Aldersgate United Methodist Church

We arrived at New Colony Baptist Church, our wonderful host church for the week! We started with some unpacking and getting settled in before opening orientation. Once both groups arrived, we played a fun get to know you game, where you “take as much as you need.” It was a great night and we are just so excited to see what the Lord has in store for us this week!

This morning we started off with some quiet time and muffins before we headed up to church! We met Mrs Sandy, the VBS director, who filled us in on what we need to know right before service! It was a wonderful service led by Pastor Dave, New Colony’s pastor. The congregation was so welcoming and we are just so grateful for their hospitality!

After service, we all went to Pressed Cafe! A semi local lunch and breakfast spot with tons of options to try. Some got burgers, some paninis, and some got things we’d never heard of! It was such a delicious lunch we spent together in great company!

We got to do a little exploring yesterday of downtown Lowell! We got to go to 3 museums and go to cute little shops. We even got to ride a trolley!!

Some of us helped out our other team at VBS kickoff tonight! Matthew and Scott helped out at VBS and did a great job bringing the energy during dancing time!

Yesterday we got the opportunity to go and serve at Bread and Roses! Bread & Roses has achieved over four decades of fighting hunger! We were so blessed to be able to go and organize, prepare boxes, weed, and even pass out around 60 boxes to people in need!

This is us praying over the boxes we prepared for the people in the community. It was so cool to be able to see the immediate product of our work! We were able to hand out all of the boxes we prepared! We even learned some Spanish to be able to communicate with those picking up!

This morning we started off helping out at a Senior Living Home. This past winter elderly members of the community were given buckets of sand and salt. We were able to help out the volunteers by driving to 14 peoples houses and pick up those buckets! We had a great opportunity in the car to share our testimony’s and even sing along to some fun songs!

After lunch, we got started on some more weeding! We got the opportunity to clean up the front and side of the elementary school! The weather was beautiful and we shared a lot of laughs!

We spent another night at VBS! Yet again, it was another night of joy and fun while learning about Jesus! Tonight’s recreation game was fishes and loaves. The kids had to wear a potato sack and jump to gather all the fishes and loaves they could!

On Wednesday we got the opportunity to go back to Bread and Roses! We continued to do what we did on Monday. Organize, prep, and once it was time, hand out boxes to those who need it! We did a great job of staying busy and working well in a fast paced environment!

This is Scott and Henrik working together to unload the boxes! One of our favorite moments from today was when we started to run out of peanut butter and a few other items, a van pulled in not soon after with all we needed! It was such a joy to us to be able to get those teams to finish making boxes!

Wednesday was Water Day! We got to play with water balloons, sponges, and do some fun relays! We had a blast getting to play with all the kids!

On Wednesday night during debrief, Henrik stepped up and led the group devotion! He did a wonderful job and talked to us about the importance of consistency! We are super proud of him and just the gift he has for sharing!

Yesterday we had a fun day where we went to Level 99 together! It’s a large-scale entertainment center with over 40 immersive, physical and mental challenge rooms for teams of 2-6 players! It was so fun and just a great way for us to make some last memories!

After Level 99 we ate some sandwiches on the road and headed towards the Beach! We played volleyball, swam in some very cold water, and got to just soak in some last minute time together!

After the beach we headed back and it was time for the last day of VBS! It was so beautiful to see the relationships that have started just throughout the week!

To end VBS, we had a parent worship night where the kids showed what they learned this week! What a joy it was to see around 50 kids recite the same Bible verse and do some songs! VBS was such a joy this week and a wonderful opportunity for us to partner and help out with New Colony Baptist Church!

This morning we said a sad see you later, but not goodbye! The connections formed this week will last a lifetime! We are so grateful for the memories. Prayers for safe travels home!