1. It takes exactly TWO WEEKS for a 7 year old to turn a red jacket into a black one by rubbing up against every subway poll in NYC.
2. You will not have to invest in a “white noise” machine to drown out the noise of the streets if you have an unusually loud, hissing radiator. FACT: You may need a “white noise” machine to drown out the noise of said loud, hissing radiator.
3. $1.00 does more than buy a double-cheeseburger at McDonalds. It will also get you 1/4 of a wash cycle in a Mega Machine at “Baby Girlz Bubbles and Cleaners.” on Frederick Douglas Blvd.
4. Living in a 5th floor walk-up will save you $600 a year on a gym membership and give you the same results.
5. People in New York are the meanest ever. People in New York are really nice. Take it from a 7 year old named Jonah.
6. If you have never heard the “uncensored” versions of your favorite R & B tunes, you should take a shopping trip to Harlem for groceries. For added amusement, take along a few sheltered kids from Oregon. Observe their faces.
7. Living in NYC may cause your child to ask, “Is English the REAL language of the United States?”
8. Weatherproofing your doors will not only aid in energy efficiency, it will also cut down on the amount of second-hand smoke received courtesy of the 2nd floor apartment.
9. Dunkin’ donuts and a walk through Central Park provides affordable entertainment for a family of five.
10. The best thing about the Central Park zoo is the 1800 calories you burn walking to it from Harlem in 20 degree weather. The calorie-burning benefit is significantly offset by Jonah’s whining about how cold and far it is and how this is his worst day EVER.
New York- you gotta love it.
I probably, no, make that DEFINITELY, should have posted something about this before today, because it’s an issue Paul and I have been anxious about. It would have provided a perfect opportunity for you to pray for us and the kids, but God seems to be working it out well, despite my lack of communication. We’ve been praying about whether or not to send Noah, Evan, and Jonah to school or to continue homeschooling. There are so many factors that contribute to this decision: the quality of the neighborhood school, programs offered, the transition to a brand-new place for the kids, the difference in demographic of the school population, trying to get them into a charter school in the future (the NYC school system is unlike any other), where we stand with our support-raising and the possibilities of sustaining long-term ministry in the city, etc. As we weighed and measured the options, we decided to AT LEAST walk down to PS 180 and talk to someone in the office as we try to get a “feel” for the school.
The Ramey 5 walked into the school and were immediately pleased by the physical campus- it’s clean, quiet (this was not during a recess or lunch break:)) and orderly. We spent about a half-hour with the enrollment advisor, where she walked us through each step of the process and clearly communicated exactly what we’d need to get started. All three boys sat in chairs behind us, listening to her talk about the programs and schedule: All students must wear uniforms: navy slacks and a white button shirt. All children receive free breakfast and lunch. On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, the 3-5 graders stay after school for test prep and arts/sports programs until 5:45. They come again on Saturday for another hour of test prep and music and arts. All students get to play music in the Midori and friends program, where they can learn guitar, violin, piano, and other instruments. WOW!! So much of this is made possible by the partnership they have developed with Columbia University. And best of all, it’s FREE!!! The boys were so excited that they seem to have forgotten their initial nervousness about being the “new kids” in school.
So at least for today, they have decided that PS 180 sounds like a better option than being taught by their frazzled, impatient mother while she gulps down coffee in her pajamas.
I’ll be rounding up the necessary birth certificates, immunization records, etc. over the next few days with hopes that they’ll be planting their navy slacks-wearing behinds in a classroom this week. Please pray for Noah over the next few days as we begin the middle-school selection process, which is every bit as serious as it sounds. NYC offers some amazing options, and we just need an opening for him in the RIGHT school. He’s anxious about it, but we’re trusting God and hoping He provides another blessing for Noah.
Here’s to a great week in the making!
Wow. It’s been too long, and I would apologize, but there really wasn’t anything we could do about not having internet. Time Warner finally showed up to the apartment today and reconnected us to the world.
For my post today, I’m choosing humor over tears, because that feels like a victory this week.
