After leaving Patrick we traveled farther along the 7 line and stopped in little Chinatown. Like its namesake in Manhattan all of the signage and people were Asian - in fact, there were few English words visibly or audibly evident. Even the smells reminded me of my journeys to China and Korea. This place was much less touristy than the larger and more famous version across the river. John took me to a huge food court so I could try an novel import - "bubble tea." Of the appearance of iced chai with milk, the drink had blue pea-sized beads on the bottom of the glass mingling with the ice cubes. Using a large 1/2 inch diameter straw inserted through cellophane seal on top, I followed John's example of stirring the drink, then slurping up drink and beads. The drink was much like iced chai - slightly sweet and refreshing. The beads were a textual surprise - similar to very soft, yet chewy gummies. John informed me they were actually tapioca.
As we left he food court enjoying our bubble tea, John told me that a church was being planted in this area and that students were needed to assist with the early work. He and I begin to discuss how so many students are called to foreign missions and falsely believe they have to leave the United States to work with people groups from other parts of the world. As we walked and talked we were in a place in almost identical to those I have visited in Asia, but yet only a few subway stops away from the largest American city center. Just like overseas, in this vast area of Asian culture here on American soil there are few Christian influences.
Our next stop was in "little India." Again, the smells were other worldly, heavy with curry and garlic and cumin, and the sights of men with the long beards worn by Hindu mystics and of women wearing saris. Shops along the streets sold goods imported directly from India while Patel's Market displayed fruits and vegetables that I have never even seen on the Travel Channel's Bizarre Foods or at the Dekalb Farmers Market in Atlanta. I felt oddly out of place as the only white person on the street. John explained that there was one church plant in the area and another one was in the planning stages. As with the previous spots visited, students who feel called to missions or who want to make a difference in another culture are needed to come and spend time getting to know the people groups living here and helping with much of the ground work required to start a church.
Back on the train I was still the lone Gringo as we headed to an area known as Corona. As we exited the raised subway platform the sights and smells of Latin and South America greeted my senses. Our first stop was Iglesias Canaan, a church that was in the middle of a noontime service. We said hello to those at the door and in the office. John waved to the pastor who waved back mid-sentence. As we excited John explained that each church in this area catered to specific groups of Spanish speakers. I ignorantly assumed that any Spanish speaking church would be a place any Spanish speaker would attend. Just like churches back home, culture is just as important as language. While one church might house primarily Peruvians another might be comprised of Dominicans or Mexicans. I naturally began to think of all of our students at UGA who have taken many years of Spanish classes, many of whom have also studied abroad in Spain or South or Central America. How might they use their language skills, their energy, and their passion for Jesus in this area? As we went in search for an Empanada to snack on we talked about ways to begin to introduce students from UGA to the many worlds just across the river from Manhattan.
As we travelled back along the tracks on the 7 train John told me that tomorrow morning I would join the staff for their weekly meeting and we would all begin to talk about how we could possibly implement some of the ideas we discussed today. How can the MNYBA and the BCM at UGA partner together over the next 3-5 years to be a conduit for students to come to Queens NYC and to engage the world with the gospel by assisting the four areas I visited today along with ConnectionNYC?
I continued to ponder that question as Kyle Herring and I traversed the city this afternoon and evening. As an alumnus he too is vitally interested in having his more of his fellow Georgia Bulldogs join him in spreading the love of Christ across the city and potentially around the world through the new churches being planted here.
