Day 6: The Last Day

This is the last day that the team will be spending in Baltimore before heading heading home on Saturday.
The day started off with Ms. Jeannette speaking about about racism when she was growing up and at her work. The team listened to every word she said and took it to heart.

We sent another group of 5 kids to My Brother's Keeper to help serve the meal that day.  Rebecca, Jared, Matt S., Rachel, Cody had the wonderful opportunity to work in the kitchen and on the serving floor of My Brother's Keeper. They all worked hard and had a servant's heart while serving.

For VBS that night had the last two parts of the pirate skit, the bible stories, crafts, and games.  All the kids that came had a great time doing everything.  We ended the VBS night with an ice cream party that perfectly capped  off the great week.  It was hard to say goodbye to all the kids because they had made an impact on the team.

As is typical of BUMP weeks, the impact and learning goes both ways. While giving, teams receive. While serving, God reveals and blesses. "God challenged me to pray through issues and obstacles that come up in life and to love on people."

Day 5: PUMPed about what God has done at BUMP

It's unreal that Friday is already here, that we're ending VBS tonight and that we head home to our friends and family in the Lehigh Valley of PA tomorrow. God has done so many amazing things in the hearts and minds of our kids, and through that growth they have served the community of Southwest Baltimore in a way none of us imagined when the week began. But God knew all along that this would happen, and He alone should be praised for that!

We have three more students who want to talk about their experiences this week, so without further ado, we give you Matt, Alexandra and Chloe:

"The BUMP week was the most amazing missions trip I have ever went to. The most amazing thing of this week is that we got to got help out with serving food to people who have no job or homes. I have grown more and more closer to God this week, too. The fun thing about this trip is that I got to play and to talk to inner city kids and help them get closer to God and even get to have Jesus in their hearts for the first time. Most of this week got me thinking what these kids go through, like drugs, smoking and sex trafficking. It didn't surprise me at all that where we were staying that there is sex trafficking, but it was still eye opening. But overall I have had the most amazing week of this year." ~ Matt S.

"I had a great time at BUMP. I loved being able to help people in a very needy community. We went into the community and prayed for people on our prayer walk, then had a produce giveaway for families in need of food. We also helped out on a farm at the Samaritan Women and met a crazy but super fun guy named Farmer John. I learned a lot about urban life and poverty this week at BUMP. One of my favorite parts of BUMP was being able to do a skit called "The Pirates of Pizzazz." I got to meet a lot of great kids at the VBS and really got to connect with them. Let's just say that my back was sore from so many piggy-back rides! I also had fun at the Inner Harbor on Wednesday. We got to go to Fort McHenry and the National Aquarium. After the aquarium we went shopping at the mall, which I loved. Today we we cleaned up the church, as it is our last full day. Over the week, I learned more about poverty, how to share the Gospel, and about urban life. I would say that BUMP was the highlight of my summer." ~ Alexandra

"This week was better than expected. To be honest, I didn't know if this was all it was said to be, since none of us had ever done it.  I connected to the people from my own church and the people from Stillmeadow (the church we stayed at). We did prayer walking, and that was one of the best things we did this week -- in my opinion. I had thought we would get more rejection from the people here, but the truth was that many people needed prayer. We did a block party and VBS all week, and it was so cool to see all these kids together and play with them and teach them about the Lord. I never thought I could grow so much in one week, but I did. It was a really awesome week, so yeah." ~ Chloe

As you can see, God has started a wonderful new thing in our students this week. Please pray for us as we finish up the last night of VBS, say goodbye to these cute little kids and getting ready to head back home in the morning. We are tired and it will be sad to leave this all behind, but we are looking forward to coming home, too. Pray for safe travels and God bless!

Days 3 & 4: Fun at the Inner Harbor, VBS grows & more serving the community

The kids have a LOT to say about the past two days, so let's get right to it:

"This week at BUMP has been unforgettable. So many things have been going on and every day I see God  working in somebody in our group. Yesterday (Wednesday) we went to the Inner Harbor and experienced some of Baltimore's unique cultural characteristics. As we drove to Fort McHenry, we passed an art museum that had shinning mosaic covering the side of a building. Also the National Aquarium had many spectacular sites to see, such as dolphins doing tricks.