I feel like a student of NY every day, and every day I’m trying to cram seven hundred and twelve new facts about the way they do life here. Take, for example, grocery shopping. Back in Hillsboro, grocery shopping was fairly straightforward: pick a grocery story, drive there, buy food, drive home. Easy enough. Not so in Manhattan, where driving is a luxury not many can afford. In Harlem, where I live, there are a few options: walk or deliver. The former involves taking your folding/rolling cart to the little neighborhood grocery store, where you can pay $40.00 for the ingredients to make spaghetti. ( We found this out on Christmas Eve). The latter, which comes highly recommended by my friends in the city, is as easy as pie and is priced (mostly) right. Today was my first experience.
Actually, my journey with FD, as I’ll call it, started yesterday. I sat in Starbucks with my coffee and a two-hour internet connection, armed with my roughly scribbled grocery list and feeling like a kid on her first day of school. With just a few clicks I filled my cart with the makings of four dinners, some produce, and a few necessities to begin stocking my fridge. The total: $104 or so- pretty good, considering that included a pound of French Roast coffee and some parmesan cheese. So I “checked out” and waited for delivery time- the next evening at about 6. Not too bad.
All day today I found myself anxious for 6:00 to roll around, when I could open my crate like a belated Christmas present. Sure enough, I heard the door buzz at 6:39, announcing the arrival. I quickly ripped open the three cardboard boxes. Frozen veggies, check. Pancake syrup and buttermilk, looks good. ”Scallions?” I thought- “I don’t remember ordering scallions.” The label read, “small yellow onions. Quantity- two.” Wow, if onions had cousins that wished they were scallions, they must be called SMALL onions. And what’s with the two tiny bags of Multigrain Pancake Mix?? I glanced at my receipt. How much did I pay for those?? $3.79 per bag?? Are you kidding me?? I’ll be rationing these for breakfast- “OK kids, you can each have HALF a pancake and some milk. It’s OK- that way you’ll be REALLY ready for lunch at school.”
I finally opened my last box, which included some ground beef and a pot roast. Let me just tell you that I was looking forward to cooking a roast, hoping that it would make our new place feel more like home. I took one look at that thing and thought, “Well, if I had a little girl, and we were having a tea party/Sunday dinner party for her dollies, I know exactly what I would fix. THIS EXACT POT ROAST.” I really didn’t think that a pot roast could look like a small steak for two, and cost $16.11!!! I keep looking at it when I open the fridge, hoping that when I open it from its vacuum-packed seal, it will magically grow to it’s normal size.
In the meantime, I will chalk this up to a NY life experience. Next time, I’ll stick to the canned goods and coffee beans, and buy my meat/produce where I can actually SEE and TOUCH them. At least I laughed today, and that makes it worth the price of delivery.
So our stay in Boston has come to an end. Brian, Lauren, Avery and Owen (and the dog, Gretel) have been incredibly hospitable, generous and patient with three loud boys and two adults filling up the space in their house for almost a month. Thank you so much, Bri and Lauren! We are blown away by the way you guys invited us in and let us stay longer than expected!
So we’re all on the bus to New York, finally!
Headed Out of Boston
But it will be a short stay. Mer and the boys leave for California for a family reunion/early Christmas with her family. I will stay in the city through the weekend for the Gallery’s first big Christmas week and then follow them to California on Monday.
We will be there until Saturday, the 20th, and then will head back to NYC…FOR GOOD! We will finally move in to our apartment the night we fly in. Our stuff may already be moved in by people in the Gallery community by the time we get back. I’ve already come to grips with the fact that I may have to be the brunt of much persecution if we’re not there for our move in. But I’ve counted the cost and decided that…it’s worth it. ;-]
Noah & Evan trying to kill 4 1/2 hous
Coffee on a bus...definitely a must
I’m extremely excited to finally have my family with me in the city and to start our ministry to the people of New York together. It is very strange to me that it has been two months since Meredith was in New York. I’ve spent as many days in New York as I have in Boston and am well on my way in learning the subway and bus system among other things one has to learn in the city. So I’m looking forward to helping her and the boys get started. Evan came with me last weekend to the city and he was introduced pretty quickly to the jungle the city can be. We were in a cab on the way back to the Simpson’s (the family we were staying with) and Evan put his backpack on the floorboard (which just so happened to have Noah’s PSP and all his games which he so kindly let Evan take with him on the bus to the city). When we finally got out of the freezing cold and into the apartment, Evan realized he didn’t bring the backpack in. We called the cab commission and they gave us the police precincts the cab driver was likely to drop the stuff off at. We have called every day since, but no backpack, and we’re not holding our breath. It is a fast paced place and Evan was thrown off by the chaotic nature of even getting out of a cab. But he’ll get used to it.
