The Potomac Team

Here on Team Potomac we are all about the pool parties.

This morning began with some manual labor here at the Buena Vista First Brethren Church. The students spent most of their time painting and cleaning up the left over mess from the VBS that was here all week.

After manual labor the students had some teaching times from the Word. Matt W. shared about the 'Fruit of the Spirit' which dealt with how God cares more about developing our character than us being comfortable in life. And Mike P. spoke on Grace Brethren Distinctives.

In the evening the team headed off to a local community pool. But before swimming we enjoyed some good eatin' and had some fellowship time with the Buena Vista First Brethren Church family.

The night ended when host families picked up their students at about 8:30.

Please pray for us tomorrow as we drive down to Covington, VA. The bus has had some engine problems the past few days so prayer for that would be appreciated. Also tomorrow is Sunday, which will conclude our final Sunday morning service together as a team. So pray that we go out on a good note!








Andrew and Jake paint one of the church hallways.

















Josh does some multi-tasking.



















Team building through the "pole game" in between teaching times.















We finally got it!














Mike teaches about Grace Brethren distinctives.












Sam Johnny and Jake visit with people before dinner.












Jen and Kelli mingle after dinner.













Team Potomac enjoys a swimming race.














Allan hangs out after swimming.

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So today was Friday the 13th. And God is still good, even on this notoriously superstitious day.

The morning started off with some manual labor. This consisted of washing the church bus and random house keeping chores.

Stacie Fay spoke to the teens about the importance and how to disciple someone younger than you. She spoke especially about Timothy and Paul's relationship. Also sharing about the importance of discipleship was Jake R.

Lunch was at the church. We had sandwiches, Mmm. . . with cheese.

The evening was fun. Students blitzed the neighborhood inviting everyone to a carnival that was going down at the local First Brethren Church. While out in the community Ashton R. got to lead someone to a first time decision for Jesus.

The carnival was a blast! The students had lots of opportunities to mingle with the church family and even a few locals. The OB'ers put on a few programs and then had some fellowship
time with the church family here.

The evening ended at about 8:30 when students left for their host homes.

Please be praying for the persistent growth in students and leaders so that we can look more and more like Jesus Christ.






"Workin' at the bus wash."













Bri., Hannah, Monique, Andrew, Jen, and Kristen put together toys to be used during the carnival.














Ben, Josh, and Erica wash the church sign.


















Lindsey cleans up the church's gym.



















Jackie and Ben work at the "horse race" area.
















Interacting with kids during the program at the carnival.















Allan takes charge of the bowling area.


















Beth helps a boy toss a penny into a cowboy hat.

















Jen strikes up a conversation after the VBS program.

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Well today was an interesting day for the Potomac team.

The morning started off fairly normal, we cleaned the Virginia Beach Community of Grace Church and hit the road for Buena Vista, our next stop. As planned, we stopped for lunch then drove for a few hours. And well, that's when things started getting a little 'interesting'.

We pulled off the highway to get some gas and for a quick restroom break. We told the students to move quickly because we had a tight schedule to keep. So a few minutes go by, and that's when it happened, or should i say, didn't happen. Everyone was loaded on the bus and so the bus driver at the time, Stacie, turned the key, and nothing happened.

So Stacie turned the key again. . . nothing.

Again. . . nothing.

So after some prayer we had everyone unload the bus. The leaders met and started making phone calls in a stage of frantic confusion. None of us knew the first thing about working on a diesel bus engine.

A few hours go by. And we are still at the same gas station... broken down.

Finally, a mechanic showed up, sprinkled some magic dust powder on the bus (for a more technical term I'll say he 'ghetto rigged it' and 'jumped it' with some jumper cables).

At last, we are on the road! And we were excited, Buena Vista GBC, here we come!

Well a few hours go by, by this time we are about an hour or so behind schedule and we were in need of another break. (I know what you're thinking. . .Another break? Hey, when you have 30 high school students who still don't have full function over their bladder there's not much you can do!)

So we stopped at a gas station. Unloaded the students, refilled the gas tank, loaded the students back on, put the key in the ignition, and . . . you guessed it! Nothing!! We had broken down again!

This time it took us about 3 hours before we got the bus started again. And by around 9PM we finally made it to Buena Vista.

So, from a human perspective this day was a disaster! We missed a half a day of ministry and we spent some money on needed bus repairs. However, God had a plan.

During our travels, or should I say, travel rests, the students got to share their faith several times with several people at the gas stations. A passing by woman, (by God's grace) bought everyone snacks because we had missed dinner. She spent at least 40 dollars in snacks for us.