"Today (Thursday), bright and early in the morning we were up and started setting up for the church's weekly produce giveaway. Throughout the whole morning I met many people who attend the church on Sundays and some who didn't. Then after two hours of handing out poultry, we started to clean up and head out to the Samaritan Women (after an amazing lunch made by Ms. Kim!). When we got there, me and a few other people went to weed the string bean plants. Fifteen minutes later, rain started pounding down on the green farm fields. One of the workers there, Farmer John, rushed us into the green house.

"Due to the unceasing rain, he just said to call it a day, so we hopped into the bed of his pick-up truck and drove to the church because we were a van short. As we have progressed through the week of BUMP, I have seen many amazing things. This trip is truly a fantastic and has been not only about changing the lives of others but my own as well."
~ Katie S.

"Our BUMP week has been such an eye-opening experience -- from getting our hands dirty at the Samaritan Women, to playing ultimate with the neighborhood kids. Spending time at Fort McHenry and the Inner Harbor was also awesome. The unique culture and history is so interesting -- we have learned so much. During VBS I have been given the chance to run a station, which I love. After John plans his lesson we come up with a coloring activity for them to do that relates to the story. Listening to how much each child picks up on how the story applies to their own lives is incredible.

"Today registering people for the produce giveaway was also a new experience. Each person that walked through had a smiling face. They so appreciated everyone's generosity. I also got a chance to serve at My Brother's Keeper -- it was such a humbling experience seeing so many people with so many different backgrounds come for lunch and thanking everyone for serving them, talking with them and doing something so simple as cutting fruits and vegetables for them.

"Each one of us is growing in our faith through devotionals, amazing speakers, and incredible prayer walks. We have become better as a team and individually."
~ Leah

"This week at BUMP we went to the Inner Harbor for the Aquarium, shopping and a stop at Fort McHenry, which was incredible to see what we saw of it. Also last night was VBS, where some kids were calm and others not, but was a fun time overall.

"Today was also a great day. We went to the Samaritan Women (for those who don't know, it is a refuge for human-trafficking victims), which sits on a farm, and we helped transplant bushes, weeded, and did many other sweaty jobs. Yet we knew that it was for a very great cause (even though it totally just downpoured on us in the last 20 minutes there).

"Also today was a food drive set-up that was a great success, almost clearing everything out by giving to about 90 families.This trip so far has been fun, hard, and has helped the group grow with each other."

~ Jonathan F.

"Yesterday at BUMP we had the afternoon to ourselves, so we went to Baltimore Aquarium and Fort McHenry. The fort meant a lot to me because it was where a great victory was won for the USA.  From 6-8 p.m. we put on a VBS for the kids in the community. I was pleasantly surprised about some of the kids that attended. Every day I learn more and grow."
~ Graham

We'll be back tomorrow with four more students talking about some more of our activities as the week begins to draw to a close. This has been a great week for the LINKED 78 students from Faith Church. The group has drawn close to each other, close to the leaders and, most importantly, close to God. We could not be happier with how God is working in these kids' lives and using them to serve the community in truly incredible fashion!

Day 2: VBS breaks a record and we work on a farm

Day 2 may have been hot, and we might have had a pretty nasty thunderstorm at night, but it was an incredible day! We kicked off 4 days of VBS with the "Pirates of Pizzazz" skit, a great Bible lesson about Jesus being real, some fun crafts and some crazy games. About 50 kids showed up, which is about 20 more than Stillmeadow EFC had ever had before on an opening night of VBS! Praise God for  sending those kids here!

We also visited The Samaritan Women's home and did some work on their farm. Our teens weeded, dug out shrubs, watered vegetables, trimmed hedges and much, much more. We will be going back there on Thursday, so we'll talk more about that wonderful place then. For now, we want you to hear from four of our students about what their experience has been like so far!

"Yesterday at Samaritan Women I dug a hole.  It took a long time and required lots of teamwork, but I realized that even as small a task as moving a bush shows to the women that they are valued.  At VBS we had a lot of kids! And they all wanted piggyback rides! Sometimes I'd have one kid in the front and one kid on my back.  Many kids said they wanted to come back, so hopefully they do.  In general VBS went smoothly and they kids had fun." 

-- Rebecca

"I think that this week has been really fun. We had a lot of fun at VBS last night. I like the feeling of authority, but it's also fun to see the kids. We went to the Samaritan Women yesterday, and we helped do some yardwork. We've had lots of great speakers, but my favorite one was [Mister Stevie from] yesterday." 