Sorry for the blab. Just updating you on the little things.
Me, Mer and Jonah
Monday’s Urbanize conference was great. I’ll write about that in my next post. But in short, it was very cool to have 40-something church planters or potential church planters from around the country come to NYC to think strategically about urban church planting in major world cities. I felt honored to be a part of a team that has a vision to be a catalyst for that kind of big-picture thinking. More on that later.
For now…
- We need continued prayer for more financial/prayer partners to come on board with our ministry. We are so thankful for those of you who are praying for us and supporting us! It has been a huge encouragement to see the way God is providing. We have a ways to go still, but he is taking care of us.
- Please pray for the boys, but Jonah specifically. He is struggling with the transition and that is manifesting itself in difficult ways. Pray for Mer and I as we seek to help him through it in the most effective ways.
- Pray for safe travels throughout the next week and a half.
Thought I’d give you all a little update on what the transition looks like on the “mommy” end…
I’ll have to start by saying that if I didn’t have an AMAZING brother and sister-in-law, this transition would have been miserable. Brian and Lauren have adjusted remarkably well to having three big, loud, HUNGRY boys in their home. We’re sharing grocery shopping and cooking duties, laundry loads, etc. and I’m trying to be as helpful as I can because Lauren is not only the mom of two toddlers, she is also eight months pregnant. This can’t be easy for them, but they’re so supportive in every way. We’re feeling their ministry to us every day.
Homeschooling is challenging, but going as well as can possibly be expected. We just spread our stuff out on the kitchen table and make room for my niece and nephew to share in story-time and art. I love how Noah, Evan, and Jonah have bonded with their cousins. N, E, and J are working through grammar and math individually, and then we work through history, writing, and Bible together. I’m also trying to weave in some special projects corresponding to Thanksgiving and Christmas. Since we’re in Boston, we also attempted the “Freedom Walk”, which was right in line with our study on the American Revolutionary War, but this field trip ended abruptly with freezing rain and hail in the cemetery where Paul Revere was buried! Running through downtown Boston wasn’t very fun (or funny!) at the time, but looking back, it’s hard not to laugh.
If you know me very well at all, you understand that I struggle with a desire for control over my circumstances and plans. God, in His perfection, continues to teach me and prepare me for His mission for us in NYC. My family and I are already reaping the benefits of trusting Him and His timing, especially when it looks differently from our own. If things had gone according to OUR plans, we would have been in NYC a month and a half ago. Instead, we’re still in Boston, living with family, separated from Paul on the weekends. However, in the meantime, God has provided a BETTER apartment than we had anticipated, has provided a few more financial/prayer partnerships for us, and has given us TIME to reflect on this journey we’re taking. Just today I prayed that God would make me a great “learner” and “lover”. I need to be willing to LEARN about the people and city of NY, and be ready to LOVE them without my own agenda getting in the way. This was a new prayer for me, and I’m glad that God gave me time to reflect on this before I actually get into the city.
As we continue to inch closer to establishing our new home, we are learning to expect that God is using TIME for our GOOD. We covet your continued prayer, and look forward to sharing more and more once we arrive….
Believe it or not, this is a question that has come up quite a bit throughout this process. But before those who have been concerned for my family and me, and those who have even vocalized your concern to me, get defensive, let me assure you that you are not alone in your thoughts. Those kinds of thoughts consumed my mind – especially early on. I recognized, also early on, that either those thoughts were going to torture me and cause me to doubt every step of the way or they were going to cause me to do some serious reflecting on whether or not this was something God was really leading us toward. The latter is exactly what happened and, as a result, the decision to pick up my family and move 3,000 miles away from everyone and everything they know and love was confirmed in many ways, giving me a greater confidence and excitement in the way God is leading us, even in the midst of difficult questions like this one from those I love and respect.
