Good Eats and Goodbyes

Friday is the last day our team will be in Baltimore, and being the last day it was go, go, go.  They got so much done. For a service projects our team helped with the My Brother's Keeper soup kitchen.  Because of limited space only part of our team was able to help serve, so we sent five members to go help out.  The rest of our team stayed back at the church and cleaned up.  The Stillmeadow Evangelical Free Church was a great host to our team, and we wanted to repay the favor by cleaning up after ourselves and make it look as if we were never there.

Once the team arrived back at the church for lunch we had Miss Jeannette come and speak to our team about racism.  It was great for the students to hear about how she had to deal with racism in her workplace and how it is still a problem in today's society.

After lunch our whole team headed back to My Brother's Keeper to do some clean up around the building.  Some of the team picked up trash, some swept the sidewalk and porch, and others cleaned the railings and pillars.   The kids worked hard to clean up the building and didn't complain.  Every once and a while there was someone who would walk by while we were working and say that we were doing a great job.  That made the kids feel great about the work they were doing.

For the last night of VBS the team had a little photo booth with funny props to use.  The team and the kids at VBS and a great time trying out the different combinations of props and making funny faces.  There was also another session of Frisbee and a craft that involved making paper straw rockets.  We even had a hairdressing station, where some of the kids were doing the team leader's hair.  At one point they even braided the two girls's hair together.

In the small groups our teams talked about finishing strong and how even though you want to quit you should keep pushing to finish on a high note.  This was a great lesson for both the team and the students.  Seeing as it was the last day of the week and they had done so much work and were tired, our team had to finish strong for the kids that they were ministering to.

 It has been a great week seeing the kids grow in many different ways.  They stretched themselves to do things they didn't think they could do.

Face Painting and New Perspectives

Thursday was another whirlwind day.  The day started off with Mister Josh who came and talked to the students about both real life and spiritual poverty.  To show what living in poverty is like, he showed the students a game that took the team through different scenarios of what could happen and how you would handle it.  It is very interesting to see how quickly things change when you don't have the money to pay for the things you need.  If you would like to try the game for yourself click on the link below.The team did make it through the game, but not without making some sacrifices to their virtual selves and their virtual family. Josh also discussed with the team about spiritual poverty.  What we need to do is to learn to love not just for the sake of loving, but to really care for those who are in need and try to help them make a difference in their lives.

 Play the game here 

Later, the team returned to The Samaritan Women to continue their work on the farm.  This time they got to do expand their gardening talents by helping out with other parts of the farming expierence.  This team worked hard and had fun the whole time they were there, because they knew that this was for a good cause.  Also, Farmer Jon, the head groundskeeper, kept the students laughing and energized.

Today we went to Samaritan woman and pulled weeds and clear a lot next to a green house, because farmer John can't get the mowers and machinery back there. and then we spread mulch to make a road for trucks to get back the sheds.  ~ Aaron

After their time at Samaritan Women it was time for VBS.  Tonight the kids got really involved in the face painting station. They had so much fun.  There were mermaids, flowers, tigers, pirates, fairies, butterflies, and glitter everywhere.  The kids even gave members of the team their very own face paint or tattoo. This was a great way to connect to the kids because you get to see a little bit of their personality in what they choose for a design and you have some time to talk to them, as they are getting painted.

I met this girl at VBS who didn't want to do anything but stay with her brother. I got her to come with me and get her face painted and do the cha cha slide. ~ Christie

The small groups tonight talked about personal relationships with Jesus and how some of them came to hear about Jesus.  We had a few team members who shared their testimony for the first time.  It was great to hear all of the stories and see the kids relate and open up to the team members and the groups.

I met an older kid who has a lot of the same things in common with me and I seemed to make a lot of connections with him and a few other kids. ~ Noah

Spiritual and Physical Rest

       
Wednesday was a day for physical and spiritual rest.  The team had a restful morning and headed off to the Inner Harbor to do some sight seeing.  Once at the Harbor we climbed the many steps to Federal Hill Park, which gives a great overview of the entire harbor and part of the city, the team took some time to look at the city and relax at the park.

Some shopping may have been done, but the real fun came on the paddle boat rides. The team got to go into a sectioned off part of the harbor and try and figure out how to steer a paddle boat.

