Serving Group 1 (Led by Lex Kincaid and Kyle Lung) began their morning at Brighter Day Ministries Summer Camp in Anacostia, a low-income area of the city. The group helped the organization's staff lead summer school classes for children between the ages of four and twelve years old. The team also got to be a part of the Vacation Bible School program, sharing their faith with their new friends and bonding over our shared relationship with Jesus Christ. After spending lunch in a local park near our housing site, the group embarked on the 'Urban Plunge'. This experience is designed to help students recognize the difficulties of living homeless/on a limited income. Groups of 5-7 students and a leader dispersed around the city with the goal of finding a homeless person, hearing about their current situation, and then treating them to a meal of the person's choice. Our students really embraced the homeless population of D.C. and their eyes were opened to the reality of a life of poverty.
Serving Group 2 (Led by Margaret Anderson and Aaron Sprung) went to World Missions Extension Center, an outreach facility for inner city kids, in the heart of D.C. While waiting for VBS to start, the team hung out with local teenagers during their career planning class. It was interesting to see that even though our group is from small-town Virginia and these teens live in the nation's capital, many of the students had similar life goals. From there, we went to church to help with the VBS, "Fishin' on a Mission for Jesus". Your kids did an awesome job of interacting with crafts, songs, and a lesson about being fishers of men! The team then met up with two other serving groups for a combined lunch at the National Basilica, followed by a trip to Anacostia and an afternoon at the Children of Mine after-school program. The team did a variety of activities, such as sweeping the sidewalks, cleaning bathrooms, organizing book shelfs, and then fellowshipping with the children and teens from the neighborhood. After another ethnic meal, this time a delicious Thai spread, all teams reassembled for Porch Time.
Serving Group 3 (Led by Tarah Romano and Andrew Sedlacek) began their day at the Age-In-Place ministry site. This program is designed to support the elderly population, as they age, in the comfort of their own home. The group visited Mrs. Evans, an extremely sweet woman, and served her by throughly cleaning her house. When they were finished, the students enjoyed getting to know Mrs. Evans and greatly appreciated her wise words of 'pray every day' and 'always go to church'. After lunch, the team continued their work at Brighter Day Ministries, which combined both an academic camp and VBS to those in the community. The afternoon was spent by pouring love into the children through playing, singing, and fellowshipping.
Serving Group 4 (Led by Craig Blocher and KK Anderson) started out their ministry at Food and Friends, a food delivery service for terminally ill people around the city. Half the group worked in the kitchen packing lunches, while the others delivered the meals around the area. As they drove, the delivery team spent time praying for the people they were serving, which allowed them to focus on not just their physical needs, but their spiritual needs as well. After participating in the combined lunch at the Basilica, Group 4 joined Group 1 in the Urban Plunge. This team also gained a greater appreciation of their many blessings as they got just a small taste of what it would be like to live on mere dollars a day.
The first 'Porch Time' was truly an amazing experience for all. Situated at sunset in a park by the Capital building, the whole team reconvened by sharing silly stories from the day, moments when they saw Jesus in each other and the people they served, and a worship set. Lex preached on our calling to love, illustrated by the parable of the Good Samaritan. She encouraged the students to live out God's calling to love Him and love our neighbors through four steps: see, act, sacrifice, and repeat.
We are excited for our second full day of ministry tomorrow! Please pray for our team as we are challenged spiritually, mentally, and physically in our acts of service for the kingdom.
