Hello friends and family,
What a splendid week we had here in the big city! The weather was gorgeous versus what the Hoosier state was recieving. We started our week on Tuesday with a Men's fishing trip on a charter boat. Who thought fishing was possible in November? Turns out in NY fishing in November to mid December is the best time. The Blue's and the Striped Bass are running hard during this time. Pastor and myself caught over 60 fish between the two of us. We were loaded with filleted fish at the end of the day, and shared them with rest of the congregation and even some store front business owners from the neighborhood. This undoubtedly was the best fishing day for myself and Pastor Keith! The only thing that could of been more fun would have been fishing for men and having that great of a catch! As a matter of fact Pastor Keith was so motivated by his experience that the sermon this Sunday was on the topic of "Fishing for Men!".
On Wednsday night bible study we had a lost sheep return to the flock. This young man had been slipping in his ways and by his own convictions the Holy Spirit led him back to 10th Street. What a blessing to have this young man reconnecting and praise the Lord for the weekly followers that come to our mid-week service.
On Thursday Farrah and Ruby attended the broadway musical "Mary Poppins"! Pastor Keith and his wife Cachi had seen pictures of how this summer Ruby and Gus sang the song "The Perfect Nanny" from Mary Poppins and had won their category at the State Fair. Keith and Cachi were at an auction helping the "Staten Island Church of Christ" where they were auctioning off directors seats to "Mary Poppins". I will not tell you what they payed for the seats (a nice donation to the SICC!", but I will tell you it was the best seats Farrah had ever had and this was Ruby's first Broadway Musical. They sat in row 10 right in the middle! It was a splendid experience that they wished they could share with everyone of you. It made Farrah miss the Graybiels for Liz and her family haved shared so many musical moments not to mention sooooo many other familys back home too.
On Saturday the Mens group had a small group meeting at the local Neptune Restaurant for a bible study. We had a great bible study and great fellowship. As we finished our closing prayer a young couple behind us said they had over heard our study and were visiting from Denmark. Their names were Reuben and Ditamaria. They werre heading back to Denmark on Sunday but wanted to hear more. They were invited to join us for sunday school and worship on Sunday. Praise the Lord they attended both services! That means alot when a young couple gives up their time on the last day of vacation! I think it is safe to say most people would not be willing to give of their time at such a high stake. Thank you Lord for bringing them into your house and we pray you lift them up in Denmark. Saturday night Farrah had a chance to share with one of her old college roommates who was performing in an opera and had an extra ticket. Farrah really enjoyed the show and it was great to share with her friend Bridget and other professional performers in the area.
Sunday was a very nice service. I helped lead worship "out of the frying pan and into the fire, not my comfort zone, but honores to serve!" which is working out nicely for we mix up who leads certain areas of worship each of us with our own styles of music. Farrah and I lead more contemporary style music, Bro. Rafael tends to lead more traditional hymns, and Bro. Basilio leads more of a negro spiritual style. A little bit of something for everyone, but most importantly we keep the focus on praising and worshiping our heavenly father. After service we had a community "Heart 2 Heart" blood pressure check for anyone to come in and see the volunteers from the N.Y.U. who were mostly first year med. students. Guess what? Some of those volunteering for the blood check seemed interested in attending a home church! I wonder where we'll send them? After the blood pressure check the women's group put on a fellowship dinner for the church. Some of the NYU students attended the meal. I am sure the food was as good as the cafeteria at school so hopefully they will return. Wether it be for food or worship, when they return we will give them both!
Not every week is this exciting but the Lord really is blessing us and using us here at 10th street Church of Christ. We are so glad to have the opportunity to grow, share, and learn in Christ. Thank you for your prayers and support back home. We ask that lift up my brother Jeramiah and his family as they are trying to reconnect with the church. His wife is not saved and is seeking the right answers, so pray for her to have the right tools during this time in her life. Pray for our church growth and the churches financial needs here at the 10th street church of Christ. It would be great to have a multi-media sytem her at the church so pray we can find the funds to purchase a sytstem. We miss you all and we will be home for Christmas. GOD bless you all!
Your Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Jonathan, Farrah, Ruby, and Augustus Westerfield
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Westerfield's in NY
Hello friends and family,
We are very sorry it has taken us so long to post a blog. The Mark's family came out and visited last week and Doug was helpful in showing me how to start blogging. Hopefully we can post weekly to keep everyone up to date on events here in New York. We are truly grateful to all of our church family for your support in helping us get out here. We never could have fit everything on the moving truck if it was not for the help of the church leadership team and a few others. If you ever have limited space but alot to fit in it call Mike Altman or Doug Mark, they can fit a large block in a small hole. We got moved in and are not unpacked yet though due to the fact we want to do some painting and do not want to get too comfortable to where we do not get the work done. The necessities are unpacked but it does not look like a home yet! With that said though any one looking to visit New York we have room for you, so do not be shy. It was such a joy to see Hoosier faces when the Mark's visited.
As far as ministry is going we are geeked up to be serving here in New York! I promise you that there are things I am seeing and learning you could not learn in college or in the small city of Lebanon (we do miss Lebanon though!). The church is growing and has increased its attendance by about 60%. We have had two baptisms since we have been here and are starting new outreaches. There is unlimited potential here in the big city!
