Going to the Movies

Were on the way to the movies!




Tomorrow evening (8-26) we're all going to crash Kent Station's AMC theatre for the 7:05 showing of The Help.

It's a book that we all read as we were preparing for our trip to Mississippi and we are all excited to see it on the big screen.

We'll see you there!

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Almost there

Hello! We are sitting in the airport waiting for the connecting flight to Houston. This morning, after a great breakfast, we leaders got a chance to share some of our thoughts about the week to the students. It was one of our most emotional times here. I think I can speak for each of the leaders when I say that we have been AMAZED by the students. Each of us, in tears, spoke of episode after episode of extraordinary hard work by each student. We shared the respect and graciousness that each student showed to us as leaders and to each other. We shared about the comments we received from the work staff at Perkin's that our team was the hardest working team they had all summer, and Grandpa Perkins himself telling us that we are beautiful people and how when we come back next year (he just talks prophetically like that) he would have their hardest jobs waiting for us because we can do anything with so much joy. I shared with students how thrilled I am that they have listened so attentively to what God is doing in their lives and for being open to experiences with the Holy Spirit like never before. Parents out there, you need to be proud of your child. They have not only represented you well, and displayed your great parenting, they have represented our church well and all of Kent, because we are known as the group from Kent. Unfortunately, I do not have the words to describe how I feel right now, a mixture of being so proud of this group, and that bittersweet feeling because the week is now complete and we will never have this moment again with the same configuration of kids and leaders. Thank you for your prayers and effort to make this week happen. I can honestly say your children are remarkable, and have conducted themselves beyond any hope and expectation. written by Sarah ButlerWills
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Portrait of Perkins

Here at the end of the trip I have a ton of thoughts, stories, and random goodies I still want to share.

So today you can expect a fair amount of random posting when I get chances to get up those last things.

Like this amazing portrait of Perkins made by Ben and signed by the team.







Pretty amazing, eh?

And I'm also going to try to get a couple sentences summarizing the experience so far from all (at least a majority) of our students to post.
And I need to tell you about listening prayer last night!
And I have a ton of cool pictures on my phone to share!

Stay tuned.

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Leaving on a Jet Plane

Today is the day for coming home.

And we are so excited to see you at the airport. The first flight is touching down at 9:02 and the second will be landing at 9:23.





Leaving is always a complex experience. I definitely haven't felt that desperate need from the team to be home right now. It feels more like it's just the next step in what Jesus has for us.

And already the conversations have begun.

How is all this going to change me when I get home? How will it change Hard Rock? How will it change big church? Does all this stuff Dr P has said about leadership mean Jesus is calling me into leadership? What does that look like? How do I know?

It is beautiful turmoil.

Pray with us that:
1) This last day becomes for us a day of listening to God and to one another.
2) God cements in each of us the work he has been doing so that we carry our participation in the reconciling mission of God into our everyday, at-home lives.
3) We have the courage to respond like the prophet Isaiah and say, "Here I am, Lord. Send me."

The Memory Wall

Grandpa Perkins asks every group that comes to make a picture memory frame for leaving in the volunteer house.

Thanks to Lisa, Tanna, and a couple others we got ours finished up and were able to present it to Grandpa today.

He loved it. And said so about 50 times.

We thought you might love it too so here it is.








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Thursdays Are a Good Day for Workin'

Yesterday was a wee bit nutty.

After a rainstorm interrupted the morning and sent us home for a bit of napping before we started up after the rain (and an impromptu run to Krispy Kreme for goodies), we buckled down and cranked out some great work.

Check past the link to see the list of jobs and pictures



Among our projects were:
1) Painting all the exterior decks









2) Finishing the cleaning/painting/organizing of the after-school house








3) Completing the cabinets








4) Sorting out the work sheds and getting all the tools and I
implements ready to rock







5) Building a fence at Elizabeth's House and finishing the yard work at the Perkins Center



























6) Making Pear Butter for Dr. P


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The Team and Grandpa Looking Beautiful

Sometimes we forget to take team photos when were out on trips like this.




This time we didn't forget.
And it's beautiful.

We took the picture on Wednesday night when we came back over to the center to eat Big Johns amazing BBQ chicken and to celebrate his birthday.

I've been meaning to post the photo for a day and a half now, but wowie-zowie this week has been full.

We've got so many stories to tell!

Make sure you're getting your questions ready for helping the team members you know and love unpack this huge experience we're being blessed with.

See you soon.

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And the Goodbyes Begin

The team from Tall Turf headed out this morning on their way to the civil rights museum in Tennessee and home in Michigan.




This picture was taken at 6:15 this morning.

