Annie Criscione - Putting Faith First

It was just another Sunday morning and I was going to the "what we learned at the movies" Sunday school class with Scott. It was a few minutes before 8:45 and I was sitting on the couch tired and lethargic. Scott asked me what I was doing this summer and I replied with the typical answer "nothing". He said, "Well, there is a team going to New Orleans this summer and we have a spot."

I was very excited to go, I checked with my parents the moment the class was over. I had heard about the trip and thought what an amazing experience it would be to serve God and develop a better relationship with him, Katrina victims and the team; but, there was always that voice in me pointing out the "what ifs" and negatives of going. I failed to think about the positives and favorable chances that going could entail. Now, I see nothing that could defeat everything that can come from the trip.

I am extremely thankful that this opportunity was presented. All of the work weekends and fundraisers have brought me tremendously closer to God. Before, if I missed an event I didn't think about how God felt. I just saw what I was doing as more important. The team taught me the way God feels if He is not put first. The team is set up to serve God, teammates feel disappointed when you are not there for them. God feels disappointed when we are not with Him, just like our teammates. I learned something that I thought I knew but never really stopped to think about. I learned that God loves and wants us and that if we are doing something for Him there won't be any "what ifs" or negatives that can't be overcome.

- Annie Criscione, grade 9

Scott Gardner - Looking for Opportunities

Last year's NOLA trip really impacted me personally. Since we landed back home, I haven't been able to see myself and those in need in the same way.I was able to see how fortunate I am and how I need to help others by showing God's love. The best part of this feeling is that I don't just feel like I need to make a difference, but I really want to.

Being allowed to go back down to NOLA has been such an exciting thought in my mind. I really want to try and go out of my way to talk with people I meet down there. I'm longing for a chance to sit down and even have a one hour conversation with someone I see walking down the street.

Please pray that God will give me multiple opportunities to show His love, and that I will not hold back. I also need prayer that I will be smart in how hard I work and that I'll be sure to drink enough water.

- Scott Gardner, grade 12

George Grant - Helping a Family Get Its Life Back

Our team has, both last year and this year, been told that our helping the people in New Orleans is useless, that there is so much work and that we are not doing anything. We have been told that the people living there should just get over it and move on.

When I arrived in New Orleans last year I realized that the rest of the world just had not seen the neglect that the people of New Orleans had endured. Their homes were completely decimated, their schools, workplaces, everything that they owned was destroyed.

When I found out that I was going to have the opportunity to return to New Orleans this year, I got myself signed up as soon as I could. I was so excited. When I first went I was very moved by the stories we heard and the vast destruction of the city. I am extremely excited to go back down there to get a family, who has been stuck living in a trailer for the past few years, back into their home.

Over the past few months I have been struggling with some major family difficulties. My prayer request is that this trip can help me out with some of my issues. I hope that while I am gone nothing else can go wrong with my family.


-George Grant, grade 11

Alicia Berglund - With a Joyful Heart

I have always had the desire to go on a short-term missions trip. In the past I have prayed that God would open a door for me. When it came down to the wire back in February and I had to decide “will I go with the team to NOLA” I had so many doubts. “Will I have the patience? Do I have what it takes? Can I deal with being tired and hot without getting cranky with those around me?” The answer to those questions (and many more) is – probably not - on my own. But HE has the patience, and He has what it takes. And HE is always with me. Over the last few years the Lord has made it very clear that He is always with me and is never leaving my side. That I will always fall short, but he’ll pick up the slack. And very clearly that His faith in me is much stronger than the faith I have in myself at times!

About a month ago another leader asked me if I was excited about the trip. I said a cautious “yeah”. After our weekend in Castine working with the team, learning more about those we were serving, and the knowledge that we were all serving HIM through our hard work was such a blessing. I now look forward to serving Him in NOLA and would answer that question with a much more emphatic “YES”! This is such a wonderful opportunity to share the love of Christ.

I ask that you pray that God would provide us many opportunities and the words to minister to the people of NOLA and those in need of hope that we meet along the way. That He would keep us mindful of the needs of others and to put aside our discomforts in order to serve with a joyful heart.

