We got back from Baltimore Sunday night and I had every intention of posting about our quick trip. However, the camera got taken to work with Kris and I just couldn't post about our weekend trip without a few pictures, right?!?
We got in to Baltimore around 1 and made our way to check in at the hotel. Once we settled in, we got in touch with the missionaries we were meeting. We headed to
New Hope Community Church and met up with the Pastor's wife, Shannon, and their daughter, Hannah. Shannon serves as the Children's Minister, does a good bit of graphic design for the church, and is a writer for their Baptist newspaper (I think I have all this right). After showing us around the church we decided to head down to the inner harbor for some sight-seeing and supper. I loved seeing the sights of the city, hearing a little bit of history, and seeing areas that are very dear to her heart. The inner harbor was really beautiful. We just walked the docks taking in the icy cold water (mostly frozen), the cruise boats and yachts, and the different restaurants and shopping areas.
As the sun was going down we decided on grabbing a bite to eat at a really nice restaurant on the water,
McCormick and Schmick's. I had a dish called Atlantic Salmon that was de-lish and the crab dip appetizer was the best around! We had a very nice time getting to know each other and finding out more about their needs. To put an even nicer spin on such a nice dinner...a former BSU'er, now interning at a theatre in the area, contacted Kris as we were touring the harbor. He was getting off for "lunch" and was able to meet up with us. It was lots of fun catching up with him and our visit seemed to really lift his spirits! After finishing supper we went to an area of the city known as
Federal Hill. We parked and walked around the small neighborhood park. The park sits up on a hill over the inner harbor. From there we could see the Ravens' stadium, Camden Yards, and the lights of the inner harbor and skyline.
It was really a special experience - especially for me. Last year, Kris brought a team to work with a church right down the street from Federal Hill. He would walk to the park and call me from there most nights. It was neat for me to see where he had been last year and see the skyline and monuments that he had described to me just a year ago! After praying over the city and taking it all in, we called it a night and headed back to the hotel with BIG plans for the next day!
We awoke with plans to meet at our hotel mid- morning and tour the site of their church plant. New Hope has been reaching out to an underprivileged area of the city just a few miles from their church. They are getting to know the residents of this community through servant evangelism, feeding programs, camps, and small groups. At the beginning of the year they started having church services at the local community recreation center.
This area of the city is known as Curtis Bay. The people are really struggling with depression, all sorts of addictions, being homeless, etc. Kris and the team will be focusing their time among them. They will be doing mission projects in the mornings and sports camps for the kids in the afternoons. Touring the area, visiting the rec center, and seeing the needs helped tremendously! Now, Kris knows the details to share with the team to better prepare them for what lies ahead. After we had seen the area, it was time for a little fun...we headed to the
Polar Bear Plunge! Talk about exciting! When Shannon mentioned the possibility of going we never looked back! Of course, neither Kris nor I had ever experienced anything like it (being from such warm temperatures!). After picking up a friend from church, we took the short drive to a parking area, boarded a shuttle, and started taking in the sites of a true plunge! We were amazed with the thousands of people preparing to commit such an insane act! There were people everywhere! If you can imagine a huge festival near the beach of a State Park, tents, sand sculptures, food vendors, games, a stage, music, unusually weird art, a large group of people doing the Hokey Pokey, running into a few normal people in bathrobes and swimming shoes and a few not-so-normal people on stilts, in batman capes, or even Santa Claus himself - you'll get the picture!
We had the best time taking it all in, eating a HUGE hot dog with all the fixings and a funnel cake, and getting a good spot to watch the plunge. We even got to see the Governor, Mrs. Maryland, and several Baltimore Ravens football players - including Joe Flacco!!!
Soon after the declaration, "Take the plunge!", the beach began to empty as thousands of people stripped to swim trunks, bikinis, and speedos and entered the icy waters. A friend from the church was one of the participants. He said the water was definitely frigid but he was surprised at how warm he was when he got out. He said the wind blowing felt so warm (we guess because the water had been
SO cold!) What a sight - definitely an experience we will never forget! After braving the cold temperatures (low 30's) and wind off the water for the afternoon we went back to the hotel for a short rest. We met back up for New Hope's weekly church service that night. It was a great time of worship and preaching. The church members were so welcoming. After the service a few of us went over to the Pastor's house. We ordered pizza and discussed more details for the Spring Break trip. It had been a long day, we were ready to see the hotel bed for sure!
Our last morning there we went to the community rec center in Curtis Bay for the new church service. They generally do the same worship songs, sermon, and children's activities as the night before. It was really great to see some faces from the community that has so much hurt! Visiting with a few of the residents was really eye-opening. And, I don't even
know them. We hung around to help break down the lights, chairs, TVs, etc. and wrapped up our trip by eating lunch with Pastor Larry and Shannon and going over details that each of them have to work on.
This weekend was
so nice. The time alone with Kris was
so nice. The accommodations were
so nice. The people were
so nice. The sights and sounds were
so nice. The fun was
so nice. But most of all, it was nice to be so close to the front lines of missions. Not the missions of our backyards, not the missions of the Bible Belt, but missions involving people who have
never heard! While being on this trip I came to realize that it has been since before Wes was born that I have actively participated in a mission trip. And, while on this trip I was reminded how much mission trips have meant to me...how much I have missed them...how much I enjoy the work.
No, Robin, I am not packing for Zimbabwe :) . Home Missionaries and International Missionaries alike are special people. They are called for a special work at a special time to touch the lives of special people. I am glad I have had the opportunities to be a part of it!