Our team stayed up late last night making 20 friendship bracelets and headed over at 5:45 this morning for last goodbyes and Facebook info passing before they headed for home.

It's been a pretty amazing thing how beautifully our groups have fit together in spite of all the social, racial, and economic differences that could have separated us.

In fact, a goose bump morning for me was when Grandpa (Perkins) put an arm around Hannah from our team and an arm around Charity from their team and said, "You guys have been a fulfillment of a longing I've had."

We've been able to work together and grow friendships because of our shared fellowship in Christ and the reconciling work of the Holy Spirit has been in our midst this week.

Thank you for all the praying you've been doing. You've been partnering with God to make this possible.

And we thought Seattle weather was crazy

So after our 98 degree heat wave of yesterday, we awoke to a cool but still humid morning. Which then progressed during Dr. Perkins bible study into storm clouds and pretty major wind. Then came the rain! When it rains, it POURS. We did some crazy rain dances and other various forms of wet frolic. Plus due to not being able to do to many group projects in the rain, we get to take a break till lunch.

Nap time! Lord knows we need it








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Raising Up Leaders Like Moses

everyone worshipping before the working begins



Seek first the kingdom of God.

Leadership is not about following our own agenda and getting enough of God to keep us going.

This is not right. God is not your therapist.

If anyone would come after me, let him take up his cross and follow.

True leadership is about entering into the pain of the people God is connecting you to and letting God guide you in the way of redemption and restoration.

We are at a time where our political leaders are so focused on gathering and holding individual power, they are hurting our nation.

But God is raising up leaders. God is raising you up in order to be a sacrificial leader.

Will you say with Isaiah, "Here I am. Send me."



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Painting the Antioch House

The Antioch House is the central house on the Perkins Center grounds and used for a guest house, a conference center, and a community gathering place.

Lisa and Sarah led the crew yesterday painting the deck and trim work around the house and it is looking quite fine.

Check it out. They're painting the playground trim.




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Stumps

Here is the crew that is working at Big John's house.





They feel like the crew from the movie Holes digging mass ditches around the yard.

The yard work team has been impressive. There is no let up in spite of the heat, and when we make them break for rest and water they are always sneaking away to get back to work.

That's the kind of people i would do yard work it with any day.

Also, Ben and Isaac have been mowing and weed eating all day long. I'll try to throw up a pic when I get a chance.

EDIT:
Here's the picture of Ben and Isaac.





Also Jeff was there. And he kicks stumps. And the whole crew was AMAZING!



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Kurt Hordan Leads the Cabinet Crew

Kurt Hordan is leading the crew building cabinets on the onside of the Antioch House on the Perkins Center grounds.




These three matching cabinets will be used to store music gear for the team.

With school in Jackson starting on Friday, the Perkins crew is working like crazy to get the grounds and buildings ready for the beginning of the after school programs coming up at the end of the week.

They have said multiple times how awesome it is that we have been blowing through tasks at a crazy fast past getting them ready for launch.

Woot, woot!


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Our Tall Turf Buddies

Hey again.

I wanted to take a second and formally introduce you to the other group that we have been hanging out with and working beside.




They are the student Leaders in Training for Tall Turf Camp Grand Rapids, Michigan. And they are a fantastic group. It's been a ball hanging out and if you want to get to know them a little bit better you can check out there website over at:

http://www.tallturf.org/

This picture of their team was taken out in front of Medgar Evers' house.


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4 Things Every Leader Needs

This insight is piping hot and fresh and brought to you by Dr. John Perkins.




The 4 Things a Leader Needs
1) Vision
The great skill that every leader needs is to be able to turn vision for the future into passion in the people.

2) Energy
Redemptive energy comes from joy and expectation

3) Intelligence
The Bible is the gateway to a whole world of information that is good for our growth. The Bible is living and always filled with new stuff.

4) Character
This is the unseen reality of who you are that the people around you can perceive. People of character are the kind of people that other people want to be near.

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TV Stack

Isn't that a stack of beauty?




Watching Ghosts of Mississippi tonight. You should watch too and we can share this moment across the miles!

P.S. Don't forget to leave us love and comments.

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Country Fisherman Buffet

Here is the whole crew eating lunch including the team from Grad Rapids that is here with us.







Here's the words my van had to say about the buffet:
Big, scrumptious, fried, southern soul food, best fried chicken I've ever eaten, casserole that was delicious, hush puppies like...nope. There are no words for how amazing those hush puppies were.

Now were off to keep touring and tonight we'll watch EDIT: Ghosts of Mississippi.

Sounds like a full day.

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Mendenhall Bible Church

We made it to Mendenhall!





The church and community ministry were founded by John and Vera Mae in 1961.