It’s a legitimate question. I mean, we’re talking about children here – children who are in their most impressionable and formative seasons of life. How can ripping them away from their best friends and family be a good thing? How can we feel OK about taking them out of their comfort zones and sheltered suburban world and dropping them in the middle of one of the darkest cities in our nation – a place where they will be exposed to significant amounts of darkness and sin simply walking down the street.
But…
A few stories for you.
Evan: Around the time we made the decision to go to NYC we started studying Mark 10 as a family. Read the whole chapter and check out the way it all flows together. Pretty amazing! The way Christ honors Peter above the rich man who could not give up his riches, that which he so valued, to follow Christ was an encouragement to us as a family as we considered the difficulty of saying goodbye to best friends and family to follow God’s leading.
Evan & His Friend on Halloween
It tore my heart out (and still does) to watch this realization land on all three of my sons – that they would not be enjoying the tangible comforts of their “heart” friends for too much longer. Yet, watching them say goodbye to something they passionately valued for the sake of following Christ was one of the most profound things I’ve ever experienced. One Saturday night Evan was packing his backpack, preparing to spend the night at one of his best friend’s house. As he packed his bag he grabbed his bible off the dresser and put it in his bag as well. This was not a normal occurrence when having a sleep-over so I asked him what was up. He told me that he was going to read his bible to his friend, Peter. I asked him what he was planning on reading and he answered in kind of a “duh dad, obviously” way. “I’m gonna read Mark 10 to him!” To see that this passage had so gripped Evan that he was going to read it to his friend who does not follow Christ made something in my heart jump. This passage was coming alive to him because he was living it. An interesting thought since many young children, youth, college students and young adults don’t seem to “get anything out of” the bible when they read it. If we don’t apply it and live it, how could we? He’s nine! And he’s starting to get it.
Noah: Another story. Raising support is definitely not easy, especially in this kind of economy. Both Mer and I knew that if this was going to happen it was going to have to be God doing it. We don’t have that kind of network of relationships to raise that amount of money. The biggest monthly expense on the budget is rent and we began to pray as a family that God would provide the right place for us. We put together an ideal budget, but we knew we would have to cut it down to the bare minimum just to get to NYC and then continue to raise support from there. Apartment hunting in NYC is like being kicked in the stomach continuously and all of my attempts while in the city were unsuccessful. I would see something on Craigslist or some NYC apartment site that looked good only to get there and get kicked in the stomach again. It was the heaviest thing on my heart. I so badly wanted to get my family in a place that we could all call home. Then at just the right time God provided beyond what we could have asked or imagined! Last night I got the final word from the landlord that we are approved to move in to our 1300 square foot, bright, beautiful apartment six blocks from Central Park, a few steps from the right train line and in the ideal school zone. We move in December 22nd. We are very excited at what God has done!
Noah & I on the BoltBus from Boston to NYC
So as I’m commuting to NYC from Boston every weekend I’m taking the boys individually to introduce them to the city. I took Noah with me this last weekend and this morning we found ourselves walking around the streets of our new neighborhood, thanking God together for the way he provided more than we asked for. Noah is experiencing faith in action and answered prayer in a way he has never experienced before. As we walked I told him to listen to the sounds of the city – all the different languages that are spoken, the sounds of sirens throughout the city, the rumble of the subway beneath your feet, the many millions of people who need Christ in their lives, and on and on. He loved it! He saw the vastness of the mission before us and the excitement there is in following Christ wherever he leads.
Jonah: Last story, I promise. Another passage that has encouraged our hearts as a family is found in Phil. 4:19. As we talked about all of the things we needed God to provide it was cool to have the whole family memorize this verse together. For a few weeks before we left Portland we recited it to ourselves and each other many times - often times when one of us was feeling overwhelmed. To hear that verse come out of your children’s mouth is a very profound thing when you stop and think about it. Their faith is amazing in times like these. It seems like that’s what Jesus was getting at when he said we need to have faith like a child. Their faith just…is.
Jonah Writing Philippians 4:19 From Memory
So after I flew out Saturday, Nov 15, Mer and the boys went to Grace Chapel that Sunday morning with the Lubbens. As Jonah sat there in church, knowing that his dad had already flown out to NYC for good and with them about to follow on Tuesday, he wrote Phil 4:19 out by memory and Dave snapped a picture of it from behind him. This is now the screensaver on my phone. It reminds me often that God will indeed provide for us. And it reminds me to have faith like my 7 year old Jonah.
