Jesse Monroe- Counter Intuitive Community

Friday

Counter-Intuitive Community

Ears buzzing and sweat dripping, I swung the rusty weed whacker’s whizzing whips towards any green stalks that peeked through the many ragged cracks in the deteriorating asphalt court. These tiny intruders popped up through any open space along the free throw line tracing all the way around the courts and spider webbing all the way through it. Today was the first day that I felt productive and actually useful in the team to help the community. We were finally getting set up for the Easter Bash, where we would tangibly give back to the people of Jackson. I realized, towards the end of the day, that, even without us, this community is thriving. Okay, so not physically, not economically, not in terms of safety, but the heart of the community- the people and their character- remains strong. We split up into small groups to go out into the neighborhood and invite residents to bring their families to this celebration tomorrow. This in itself pushed me outside of my comfort zone. Generally, I’m totally at ease communicating with people I haven’t met, but this was halfway across the country in a neighborhood I haven’t heard the best things about, with people whose culture I’m finding is very different than the one that I’m accustomed to in Southern California. My nervousness was confirmed when a 6 foot 4, bare-chested without regards to his tattooed sleeves man answered my knock on one of the first doors. After semi-stuttering through the information, he smiled, showing his golden-grilled teeth, saying in a kind voice that his kids would love that, that he would bring them. I let out a relieved sigh through a smile. I was amazed at how receptive people were and how open they were to having us there. I feel slightly ashamed that I ever questioned that, but I expected people in this situation who have been hurt so badly to be more closed off to strangers. We did experience this: where some would be noticeably cautious in speaking with us at first through metal screen doors, sometimes sticking their hands through the partially opened doors. However, after talking to us and hearing what we were doing, they moved past this wariness and expressed genuine care. They informed us of where to go, what to do, and how to be safe. They told us if there was a red ant hill, or a wasp nest. They cared about us, even though it would’ve been easy to let the obvious outsiders fend for themselves and learn the hard way. That’s what was most impactful, and what I see as the only way to bettering the situation. People in the community, in every community, need to be invested in each other, and feel that investment from others. I saw that today, and that makes me confident for the future, and present, of Jackson. I see God working in me through this community, and I am so grateful to experience this. I look forward to take His work back to my town.

~Jesse Monroe

Memphis! - thoughts from Sydnee and Emma

         Today, the Jackson Team travelled to Memphis, Tennessee to learn about our nation's dark history of slavery. Before today, I had only known the basic, surface level knowledge of what slavery was truly like. Even though it took a total of six hours in a van to Memphis and back with a needy, restless baby and old man (my father)(…just kidding…ha…ha), I'm very content that we had this opportunity; I don't regret it at all.
          This trip was a huge eye opener for me personally. I'd always known about all of the slaves' struggles and abuse they had to endure but I had never truly understood it on a deep, personal level. I'd acknowledge it and then just shove it to the back of my head, moving on to my daily routine of life, not even giving it a second thought. But now I understand that being a slave must've been tough. Extremely tough. I just keep on thinking to myself that those slaves must've been so strong and persistent. They went through innumerable, oppressing horrors yet they still had the spirit to fight back. I can't help but admire their strength and faith in God.           What truly got to me on this entire trip was God's continual deliverance of His people. He's always there, through thick and thin and I think that's truly amazing. Although times were extremely difficult for the blacks, God continually delivered and cared for them. Now, I understand that there's still some segregation in America today, but honestly, it's not nearly as bad as it was back before the civil rights. 

--Sydnee



Today we drove to Memphis and saw the Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum. It was amazing to see how such an ordinary looking house could have such an impact on someone's life. The one painting that portrayed the slaves that were thrown overboard was a personal favorite. It's horrible that they were just thrown overboard when they became ill because of the harsh living conditions, but it never occurred to me that they actually received freedom before all of the others, that they were better off. 

We also visited the National Civil Rights Museum while we were in Memphis. It was amazing because it walked you through the history of the slaves and the civil rights movement. It really impacted me because it was interactive and they had statues of iconic figures throughout the museum along with important events. They allowed us to take pictures with the figurines as well. We were even allowed to see the room that Martin Luther King Jr. was staying in right before his assassination. Overall, it was a great day that really opened my eyes to the oppression that has been going on for centuries and even continues today.

