This is one of the kids from the Rec Center.

Wednesday update

Wednesday, day three of our mission trip adventure… “oh, what a difference a day makes!” Yesterday ended with some frustration (from interpersonal relationships with each other and with those we were working with) and fatigue (from trekking through the city…depending on who you asked anywhere from 6-20 miles! Actual distance: unknown.) Last night we gathered together with 3 other teams that are working in the Baltimore/DC area for worship and sharing. Good times!

Today, we had another great day at the pool with the Rec Center kids. After lunch, and back at the Rec Center, we took pictures of the kids and had them make fun foam foto frames… they loved it. The workers were asking if they could get their own foam-framed pictures... That’s how good they were! We, again, were not able to teach our planned lesson because of timing and time constraints, but were allowed ample opportunities to befriend and spend time with the kids (ages 5-13).

We made grilled cheeses for dinner at the church… yum… and prepared 50 PB&J’s and bologna and cheese sandwiches to hand out @ Tent City (a “park” for Baltimore’s homeless). We had a very good experience talking with the people there and handing out the health kits. Thanks for those of you who helped with donations (water bottle, washcloth, deodorant, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, and a granola bar). Apparently candy is a hot commodity… Who knew!

Tomorrow we will have opportunity to participate in a community outreach in a local park and finish some work projects at the Rec Center. Please be in prayer for us as we continue to serve.

The team wanted to share this video from our pool time at the Recreation Center today!

Day two. Plan: Pool with kids in the am, then lunch, then our “VBS” in the afternoon. Reality: Long walk to pool through downtown Baltimore (which was VERY nice) with 60+ kids, pool time, long walk back to the Recreation Center, quick lunch out of the van, “Scavenger Hunt” in the Inner Harbor with the Rec center kids (more walking…), return to the Rec center, all are exhausted (Rec center kids, mission team…) and, therefore we nixed our VBS.

Our team worked very hard today seeking opportunities to speak to kids about Jesus by playing with them in the pool, talking with them on the walk to and from the pool, giving piggyback rides and holding hands of nervous little ones, playing Old Maid and Go Fish, taking initiative for kids’ safety (just a reminder, this is a middle school team). We gave out Wordless Bracelets yesterday; these bracelets simply tell the salvation message through colored beads. I heard several conversations today with kids, reviewing and reinforcing that message. God’s Word is being spoken and heard this week. Glory to God!

Well, the first day has come to an end. well, it will when I finally go to bed. We started off with a great plan, but that went out the window before we hit interstate 95. The theme for this week is "Whatever." So we are ready for whatever God sends our way. We went in looking to hang out with the kids and then do games and a Bible lesson in the afternoon. The kids are now going to the pool every morning. We decided to paint the rest rooms. They were not very pleasant. We first had to clean them, then paint them. Everyone work well together and Dina did the ultimate cleaning job.

In the afternoon we had to wait until 4:00 to do what we planned. We have several people who are now on our hearts and prayed for tonight. Tomorrow we are suppose to go to the pool with them. This will be a very interesting situation and we ask prayer as we work with the kids. Once again there are several that we have met and want to see them come to know Jesus Christ as their savior. We and trained hard and have entered the ring for round two. The bell is about to ring and we are ready to start the fight once again.

Just arrived in Baltimore. Waiting to eat supper , then go to a group meeting.

Getting ready to leave Sunday to take a group of middle schoolers to Baltimore for a week long mission trip.

Summer, 2009

This year we are planning two trips. The high school group will go upstate New York and the middle school group will go to Boston Mass. Pray for us as we prepare for these trips