I could go on with story after story about the way we are seeing our kids’ faith become their own more than ever before. They are keenly watching mom and dad take a step of faith that is demanding a deep dependence upon God. They are paying attention to the priority we have placed on following Christ and they are slowly beginning to understand what it means to sacrifice for the sake of the gospel. They are starting to see that God leads, guides, is present and active in our lives, provides for our needs and answers prayer. But they are also seeing the fact that when we follow Christ it doesn’t mean that everything will just fall perfectly into place; that it is a lot of hard work and effort. They are noticing that, as we take a step out into what seems like nothing, God honors that step of faith and provides a little more. And they are recognizing that this keeps us close to and dependent upon Him.
Am I ruining my family’s life? No! In fact I believe this is and will continue to define my faith and the faith of my wife and kids for years to come.
So…
We’re all in Boston. I was so missing my family and I can’t tell you how nice it is to finally have them here.
We packed up on Thursday and loaded the truck on Friday. THANK YOU to those of you who helped us out. There’s no way we could have done it all without you. I can’t believe we packed our whole house in a 10’X8’X9’ space! At least we know it will fit in a New York apartment! Friday night we got the chance to hang out with our best friends for dinner and a major RockBand session afterward. Check out my Facebook page for the pics a bit later. It was so cool to be able to leave Portland on that note. I loved it! Meredith and I ended up sleeping on the floor in sleeping bags in our house that night since everything was already in the truck. Saturday morning we woke up early and swung by Stumptown Coffee one last time on our way to the airpot. It was an emotional moment. I flew out on Saturday morning so that I could be at the Gallery Church leading worship in the two services on Sunday. Meredith stayed behind with the boys so she could get the house all cleaned up and then walk our renter through and give him the keys on Monday. The boys all spent time with their best friends in the days leading up to their departure. They had such a great time and can’t wait to Skype it up with them from NYC. Mer worked like crazy trying to get everything ready and then hopped on a plane with the boys at 6am this morning to fly out to Boston where they will stay with her brother, Brian, until December 1st – when we hope to move to the city. It was quite a journey for them. They flew out from Portland to Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City to Logan Airport in Boston, Logan to downtown Boston on a train, downtown Boston to the ferry by foot, the ferry to Cohasset, MA, and then a short car ride to their house. They loved it!
From here…
My schedule is a bit crazy from now until December, but Mer and the boys will be here homeschooling and hanging with family. It’s beautiful in Boston!
So I will hang with the family tomorrow and then leave early in the morning on Thursday for New York. I’ll spend Thursday – Saturday at a Gallery Church staff retreat to Greenwich, Connecticut. I’ll lead worship on Sunday and then spend Monday and Tuesday scouring NYC for an apartment. A bit on that though…
It looks like we might have found an apartment. Please pray with us that the details will come together. They are currently renovating it, but I’ll be able to see it on Saturday hopefully. It’s in the right school district for the right price with the right kind of space we need. So pray with us, please!
So after solidifying an apartment on Monday or Tuesday (we’re praying), I’ll head back up to Boston to spend Thanksgiving with my family there. It should be beautiful. I’ll head back down that Saturday for the Gallery gatherings. Monday, December 1st, Mer and the boys will hop on a bus, move to the city, and we’ll unload the truck into our apartment (again…we’re praying).
How you can pray…
- Pray for strength for me as I travel back and forth from Boston
- Pray for Meredith as she home schools the boys throughout the next weeks and for wisdom as to what happens school-wise after that
- Pray that things work out with this apartment
- Pray for continued support to come in – that God would burden hearts to partner with us in this mission to the city
Thanks for your prayers, your friendship and your partnership! We love you guys! Thanks for following us on this journey!
~Paul
Sorry about the silence…
Things have been absolutely nuts and I’m looking forward to sitting down and blogging it all out. But that time is not now. For now, please pray with us. We’re moving forward with the way we believe God has led us. Please continue to pray that our support comes in. Meredith and I believe that God has led us this far and that he will continue to guide us and provide for us as we follow him. So far this journey has been a step by step process. We take a step and he provides a bit more. This is, by far, the biggest leap of faith we have ever taken. And that is not a “check me out” pride thing, but rather a “please pray for us ’cause this is freakin crazy” thing. We are learning so much about faith and belief, along with many other things, and I’m looking forward to processing some of that here with you on the Urban Journal.
