On Day 1 (Monday, July 8th), the BUMP team began several service projects in the surrounding neighborhood. Two groups went prayer walking in the neighborhood surrounding Stillmeadow EFC, while two other groups visited Rock Glen Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and My Brother's Keeper. The rest of the team intended to play a game at a local school to draw in kids for the week's VBS, but they ended up prayerwalking instead. Kicking off VBS that night was an awesome block party with music, food, and lots of games. About 50 people attended, and the evening was a success! God's handiwork was visible several times throughout the day. After one group arrived at the nursing home, one man immediately asked to pray with the team.
Day 2 (Tuesday, July 9th) was the first day of VBS! In the morning, two groups helped at the Samaritan Woman Farm, and after lunch some returned to working there in the early afternoon. Two other groups visited My Brother's Keeper and the Rock Glen Nursing Home again, while the rest went on a "Prayer Hike". Apparently they got lost and prayed through more of the neighborhood than they had intended. They had the opportunity to meet and pray with a woman who they would not have met had they not gotten lost. VBS began well, and 43 kids participated in awesome crafts, games, and singing.
Yesterday (July 10th), the team had a day off from morning projects. Most of the groups visited in and around the Inner Harbor, and they returned excited for an even more successful VBS that evening. Thirty-nine kids attended and learned about Moses and the Plagues in Egypt. One team member had the opportunity to speak with a little girl who felt unloved a home and told her about how much Jesus loves her. The little girl was first astonished and then started crying. The team gave her a Good News Wristband and several Bible verses to read at home.
Personally, I've seen God's handiwork many times throughout the week. I taught the VBS lesson on Tuesday, and although we didn't finish completely, the kids clearly understood what I was saying and I could see the light in their eyes as we explained how Jesus came to save us. After that, I was able to explain the Gospel message to a little boy named David, who took home a Good News Wristband While teaching the craft yesterday evening I talked to a boy who had been jumped and stripped while walking down the street. He told me how safe he felt here and how he intended to return this evening. This morning, Stillmeadow EFC hosted a produce giveaway, where I met a man who told me how it was his first time coming to Stillmeadow and how glad he was that a friend had invited him to come. My own faith has grown as I've seen even these small interactions turn into opportunities to share the Gospel.
Please pray that these interactions continue and that more and more kids in the neighborhood would come to hear the Gospel message. Also pray for continued endurance (and sleep!) for the team and pray that our work at more service projects would be fruitful. The BUMP team is ready and excited for VBS this evening and continued service throughout the week! Gloria Deo!
~ Gabriel Boorse
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