New Year's in Kansas City, MO

Happy New Year to you! This past week, I celebrated New Year's by taking a trip to Kansas City, Missouri with a group of friends from church. There were abut 55 of us, and we took a bus from Maryland (yes, a bus. The drive lasted for about 18 hours). It was cheaper than flying. We crossed through West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois on our way there, stopping occasionally for bathroom and food breaks.

IHOP What were we doing in Kansas City? We went for the IHOP conference (which stands for International House of Prayer, not Pancakes). It was a Christian event at the Kansas City Convention Center that over 15,000 people attended from all across the nation and globe. Countries represented included Russia, Canada, Mexico, Germany, the UK, China, and many more.

Why would we attend this conference? International House of Prayer is a great opportunity for Christians from all denominations (and even individuals who do not identify as Christian) to come together to learn more about the faith, worship, sit in on talks and panels about many different topics, including the racial climate in America (i.e. the Black Lives Matter movement, Islam, etc), and listen to sermons by incredible evangelists and preachers. The conference lasted for four days (Monday, 12/28 through Thursday, 12/31). It was like church everyday haha, but I personally found it to be refreshing and truly impactful on my spiritual health. The other individuals in my group felt the same. We shared testimonies on the bus coming back home to MD (we talked about what we learned at the conference and how we would be incorporating what we learned into our everyday lives).

I grew up in a Christian household. My father was a preacher in Jamaica and at a church in NY when he and my mother moved to the states in the 1980s. My mother is also a devout Christian who has an intimate relationship with God and has lost count of how many times she's read the Bible. My three siblings and I were raised with Christian values. I didn't become serious about our beliefs until college. I believe that my faith has sustained me through the immense challenges I endured at home with my family, at school, and in my friendships and relationships. I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today if it were not for my relationship with God. Attending the IHOP conference has made me more appreciative and defensive of my faith.

A little exploration

While in Kansas City, we unfortunately did not have much time to explore. Every day, the conference sessions lasted from 9AM until 10PM at night. The most we did was eat at a local market (I always ordered a salad and lasagna) and from a food truck (I ordered gumbo, which was delicious. It's pretty much the same as jambalaya, but it's more of a soup. It has rice, meat and shrimp, Cajun vegetables, and other spices. Both dishes originated in Louisiana).


Passion for learning

Throughout the conference I experienced a fiery passion for learning and introspection. I would like to broaden my knowledge on the topics that were mentioned in the sessions I attended on current events and the crises happening in the political, social, economic, and medical arenas of our world.

• I want to learn more about Islam and become more understanding of individuals who identify with this religion. Islamophobia has become even more pervasive in our country, especially following the Paris attacks, the San Bernardino shootings, and many more recent horrors.

• I'm eager to learn what I need to know to become a physician. I want more than ever to give back to humanity through this profession and to embody a sacrificial spirit for vulnerable populations who are desperately in need of health care.

• I want to learn more about the Bible, and importantly, apply what I'm learning to become a more patient, gentle, compassionate, and selfless individual, just as Christ was.

There's much more. These things merely scratch the surface of what I'd like to learn for the purpose of becoming a better person in the eyes of God. 

I encourage everyone, regardless of your religious or spiritual beliefs, to delve into self-reflection to develop a deeper understanding of yourself, your philosophy, and your purpose in life. You'll be amazed at how cathartic this can be.