- Alicia Berglund, adult leader

Jesse Cinque - What We are Called to Do

When I heard that there would be a team returning to New Orleans this summer, I knew that I wanted to be a part of it. Last year I was really unsure about going. I saw the trip under the upcoming events, and I thought that it would be fun to grow closer to everyone else and also to God. In the back of my mind I was still thinking, ahh, working all the time.. in the heat.. Do I really want to do this? I was on the waiting list at first, and I just prayed about it for a while, and soon enough, I was sending out those support letters. I was nervous, excited and I didn't know what to expect at all. The trip was unforgettable. We got to meet so many people with amazing stories and got to serve-- what we're called to do. James 2:17 says that without action, our faith is dead. I'm so glad that I took advantage of the opportunity last year to go to New Orleans, and I'm so glad that I'm able to return. I can't wait to go back! I'm so pumped to see what God has for us this year. So many amazing things took place last year and I'm confident that they will happen again.
- Jesse Cinque, grade 10

Sam Larrabee - Cycle of Change

Change is a cycle which is slowly but constantly moving. Rebuilding New Orleans is a constant reminder of that fact the cycle continues until it reaches its end. We continued that cycle last summer and people came after us but since we are going again I feel an obligation towards the City of New Orleans and to myself to
rejoin that cycle and to help all of the people that I can along
the way.

I do not want to just sit by and watch events unfold without knowing that I have played a part in the big plan that God has set up for all of us. This is bigger than any of us and it's not about the houses we rebuild or the lawns we clean, it's about the people we meet, the lives we restore and the Hope that we return To New Orleans.

- Sam Larabbee, grade 11

Adam Bridges - It WILL be Today!

I got an e-mail from our team leader today. The thing that struck me was the subject heading. "Who will it be today?" I read it as "will it be today?" That's been sort of my theme for this whole NOLA experience. Way back, my plans were all set up. I was taking the summer to go work at a Christian camp like I had for the last two years. I loved it; the kids, the staff; it was life. ...but then...

Working as a youth leader at one of our Rock and Jock nights at Prime Time, I was asked by one of the students if I was going to New Orleans. I was like, "No!?¿...I have camp! It's God's plan for my life!"

That night I had a LOT to think about. And this question was going through my head, "Will it be today that you serve me? That you let go of your life and give it to Me, the Author and Finisher of your faith?" I realized that these plans that I had made looked good to those around. But why is there an "I"
there? The plans "I" had made. When had I really gone to God with my plans?
Oh, He was right there when I made my them...but they were my plans, I hadn't even gone to Him for counsel about it.

So Will it be TODAY that I trust in Him? Today that I go to Him for everything that comes across my path? That would be my prayer. For those that read this, please pray for our team that we continually seek His will and see God in even the little things. And for me personally, that I seek after the Man who's got the plan.
God Bless,
~Adam Bridges, New England Bible College

Hannah Brown - From Panic to Peace

I sat in the pew on New Year's Eve, not really knowing what to write down as a prayer for the year. So I scribbled down a few things about being faithful to God, to be courageous and step out, knowing He had my back. I wanted to learn to trust Him more. As I walked out of the church that night I kept in mind that God would not give me trust and faith and courage wrapped up in a nice box with a bow on top. No, I knew that He would give me opportunities.

What those opportunities would be, well, that is a whole other piece to the picture. In February Scott approached me and casually asked if I was going to New Orleans with them. I was panic stricken even considering being part of the team. I told him I would think about it. After a few days I decided I would, at least, help them raise money, get ready to go, etc. Well, that wasn't enough; it just didn't feel right to compromise. I was either going to do all or none. I was absolutely terrified. After handing in my application to Scott, I passed Keith Moore's office door. Out of the blue I remembered that the prayer I wrote in January was somewhere in that office.

Then, just for a moment, I struggled to even recall what I wrote. In the most amazing few seconds I pulled all the parts together. New Orleans was part of the answer to my New Year's Eve prayer. The awful knot in my stomach disappeared, replaced with an easy peace and a few butterflies.