A quick update:
We load the truck up tomorrow. It turns out that we get to play Tetris with our stuff as we pack our whole house in a 12X6X8 truck. A good exercise since our apartment in New York won’t be much bigger. ;-] After we’re done loading everything up and cleaning the house we’ll go out for one last little get together with some best friends here in Portland. Saturday morning I fly out to New York for good. Crazy! Meredith will stay here with some friends and will walk our renter through the house on Monday. She and the boys fly out to Boston on Tuesday and they will stay there with her brother and sister-in-law and their kids for two weeks while I commute back and forth from there to NYC on the train. We’ll take the next two weeks to lock in an apartment and then we hope to be able to move in to the city on December 1. Our stuff will stay in the truck until that time. At this point in time we’re planning on moving to Brooklyn, unless God does a miracle and we’re able to get into the Upper West Side. Brooklyn is cool though. It feels a lot like Portland. And the train ride is no more than a half hour to the office.
Please be praying as we take this step out. Here are a few things you can pray for today for those of you who are:
- Pray for strength for us as we finish packing the house and load the truck tomorrow (Friday).
- Pray for strength for Meredith as she takes the boys to Boston and homeschools them there for two weeks on her own.
- Pray for strength for me as I fly out on Saturday, lead worship twice on Sunday, head into a full day of ministry on Monday, head up to Boston Monday night, head back down to New York Wednesday night for a Gallery Staff Retreat Thursday, Friday and Saturday, lead worship twice on Sunday, look for apartments on Monday and hopefully have one solidified by that point in time, head to Boston for a Thanksgiving by ourselves as a family. Pray also for strength and energy as I head into the Advent season and the workload that will bring at the Gallery.
- Pray that our financial and prayer support would increase in these next few weeks. This is vital! If you would like to support us click on the tab in the upper right hand corner of this page.
Release Date: October 21, 2008
Copyright 2008 Indelible Creative Group
Oh He’s A Wonderful Savior off of my album, Alright, was released on this Top 20 Indie Worship CD on iTunes as well as stores everywhere. Check it out at iTunes by clicking on the image album image above or the iTunes link below.
I’m guessing that the person who will be the MOST surprised to see me posting on this blog is my very own husband. This is for you, Paul…
I’d love to give all of you a little update from the Ramey homefront, about how we’re faring through this transition. Truth is, we’re learning that one day at a time is plenty, thank you, and that God is sustaining our faith in this small increment. Some days are more difficult than others, and we are thankful for the encouragement we are receiving from all of you, our family and friends. God is using all of you to keep us going in this uncertainty!
Today, we are mostly WAITING. Our house is up for rent (we have a potential renter- pray that this works out!), we’ve sold most of our things, our support letter is in the hands of everyone we know, and whew! Paul is meeting with people, continuing to wrap things up at Ethnos, and finishing up a few house projects. I’m finishing the cleaning/painting, spending time with friends, and doing Mom-work. That’s one thing that never changes, and I’m honestly glad for the routine.
As far as New York is concerned, and the timing of our trip, we’re considering a few options. The first is, of course, that we’d be in the Upper West Side on November 1st, which would take a miraculous work for God to provide all of the finances we need in just the next few days. We’re praying for this, but also trying to wisely plan in case that doesn’t happen. We’re working on option #2, which is to get to New York mid-late November and rent an apartment in Brooklyn, which is significantly less expensive. Paul and I sat down and prepared a “bare-bones” budget that we could live on short-term. I’m sure there are options 3,4, and more, but this is as far as we’ve gotten.
I hope this helps all of you catch a glimpse of this process, and leads you to pray for us in specific ways. We are praying for all of YOU too, and thank God for your partnership in this journey. Here’s our family memory verse from last week, and we’ve been reciting it over and over to ourselves… “And my God will supply every need OF YOURS, according to His riches, in glory in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:19. God is faithful to us AND to you, and we are counting on that.
Today
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