-- Erickson

"This week has been really fun so far. Yesterday, we went to Samaritan Women to help with the farm there. It was very hot outside, especially since I wasn't working in the shade. VBS went well, too. The skit was fun and the kids loved it. It was fun to connect with the kids and I think a lot of them enjoyed it immensely." 

-- Rachel

"Yesterday in BUMP, we went to the Samaritan Women and did work around their farm. I got to trim  bushes, help to dig a hole, and pull weeds near their fields. It was pretty warm outside, but we had water and it was a really fun experience. Afterwards, we did a VBS for anyone who wanted to come. There were three stations -- the sports station, the crafts station, and the bible lesson. It was really fun to help kids out when playing games or making crafts, and I think the bible lesson had an impact on some of them. That day went great and I can't wait for the next of the week." 

-- Josh

 Today we are heading to the Inner Harbor in Baltimore for a few hours of fun and relaxation, then it's back to Stillmeadow tonight for Day 2 of VBS. Thanks for praying for us! More tomorrow ...

Block Party gets week off to great start

The LINKED 78 youth group from Faith Church in Allentown, PA, is so excited to be taking part in BUMP Baltimore 2014! And the week could not have gotten off to a better start with the kickoff Block Party on Monday evening. We expected maybe 20-30 kids from the surrounding community to show up for this launch activity, but by the time the night was over, more than 60 kids ages 5-18 came to have fun in the parking lot of Stillmeadow Evangelical Free Church!!! Praise God!

The Block Party featured popcorn, sno-cones, cotton candy, hot dogs and activities such as face painting, a Tootsie Pop Toss, Ultimate Frisbee, a water balloon toss, football, chalk painting and much more! And while that all sounds great, how it all happened is a much better tale. Each of the 14 teens from Faith Church pretty much made it happen all by themselves. The 4 leaders from Faith Church, 2 BUMP interns and Stillmeadow staff couldn't have been more proud! We know there was a party in heaven as Our Lord watched this display of love!

Whether it was manning the food stations, helping set up, painting kids' faces (or in Rebecca's case, letting the kids paint her!), playing football until the point of exhaustion or just hanging out with kids and loving on them, our kids embraced this opportunity with every fiber of their being. I know it filled my heart with so much joy and hope to see them serving and loving so fully and without complaint.

I have no doubt it was the Holy Spirit who filled them and sustained them during this wonderful activity, and the lessons they learned earlier in the day certainly played a role, too. God can and does do powerful things in our midst, and the message of "Focusing on the Gospel" for EVERYONE from our devotional time was pivotal in understanding that. Our central verses for the day were from Acts 10:34-35:

"Then Peter began to speak: 'I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.' "

Amen! As the week goes on, we will have many more opportunities to demonstrate that -- including later Tuesday afternoon, when the group goes to serve at The Samaritan Women, a local ministry that houses and loves on women who are victims of the heinous sex trafficking industry. Our group learned a lot about The Samaritan Women on Monday, a
nd I can't wait to see them put into action what they learned.

We also will be beginning our four-day VBS for the neighborhood kids on Tuesday night! Let's hope and pray that all 60 of those kids -- and then some! -- come out to hear the Word of God, watch a fun pirate skit, do some cool crafts and play some awesome games.

Thank you for your prayers for our group, and keep us in your prayers for the rest of the week. God has much more in store, and we are so grateful to have this opportunity! You will hear from some of our students and other leaders as the week goes on, too. God bless!

-- Jeff Weber, Student Ministries Assistant at Faith Church and BUMP Baltimore Leader

Team Arrival

Our team arrived for the first BUMP night.  Say hello to the team from Allentown, PA.

The team started the night off with a time of worship and prayer. Next we had Miss Yorrell speak to the group about Evangelism.  She used the story of the Samaritan women at the well with Jesus.  Back in those days Jews and Samaritans hated each other, and with Jesus being a Jew and this woman being a Samaritan, Jesus should have not even associated with her, but still  treated with respect.  Jesus even knew her story and still wanted to talk to her.  This woman was so changed by her conversation with Jesus, she forgot why she came to the well and went to tell the people that she avoided about the great news.

This was a great way to begin the week of serving and learning.