So people heard the gospel, people were minstered to, and our character was tested. So again I ask myself. . . was it really a terrible day?

You decide.

God has His plan, and we can only follow it day by day, hour by hour, break down to break down.

Please pray for the people who heard the good news this day. Please also pray for our ministry here in Buena Vista.






Students pray for the community in Virginia Beach, VA.













Hannah B., Annie M., and Ashton R. pray in the church parking lot.














Sam H., Kimmie L., and Kelli W. on their prayer walk.

















Anyone know how to fix a bus? Help!














Aaron C. and Allan D. noticed the opportunity to clean some windows.


















The convenience store gets a little sparkle and shine as Bri D., Joe H., and Jackie L. wipe down counters.

















Kelli W. and Ashton R. shake out a rug at the gas station.












Learning about "taming the tongue" during some down time.


















Praying for the bus at the 2nd break down.















"Thank you very much" for blessing us with snacks!

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Today was the team's day off!

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This morning the Potomac team went to a local nursing home. This one, however, was a little different than your typical nursing home. It is a home for the elderly who have little support financially. So to put it plainly, the home was not very nice. In fact, during the program the room(inside the nursing home) we were in was about 80 degrees due to not having a functional air conditioning system(remember these are sick and elderly patients being cared for). In fact, some of the students had a full time job simply by getting the patients enough water to keep them hydrated during the morning-afternoon heat.

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Today students arrived at the church at 9 am. An hour with God was the first thing on the list of things to do because of our long day of ministry yesterday. (This is our way of teaching the students that taking time to spiritually recharge is necessary.)

Next the team was sent out into the community to do seven minute servant projects for people. Although serving is important, our main goal is to show God's love to people in doing chores, but also to have an excuse to go door-to-door so we can share our faith with people.

Lunch was back at the church. The students watched a Way of the Master DVD then went back out into the community to pass out fliers and to put on a park program. During the park program Jess H, Johnny S, Kristen A, Kimmie L, Josh K, Sam H, Annie M, Heather S, and Andrew R did a great job at acting out 'Girl America' as a pantomime that acts out what can happen when we put our identity in Christ.

In the evening the students came back to the church for some teaching and debriefing times.

The host families arrived to pick up their students at 8 pm.

We thank God for the cool conversations we got to have today as Jess H. and Monique A. both got to share their faith with two Jehovah Witnesses.

Please continue to pray for divine appointments as we attempt to share the gospel so that all might be saved.

Thanks to all of you prayer warriors out there who keep interceding on our behalf, we really appreciate it!








Andrew S. spends time with God to start the day.



















Jay D. during his hour with God.













Josh K., Ben A. and Kimmie L. pray before going around to do 7-min. servants.


















Bri D. and Joe H. clean a house during their service.
















Students pray about the afternoon program.













Hanging out and dancing around during the program.













Beth F., Johnny S., and Allan D. mingle with some students.














OB'ers hang out with kids from the community.













Erica S. and Elizabeth G. share the Cross Illustration with some girls.












Playing games with kids after the program.














These girls visit with Monique A., Jes H., and Jen A. under the shade of a tree.

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Today the students had a full day of ministry along with a little bit of travel.

The morning started off a bit on the early side with students being dropped off by host homes at the church at 7 am. From then until first service at 8:15, the students did some cleaning and practiced choir. The team had two services in the morning.

At about 1 pm the team loaded up the bus, prayed with Pastor Steve and Pastor Wagner then headed out! Our next stop: Richmond, VA. The trip there took about three hours. Pretty good timing for a big blue bus if you ask me!

Once arriving at Richmond the church family hosted us as their guests to a good ol' Sunday evening pot luck. Next, after some delicious food, the team put on their third program of the day.

Doing their sermons were Johnny S., Aaron C., and Andrew R. The three of them did a great job.

After meeting the family here at Richmond GBC, the students headed out after their program at about 8 pm.

Please ask God to use us as an encouragement to the church here in Richmond. We will be going out into the community in the morning and afternoon trying to share our faith and invite them to a program later in the day, please ask God to bless our efforts.








Andrew R. gives his sermon.
















Jake R. shares his testimony.



















OB'ers visit with church members between services at the Calvert Co. GBC.













Aaron C. during his sermon.
















At Richmond, Andrew S. enjoys visiting over dinner.












Sam M. and Heather S. get to know some of the church family.















Volleyball with some of the youth.












Worship to God through song.














Johnny S. gives his sermon during the 3rd program of the day.

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