Now, as the trip draws nearer, that calm has lasted and helps me to forget the scary things that make me nervous so I can enjoy the amazing ride I am on. God answers prayers; I am learning to trust.

- Hannah Brown, grade 9

Thank you for helping us raise $3800 this weekend!

Our yard sale weekend was a huge success! We're so excited to see what the Lord has planned for us in New Orleans.

$3800 is enough to sheetrock a few houses. It's enough to buy and install appliances in two or three homes. It's enough to rent some heavy equipment to demolish a house and remove debris, or put on an entire roof or ... wow, I could go on and on.

The bottom line is that we raised enough money this weekend to really make a significant difference in helping a family on the road to recovery.

Our goal was to raise a total of $35,000 before leaving for NOLA. It looks like we are going to surpass that goal. We're pretty sure that means we are going to get the opportunity to meat some very large needs.

Someone asked me how much is needed. My mind flashed back to pictures from last summer and then to the 40,000 families still in FEMA trailers today. I thought of all the kids breathing dangerous air. How much is needed? Every single penny we can raise is needed!


I had a conversation with one man who told me we are just wasting money by helping the people of New Orleans. That's pretty easy for us to say up here in the beautiful state of Maine where we get pounded by terrible snow storms or deep freezes and then make national headlines. Maybe the rest of the country could say, "They should just move, we're wasting our money by helping them get heating oil."

We can debate the politics all day long. We can talk corruption and talk about what "should have been done." But we believe that our faith compels us to action. We cannot put people on hold while we debate, open think tanks and draw plans. The reality is that people are homeless, stressed and hopeless and we're going to do all we can to bring them hope and show them love.
Thanks so much to everyone who helped us raise close to $4000 this past weekend with our car wash, yard sale and plant sale.

In a month we're headed to New Orleans to make a difference and help people right where they are. We're so thankful for all those who are supporting us and making this trip possible.

Yard Sale Time!

The weather forecast is looking stellar and mounds and mounds of treasures are piling up in the gym as we speak. Let's pray that our yard sale, car wash and plant sale are a big success this weekend.

ITEM DROP OFF:
M-TH - 8:30 am - 4:00 PM
FRI - 8:30 am - 7:00 PM

SATURDAY MAY 24
6:30 am - Team arrives to bring everything out to the front corner parking lot.
8 - 2 pm - Yard Sale, Plant Sale and Car Wash

We need everyone on hand, team members, parents, Prime Timers. It's going to be a very busy weekend.

A free fun trip to New Orleans?

I recently had a conversation with a guy who told me that he couldn't support the NOLA team asking people for money because he thought that the "kids need to work for it."

I wish I could have had him with our team this past weekend as we worked in the rain on clearing downed trees, chipping debris, planting flower beds, mulching, fixing stone stairs, replacing boards on a porch, cleaning rooms, cleaning bathrooms, pruning trees, grading a gravel driveway and checking off a whole bunch of other things as well. Our team amazed me at how well it worked together and all that it accomplished in getting a large rental property ready for its season. It was a great fund raiser and a team builder too.


Now, Monday morning we have discovered aching muscles where we didn't know we even had muscles!

If you would like to see more photos of the weekend work project you can find them in the gallery at:
http://www.primetimefbc.com/gallery/PTSM%20CASTINE%20WEEKEND/

This memorial day weekend will mark our last major fund raiser with our Saturday yard sale, car wash and plant sale from 8-2 pm. We will work into the night Friday sorting and pricing and then show up at 6:30 am Saturday to set up in the front corner parking lot at First Baptist Church.

Great job this weekend, NOLA team!!! I am pretty sure that if my misguided friend who was thinking you're just a bunch of kids looking for a free trip to New Orleans this summer had been working alongside us, he would be singing a different tune today.

In just 39 days we will be New Orleans bound!

- Scott

Team Photo Sunday May 11 at Noon

Hey Team Nola,

Remember that we will be taking our team photo Sunday, May 11 at Noon in front of the church.

Get your picture snapped and then head out to celebrate Mom! (No Prime Time that evening)

We are also bottle driving that morning before and after each service.

Things are coming together. If you haven't registered for the Castine trip yet, go register online now at www.primetimefbc.com