new york, new york

so this past week i've been in new york on a mission trip. i know what your're thinking, "newyork... mission trip??? more like shopping!" we did very little of that and more walking than i've done in my entire life. there were 160 kids and chaperones in all five boroughs for the entire week. we did so much stinkin work in the most intense, most dangerous parts of new york. it was so humbling to see how miserable the living conditions of these people are, but they still find happiness in the lord, they have the least in possessions but still find the wealth of the lord. another thing i noticed about this place is the dark and negative feel to the streets, there is no such thing as courtesy its all about number one, i mean there are a few exceptions i did meet some "courteous" people, but for the most part everyone lives solely for themselves. i thought that maybe i wanted to get out of the south when i got older, but i'll definitly miss southern hospitality (it actually exists). what i cant understand is how people are raised to care for no one but themselves. it's just scary. thats all