lord’s Prayer and the prayer of St. Francis. I remember one time, I didn’t say it and I just sat and listened to our group. It sound like a steady hum of prayer that was exhausted yet expectant that God was still God. That we would still seek the benefit others over our own desires. Even time in small group was spent learning about God but also learning about ourselves and how God has worked, is working, and will continue to work in our lives.

Even though most people have gone back to the respective homes, I am still in NYC doing NYCUP things. So even though NYCUP has ended, I will continue to process and learn new things about this city and our God who loves it so dearly.