dearest manhattan

Where are you from?

Manhattan.

Oh, whoah! Like NYC?

No. Haha. I’m from Manhattan, Kansas. The Little Apple.

I actually had no intentions for moving back to Manhattan after the conclusion of the World Race, but God had other plans. For about a third of the race, I thought I was going back. And I dreamed a lot with God about my hopes for Manhattan. Now that I know I’m going back, I want to share my prayers and dreams for the city I’ve now called home for nearly a decade.

This is a letter to Manhattan, and the things I love about it, and things I hope to see happen there moving forward.

Dearest Manhattan,

I’ve been away for awhile, but I’ve really missed you. I’ve missed the purple and the white, the fun that comes with a new school year and the quiet that comes with summer.

I’ve missed Ron, Doug, Connie, Jon, Tyrel, Carlos, Edward, Kevin, Jenny, Nancy, Keith, and all of the rest of the Bluestem crew and regulars. There’s just something there that’s home. I haven’t found anywhere in the world. Believe me, I’ve tried finding it in eleven countries. There’s a magic there unmatched.

I’ve missed the people. I don’t consider Manhattan a small town, being from a town of 500. But it has the same feel somehow. Everyone knows everyone, and there’s a comfort in that.

The Well has been my church home since before it’s current location, when set up crew still existed and we made French press every Sunday. I miss it. I miss you all. Watching your growth from afar has been beautiful, but I’m ready for a front row seat, to be learning, growing, and worshipping Jesus alongside you. Like Bistro, the magic there hasn’t been matched. And I never want to hear any of you talk about Josh, Sarah, or Angie preach too long. Church in Africa is 3+ hours long. Usually 4-5. You can sit through their sermons, I promise. 🙂

I’ve missed the marketing and design team at Champion Teamwear. I looked through the cheer catalog and saw all of your fingerprints. We worked well as a team, and I miss every single one of you. Just because I’m not working with you doesn’t mean we can’t be friends! Let’s get together soon!!

Manhattan, I’ve missed you a lot. When I got this job offer a week ago, I didn’t want to pray about it. I just wanted to say yes. Thankfully, God still gave me a yes.

I’ve been away for awhile. There are new people, new places, new things since I left. I’m different, too. I’ve seen a lot of things. God has taught me a lot of things. He’s shown me his heart in new ways. It’ll take me awhile to be used to being back. I ask for patience and grace in the process. I haven’t always loved Manhattan. I called my best friend Sarah every day for probably the first two months I lived there, crying and telling her I wanted nothing more than to leave. But what can I say? You grew on me. Here I am in Quito, Ecuador, day dreaming of my first cup of French Vanilla coffee at Bluestem at 7 a.m., catching up with Ron.

Manhattan, I can’t say how long I’ll be back, but here’s what I can promise: I can promise to love you fiercely. And I can promise to encourage everyone I get to know. I can promise to dig in, because I’ve learned that time is so short. I can promise to listen better and love bigger. And I can promise that I’ll drink my weight in coffee at Bluestem, Arrow, Public Hall, and Sparrow.

My hope for Manhattan is simply that you all know that you are loved. By God, and by people around you, more than you realize, or will ever fully know. I want to love this city in a different way than before. I want to love you bigger. I want to love you better. I want to listen and hear your stories and help you in any way I can.

Manhattan, I’m coming home. I’ll see you SOON.

All my love,

Vickie