The kids are adjusting well. Ruby is doing great in school! She was forced to skip first grade by where her birthdate fell and we were naturally concerned as to how she would adjust. She has gotten only 100% on all her tests and homework (were' not too proud parents,huh!). Last week she won grand champion for the pumpkin decorating contest for the whole school. That was a big deal because her school has middle school students K-8th. Also she lost her first tooth! They grow too fast... Augustus spends his days helping me out or teaching me patience(more of the latter). He is growing up too fast to and is speaking in such big boy sentences. One day he got hold of some scissors and cut his bangs down to his scalp so we had to cut his beautiful curls off his head. We pray it comes back curly again for he looked so precious and the good Lord knows he will not have hair to enjoy if he follows our family genetics.
Farrah is working for a fashion firm in the customer service department and they really enjoy her work ethic. She has shard her spirtual gift of music here at the church but has not had enough time to pursue singing and dancing elsewhere yet with her busy work schedule. Pray that we can find strength and energy to get her out auditioning and performing. There's too much potential there to bottle it up! I am working diligently with the church and have been doing studies designated by pastor Kieth. I clean and repair the building which has gotten easier the longer we're here but there is never a let up on something needed maintained. 10th street church is much smaller than LCC and take it from me Greg Miller surley has to work diligently to keep up with such a large facility back home. Scrubbing toilets to reaching the lost, someone has to do it and it is so fulfilling to know you are doing it to the glory of GOD. If there was anything I could take away from being in New York, it would be to get connected to the church. Small group, worship, lawn and gardening, youth, toilet scrubbing, evangelism whatever it is, it is fulfilling when you are doing it for the Lord. We are blessed to have such a great church family, so be sure you are being connected. It will bring true joy to your life!
We really miss everyone and look forward to coming home for Christmas. We will keep blogging to update you on the events in New York and thank you all for your prayers and support back home.
Love in Christ,
Jonathan, Farrah, Ruby, and Augustus Westerfield
We are very sorry it has taken us so long to post a blog. The Mark's family came out and visited last week and Doug was helpful in showing me how to start blogging. Hopefully we can post weekly to keep everyone up to date on events here in New York. We are truly grateful to all of our church family for your support in helping us get out here. We never could have fit everything on the moving truck if it was not for the help of the church leadership team and a few others. If you ever have limited space but alot to fit in it call Mike Altman or Doug Mark, they can fit a large block in a small hole. We got moved in and are not unpacked yet though due to the fact we want to do some painting and do not want to get too comfortable to where we do not get the work done. The necessities are unpacked but it does not look like a home yet! With that said though any one looking to visit New York we have room for you, so do not be shy. It was such a joy to see Hoosier faces when the Mark's visited.
As far as ministry is going we are geeked up to be serving here in New York! I promise you that there are things I am seeing and learning you could not learn in college or in the small city of Lebanon (we do miss Lebanon though!). The church is growing and has increased its attendance by about 60%. We have had two baptisms since we have been here and are starting new outreaches. There is unlimited potential here in the big city!
The kids are adjusting well. Ruby is doing great in school! She was forced to skip first grade by where her birthdate fell and we were naturally concerned as to how she would adjust. She has gotten only 100% on all her tests and homework (were' not too proud parents,huh!). Last week she won grand champion for the pumpkin decorating contest for the whole school. That was a big deal because her school has middle school students K-8th. Also she lost her first tooth! They grow too fast... Augustus spends his days helping me out or teaching me patience(more of the latter). He is growing up too fast to and is speaking in such big boy sentences. One day he got hold of some scissors and cut his bangs down to his scalp so we had to cut his beautiful curls off his head. We pray it comes back curly again for he looked so precious and the good Lord knows he will not have hair to enjoy if he follows our family genetics.
Farrah is working for a fashion firm in the customer service department and they really enjoy her work ethic. She has shard her spirtual gift of music here at the church but has not had enough time to pursue singing and dancing elsewhere yet with her busy work schedule. Pray that we can find strength and energy to get her out auditioning and performing. There's too much potential there to bottle it up! I am working diligently with the church and have been doing studies designated by pastor Kieth. I clean and repair the building which has gotten easier the longer we're here but there is never a let up on something needed maintained. 10th street church is much smaller than LCC and take it from me Greg Miller surley has to work diligently to keep up with such a large facility back home. Scrubbing toilets to reaching the lost, someone has to do it and it is so fulfilling to know you are doing it to the glory of GOD. If there was anything I could take away from being in New York, it would be to get connected to the church. Small group, worship, lawn and gardening, youth, toilet scrubbing, evangelism whatever it is, it is fulfilling when you are doing it for the Lord. We are blessed to have such a great church family, so be sure you are being connected. It will bring true joy to your life!
We really miss everyone and look forward to coming home for Christmas. We will keep blogging to update you on the events in New York and thank you all for your prayers and support back home.
Love in Christ,
Jonathan, Farrah, Ruby, and Augustus Westerfield
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