Once they got back it was time for VBS.  It is amazing to see how many more kids came, our number has grown to 33 kids in just a couple of days.  Ultimate Frisbee has become a great way to have fun and to work together.   God uses everybody's strengths in ways we could never imagine. We also have our dance section which has also come to involve some basic gymnastics that one of team members who is a gymnast  has been teaching the kids.

Craft time was a big hit.  The BUMP team taught all of the kids how to make a Mexican eye of God using just yarn and popsicle sticks.  The kids enjoyed it so much that some of them made a second one, and even a third one!

   "Today we had a really good VBS. I felt like we all really connected better with the kids. I feel like we are really getting them to understand the word of God. Our lessons have been really putting an impact on them. The lesson we taught was about rest and why we need rest."

-Josh

Rockstars and Radishes

We started off the day with the great speaker and story teller Mister Steve.  He gave the students a great discussion on what it was like growing up in the urban setting.  It gave the students a look into what it is like to put on a strong face even though you are scared, but it what you have to do to survive sometimes.  Mister Steve grew up in a tough community full of obstacles to overcome, later in life he joined the Army so he could have some food to eat. He came to back to Jesus and has committed his life to helping and serving others.  His journey was hard for him, but he told them that you can change everything about yourselves, but if you don't change your heart then you haven't changed anything at all.  He may not say it about himself, but he is a rockstar.  Knowing where he came from and where he is now that is what a true rockstar is.

Time for the afternoon service project. The Lynchburg students headed a few blocks away to the Samaritan Women Grounds where they were put to work on the Farm and Food Ministry which grows organic food that will be used to help keep the organization self sustaining and help families in the community.

The students met with farmer John who was to be their guide through the farming process of the day.  They were put to work weeding and maintaining the fields, because it the farm is completely organic they don't use pesticides and weed killers so they have to constantly maintain the fields.  It was hot, but the students weren't complaining knowing that this is a part of the mission work of the Samaritan Women.

The VBS night went well for the students, they played some ultimate Frisbee and did some great chalk art with all of the kids. For VBS, things were switched up a little when the students decided break the kids into smaller groups fostering closer relationships and more interaction from the kids in their groups, instead of doing a big group lesson. The relationships these kids are making with the team are growing and growing each day.

A Day of Learning and a Day of Serving

Day 1, the official beginning to the VBS week and all the great service projects our group will be experiencing. The students met with a two different presenters who told them about the places they will be serving at.

Our first speaker was Miss Kate, who helped make a documentary about the Samaritan Woman Home.  The documentary gave the group some insight into how serious the problem of human trafficking is in the United States.  Below is a link to a preview of the film.

  Samaritan Woman Home Documentary

Miss Denise spoke to our group about the My Brother's Keeper soup kitchen and food deserts. A food desert is a place where the nearest supermarket is 3.5 miles away.  The students were surprised that much of Baltimore is considered a food desert.

The rest of the day the students prepared for their VBS block party.  They had dancing, Frisbee, and crafts.  Some of the students also assisted with the lesson that was taught to the kids. Noah, Dakota, and Taylor enjoyed sharing with the kids and reading the Bible verses. The students had a great time connecting with each of the students personally since they had a smaller group and we are excited to see how God will grow these relationships during the week!

 I felt led to go and reach out to children/people. During Vacation bible school there was this girl that really didn't want to be with the other people. I felt that the Lord wanted me to go and talk to her. After I went and talked to her I found out that she was really nice. She loved to play with the other kids and after she met them she really liked them. She wanted to interact with them before but the only thing she needed was a little nudge.
-Taylor

Team Arrival at Baltimore

Say hello to the Grace EFC from Lynchburg, VA our team for week 1 of BUMP Baltimore at Stillmeadow Church.

I'm excited to experience some big problems in our country and our world. I'm looking forward to helping the community as much as I a can!
~Leah

I'm looking forward to working at Samaritan Women!!! ~Christie

I'm looking forward to learn more about missions and people. I'm also really excited about working at Samaritan Women! ~Abby

Welcome to Baltimore!

BUMP Baltimore Week 2 is only 30 days away! We're looking forward to seeing how God works through team members from Faith Church, Allentown, PA and Stillmeadow EFC in Baltimore. Pray with them over the next month as they prepare their hearts for ministry together!

Welcome to Baltimore!

In just a little over two weeks, students from Grace EFC, Lynchburg, VA, will arrive in Baltimore to serve alongside Stillmeadow EFC! Pray for this team as they learn, serve and engage this community!