How this all the began for me ...

Hi. I'm Amanda Kay, and I'd like to introduce how all this began. I grew up in Florida, began traveling all over the state, the USA, and then the world. By the time I was 27, I had been to several countries and was teaching music and special needs students. One day in the fall of 2007, I saw an ad to come teach in New York City which sparked something in my heart and spirit. I prayed about it, and by December 2007, I was sure that at the end of the school year that I'd be leaving Florida and moving 1,200 miles away to NYC. I had a heart to teach and heard how no one wanted to teach in The Bronx for a lot of reasons. I considered the area but began pursuing a teaching job in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn (knowing nothing of the poverty there). Ultimately I moved to NYC on August 21, 2008 with no job, no permanent housing, one 57 pound bag, and only two phone contacts I had never actually met.

Maybe you're thinking now I was fool to move to so far away under those circumstances, but I had solid faith that this was what I was called to do. I'm a Christian, and immediately saw God provide temporary cheap housing in Harlem right where I wanted to live. Within four days, I had permanent housing and moved to East New York, Brooklyn. Three days later I had a full-time job at the school in Bed-Stuy. I lived in Brooklyn until late September 2009. During the 13 months I was there, my God burdened my heart for two areas, The Bronx and the East Village. A feasible door never opened for me to move to the East Village but a temporary door opened for me to live in Queens for three months. Spiritually speaking, it was like I was preparing to give birth during that time; my burden for and desire to live in The Bronx grew --- just as a baby would --- so much during those three months! Finally after six months of praying and trying to move to The Bronx, a door opened up on December 29th to be planted in a new home in Throggs Neck, the southeastern corner of this borough I truly and deeply love. More will follow, but that's how this seed was birthed. I look forward to its growth!