Fall in NYC!

Dear Friends and Family,

Wow! What an adventure this has been. I can't believe I have only been here a week and a ½. Seems so strange how quickly time flies. I arrived Halloween night (sounds like the beginning of a horror story uh?). When I came in to NYC I ended up on the George Washington Bridge during rush hour, due to running an hour behind and getting a little lost in New Jersey looking for gas. Let me tell you, that was quite an adventure. I thought I was going to die!! I knew the Lord Jesus was protecting me that I made it without getting in an accident. But it does make me want to avoid driving here!

I currently have 6 other roommates, but one is leaving next week to pursue the religious life. I will miss her very much. We all live in a house in the north side of the Bronx. We are about 10 minutes outside of Westchester. We live about a block away from the last subway station on this side of the Bronx. So it is nice to not have to walk very far to get a train. It will be really nice when it starts to get cold. The house itself is pretty old, but cozy. We also have a chapel and adoration 24/7, which is so awesome. It is great to have Jesus as a roommate!!

They have begun to make my schedule but nothing is set in stone yet. Right now, Mondays we have a meeting, Tuesday I visit two homeless shelters in the Bronx, Wednesdays I go out on our canteen truck (called LAMP Café), Thursdays I co-lead a bible study for the homeless in Manhattan and give personal prep to a teenage girl preparing for Confirmation, Friday street evangelization, Saturday back out at LAMP Café, and Sunday is my day off. So that is a bit of a glimpse in to my day today life.

Yesterday I went out to Central Park. It was so beautiful. There was still some foliage left. I came upon this one tree that was the pretty gold I have ever seen. It was so remarkable. Before I entered the park, I was in some posh neighbor hood wear a hand back or a pair of shoes costs more then two years wage for me and then on the way home their was construction on the subway track so I ended up having to take a shuttle bus through Harlem. Only 30 minutes away from each other and yet worlds apart. It was so remarkable. But the funny thing is, the eyes were all the same.

Well folks, I hope you haven't fallen asleep yet! I am wrapping up this rambling now. But I do miss you very much. More then you know. I never thought I would long to see the wheat fields of Kansas so badly or my home parish with familiar faces. Please keep my in your prayers. You remain in mine.

Lots of love,
Esther