Today it continues as a healthy church and community ministry that focuses on ministry to the whole person.

They call it cross-shaped.
The vertical beam signifies the importance of helping people connect with God.
The horizontal beam signifies the importance of engaging in service to others.

We're watching a video here to learn about the way that Mendenhall Ministries has made an impact in the community.

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Pray Hard with Dr P

So cool story.


The Perkins crew down here is beginning to feel that the next step for them here is to begin planting multiracial churches.

And wouldn't you know it they are talking with the Covenant Church about planting a Covenant church.

So pray hard with them that God be at work and the multiracial Covy plant takes off and does well.



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Student Stories: Picking and Peeling Pears and Peas with Papa Perkins

A day with the amazingly humble John M. Perkins.




After picking veggies from his garden and shaking a tree for pears, we got started pealing and chopping them. As we were working, Dr. Perkins taught us to sing old slave songs, shared stories of his past and his view on life, and answered personal questions and taught us of past historic pastors that have made a different and been examples of his role models and inspirations.

I don't think I've ever heard someone so set on making sure that he "doesn't brag" about anything. Time and time again he humbled me by expressing his faith and love for people in the most kind-hearted, untainted, and honest way. Despite the fact that he's somewhat famous (and he is aware of that fact), he wants nothing but to be treated as any other normal stranger walking down the street would. To him, boasting and searching for praise for his actions completely contradicts the purpose of his actions in the first place. "That's not the point," he would say.

The joy he feels when he sees happiness in others lives is contagious. I have never felt so blessed as I did from getting to know Papa Perkins today for who he is in person instead of on paper.

Love,
Navid, Maria, and Brooke


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Hanging with Dr Perkins

Morning devotions with Dr P started today. He might be 81 and a bit tangential, but boy howdy he's a fireball.




This morning he took three of our crew to help him pick pears for canning at 9:30 in the morning. He's still got Navid, Maria, and Brooke with him and its dinner time now.

We're all really curious what awesome things they've been talking about all this time.

Lisa went to pick them up about an hour and a half ago.

She's still there too.







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Lunchey-Time

Its lunch time here and this is the crew tucking in.

We are working hard and telling stories about what we've been up to so far.

Good times.

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Working Hard: Day 1

Today were in four groups.
1) Working in the yard at Elizabeth Perkins house
2) Building cabinets
3) Getting the center ready for the after school program that start on Friday
4) Pear picking with Perkins

Here's some pictures.











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Student Stories: Experiencing Church

Ive been trying to make sure that we recruit other people from the SM11 team to post on the blog so you get to know the trip from other perspectives than just that of Jeff, pastor and trip lead.

Thusly, I present to you a perspective on church this morning from Isaac and Eli. This is straight from them. The only thing I did was correct the more egregious grammar issues and change some punctuation.

Without further ado, here a look at our experience at New Horizon Church in three questions.




Just follow the "read more" link to see the entire interview.




Written by Isaac and Eli

Q: Where did we go to church?
A: New Horizon Church with Bishop Crudup in the pulpit.
Which looked like a really nicely renovated Costco (later we found out the building actually was a renovated Costco, because we saw signs that said "park shopping carts here" off to the side).


Q: What was it like at New Horizon?
A: It was an entirely African American congregation and they were very happy about Jesus. We came in a bit late and they had already started worship. At first everyone looked at us all weird-like and whatnot, but after they realized we too loved jesus they were very friendly and inviting!

The people at the doors hugged us all before we walked in. Everyone there was totally into the whole entire service. "Praisssssseee him!" was a common phrase.

But mostly the music was the coolest. Everyone was free and able to just down to get down with their bad selves. Then the pastor came and gave a talk on generosity and he didn't once ask to give the church or ask for a offering. It was totally about being generous to less fortunate people. That was super cool and broke some stereotypes of big churches for some of us. The pastor was very interesting and did some things that we were not used to at all. Instead of just emphasizing really important things, he yelled them. It wasn't angry yelling. It was just letting the congregation know that it was very very important. At the end of his message he started speaking in tongues and then started singing an old hymn.
Then one of the main people's of the church (a red haired larger lady who had been singing earlier, very intensely) started shaking and then fainted (holy spirit or dehydration? Hmmmm...).
All in all it was pretty tubular.


Q: What are some things you took part of today that you would like more of in your life?

Isaac: I wish that we had more of the feeling that you can just raise your hands and praise the Lord and not be looked at weird or anything. It was cool to have everyone totally into and not care what anyone thinks.

Eli: I feel like I could use some more shouting during my messages. Really got me listening and I've never heard people speaking in tongues so that was legit. Too legit. Too legit to quit.

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