Jess and I had the opportunity to go on a vacation to New York City. It was my Christmas present to Jess and she finally got to enjoy it. Click here to see our NYC pictures.

We had a blast! It’s a huge city with giant buildings, bright lights, and busy streets. It was a bit overwhelming at times, but we truly enjoyed getting to experience the city life.

We saw Marry Poppins on Broadway, which was one of the most entertaining shows ever. We also quietly cheered at the Yankees game as the Rangers beat ‘em. The World Trade Center Museum and Ground Zero were powerful, heart-breaking sites, the Metropolitan Museum of Art was incredible, and Central Park was beautiful and relaxing.

We also took a bike/carriage tour of Times Square, took pictures from the top of the Rockefeller Center, shopped on 5th Avenue, ate some New York Pizza, saw the Empire State Building, rode around the entire city on the top of a double-decker tour bus, took the Subway daily, and walked about 100 blocks a day.

A couple of weeks ago, Jess and I had the opportunity to go as sponsors on the Trinity Christian Academy Senior Mission Trip to the Bahamas.

We were able to snorkel and even dance, that’s right, dance, with dolphins. The ocean and beach were beautiful and we had an incredible time.

I know it’s strange to think of a mission trip taking place on such a gorgeous island, but the highlight of the trip was definitely the service opportunities we had. We spent time at a children’s home and an elderly house, both of which afforded us some great conversations. However, it was the first day of the trip that stood out the most.

We served at the All Saints AIDS Camp visiting with the people and doing some tough manual labor. This is a place of 40 residents, all dying of AIDS. They lived in tiny, one room shacks. There are no nurses or care takers who live at the camp. The residents are left to fend for themselves and depend on one another. We had seen poverty before, but this was poverty coupled with outright neglect. It was the closest thing to a leper colony that we’ve ever seen.


Their condition broke our hearts, but their spirit of joy in the Lord humbled us and taught us the incredible truth that circumstance does not dictate joy. In fact, on the last day of the trip, we went to the Atlantis, the number one hotel in the Bahamas, just to tour the place, and we saw rich couples arguing on their yachts and rich kids complaining about their flavor of ice cream. What a contrast between those with nothing who sat on their porch singing hymns to their Savior!

COMING SOON: NEW YORK CITY BLOG AND PICTURES!!!