Day 7, New York City

This was a full day doing several things:

Ninety minutes solo time at the center where we’re staying (instead of Central Park because it was cold)
Packed lunches at Central Park
Attending a prayer time and extended conversation at the Islamic Center in Manhattan
A session with Seth teaching from Matt. 28: 18-20, making disciples wherever we are
Sightseeing after dark on Roosevelt Island and Manhattan river front at The Red Sculpture

We were planning to go to Central Park for solitude time but the weather turned too cold to do that comfortably. Instead, we scattered throughout the four stories and back patio of the MTC then left at 10:30. The cooks had prepared bagged lunches for us and we ate them hurriedly at Central Park before meeting Seth and the interns at the Islamic Center in Manhattan.

The ladies were required to be covered from ankles to wrists and wear scarves to cover their entire heads. We were welcomed warmly, and attended their prayer time. The women prayed in a curtained-off area in the back of the room where the men were. After the prayer, two men met us and took us upstairs to the dome room. This is the biggest Islamic center in the US, built in the 80’s.

The men gave us a container of dates to eat as we talked, and later brought us bottles of water. They were friendly and hospitable. They were passionate about their faith, and told us that an honest, open-minded search for truth will lead us to their religion. They seemed to carefully avoid the questions we asked them that would have admitted that Jesus is God, but welcomed us to come back any time.

We returned to the MTC with Seth, stopping for fresh churros on the way. Then we gathered for Seth’s session on making disciples.

After a delicious taco soup supper, the interns took us to Roosevelt Island and the cable car tram to Manhattan’s river front park. It was a great evening!