Good Monday morning to all! It has been a while since my last post, so will try to catch up. We have been here one month now. In some ways it seems a lot longer than that. We have been busy with the holiday activities and now a new year has begun. Our normal routine has again been implemented and it is nice to be back on schedule.

We were able to observe the festive spectacle of ringing in the new year at Times Square. Thought may as well see it firsthand once in my lifetime! The boys and us, along with Brett’s company were able to see it from aways off. We had no desire to fight the masses that were up close, some gathering at 3:30 in afternoon and wait nine hours to watch. The security was amazing, police everywhere and roads blocked off with garbage trucks and police vehicles. Besides a man from Maine that attacked three policemen with a machete and ended up shot, not fatally, all was mostly a happy crowd. Had a nice visit with a family from Australia while standing in Central Park.

Our senior boy Nolan is leaving this weekend after serving his six months of volunteer work in NYC. Was privileged to be with him for a month and a half. The senior boy is king for his last couple months, as we have a turnover approximately every six weeks or so, depending on scheduling. The senior boy does the driving (unless I do) on our outings and tract tours. The junior boy drives home on our tract route to get some city driving experience in before becoming the senior boy. Our new boy will be Levi Jantzen from Maine, also coming this weekend. The boys have been fine tuning the initiating process!!

Some of the activities we have done with the boys of late are going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art which was very interesting. Things from all over the world are on display, no way to describe it, you need to see it. We also went to the NY Transit Museum and learned how they built the subway and bus system. What an amazing experience! Mostly built by immigrants from many countries coming to NY. The dangerous and backbreaking work it took is truly amazing. The planning and implementing such a system that works is incredible. We also took a tour of Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Our senior boy is allowed to choose an activity before he leaves the city, and this was his choice. It has a lot of history and lore, which the enthused guide was happy to impart. It was an enjoyable hour for twenty-five dollars. It is close to our place, maybe 15 minutes total ride and walk.

We welcomed our first company from MI. this weekend, Jeff and Jenny Benesh. They went to Hartford CT first to see their nephew Darin who is volunteering there. They traveled down by train Sat. morning to NYC and spent the night and went to church with us Sunday. We had a full day Saturday, we met them and Darin at Battery Park and took the boat to Liberty Island and Ellis Island. Liberty Island is where the Statue of Liberty is of course. We took what is called the pedestal tour, which is only up to top of pedestal (195 steps if I remember right) had to go thru airport security first. Was a beautiful day with an awesome view of all the surrounding scenes. The statue is impressively huge up close. We could see the city landscape with its skyline and the bridges that span the waters and all the airplanes coming and going, it is a busy place. Ellis Island is where all the ships bringing immigrants to the USA stopped first. A restored building, set up like it used to be way back when, with all the rooms you had to visit before being accepted to America. It must have been a challenging experience for everyone involved. You had to show proof of identity and if you had family to sponsor you and if you had a job to make a living and pass several medical exams. If you had everything in order, then you were welcomed to America. Sadly, not all were accepted and were sent back, how disappointing!! We then had supper together and then we split up, as Jeff’s wanted to see a few other things yet.

I have debated whether to share this happening, but I am sure it will eventually be told, so may as well hear it as it was. Jeff’s were just back to our apartment, and we were relaxing all together, discussing the day. I made coffee and was serving it when we heard the unmistakable sound of gunfire. Two quick shots and a few seconds later we think ten more in rapid succession. Rachel and Carson were first to window and saw part of it live. There was a van parked right outside on the street and Carson saw the man crouched behind the van shooting, flames coming from the barrel. My wife saw people running away from the scene. We are not sure what the target was or how many people involved. The van sped off and within a couple minutes, cops were everywhere. No lights or sirens, just police everywhere. It was surreal to witness the event for sure. We watched the police secure the scene and walked up and down the street shining their flashlights everywhere, checking for what? We kind of knew what happened, so was interesting to watch the police put things together. They soon identified where the spot was and marked all the empty shell casings, one under our van. Soon after the scene was identified and marked out, and we assume the police thought no one was around any longer, than more cops with their light on blocked off the road and put-up tape around the actual area. Then all the discussing with all the officers, trying to put it all together. Would have been interesting to talk to police and hear what they came up with. We didn’t really want them to know some of us were witnesses. Could be a long process and you never know who is watching you talk to police. We guessing it was gang related or a drug deal gone bad?? So, there you have it firsthand. We actually never felt scared, just a bit unsettling, as we observed it from the third floor, that real people are shooting at each other (we assume). So don’t worry, just keep us in your prayers and God will take care of the rest.

Today, Stan and two boys are on a tract route to Long Island and the other two at Lincoln Hospital. Will be a busy week, getting ready for our first exchange of boys and everything that goes with it. Wishing you all a good and safe week.