--Emma 

Easter Reflections from Nicole and Stephanie

Today on this Easter Sunday, I experienced two completely different emotions.

The Jackson team was graciously welcomed for the Easter service that was held at Common Ground. It was an opportunity to worship God in a new way. Although we live in the same country, Mississippi and California have very different cultures. It is even evident in the church services. Personally I enjoyed the openness and the comfortability of the environment in Jackson. I actually felt comfortable enough to sing out loud for my own personal form of worship. The friendliness of the church members filled the atmosphere and I believe everyone was touched at the service.

The second emotions I felt were polar opposites of feeling that I felt early that same day. Anger and ____ were the only things I could feel after watching the film, "The Mississippi Burning". The film retold the story of the three activists that were viciously murdered by the KKK and how their bodies were treated like pieces of trash. Two FBI agents attempted to find the murders in a town filled with ignorance and racism. The town was corrupted in their government and their townspeople. The mayor and the sheriff were even members of the KKK. The movie depicted the time period accurately. It disgusted me how human lives were treated like animals. 

Overall it was a another great day at Jackson, Mississippi.

--Nicole



Today we had the amazing opportunity to celebrate Easter here in Jackson at the Common Ground Church. I really enjoyed the service and it was awesome being able to see how other people worship. I loved how passionate the people are for Jesus and that they are not shy at all to express their love for him, whether it was through dancing or singing. I had never experienced a service like that and I am so glad that I was able too. I also loved the fact that people were so welcoming and friendly at the church. They made us feel very welcome and not at all awkward. They even gave the newcomers t-shirts! Overall I loved the service and I would definitely go back again.

Later tonight we watched Mississippi Burning together. It actually turned out to be a great movie. As I watched the movie, I felt this sadness come over me and anger at the thought that Ana would go and burn down another mans home and then kill him in front of his family! It amazes me at the fact that even the local government officials, the ones that were suppose to make people feel safe, were part of the evil! It also made you realize the power of the mind. The fact that the hate towards the African Americans was something that was taught at such a young age is something that is just beyond me.  The movie made me realize how much more corrupt everything was down here. A positive not is that even though people here have gone through hell and back they have stood strong. Seeing all these things makes me want to become a better person and work harder to ensure that everyone that I need or interact with, feels that they are welcome and accepted No matter what they look like. This has been a huge eye opener for me and I love all the things that I have been able to learn.

-Stephanie 

Saturday

Today we received the chance to fellowship with and love on the community which we have learned so much about in the past couple of days in Jackson and during the past couple of weeks at home. The effort and time put into preparing the Easter Bash paid off today when we had the opportunity to engage with the people in attendance while making it enjoyable for ourselves. From playing basketball to painting faces while also watching Nicole go down in the dunk tank and listening to amazing worship bands we were so blessed to be apart of a day filled with many new joyous faces and friendly familiar ones. Some of the new faces that we had the chance of meeting were a group of neighborhood kids all around our age. Digging deeper in our friendships with these teenagers we realized that there was not a whole lot of difference in our lives even though we live about 1,591 miles away. We all sought a common interest in attending college, playing sports, and creating a enjoyable atmosphere in which we could simply hang out together.

Looking back on this afternoon, we have come to realize that pushing through stressful situations, looking at things differently then we normally would, and taking action when it is most needed are all gifts from God. Most importantly, today has been a growing day for all of us in which we have come to see how it is good for us to let go and let God. God will provide for our needs if we only just give them to him. 

Blessings,
Delaynie Voortman & Lauryn Haringa

Photos of the kids hard at work!

Amanda-

So Day 1 already and I have been feeling God move within me so much. I thought it was really cool to have the opportunity to tour and travel all around Jackson today. Throughout today I remember having many conversations with my teammates about some of the things that we saw. West Jackson is completely different than my hometown and the two look nothing alike. The  time spent as a team in discussion these past few months mentioned the current state of west Jackson a few times but seeing it here in front of me made it all become real for the first time. While going throughout the town I saw the people in their current state of need for a rebuilding of their community. Old shops were abandoned and sometimes whole neighborhoods were boarded up and grown over. It seemed as if time in Jackson had almost stood still since it’s hayday. A lot of our discussions throughout the day left me with the idea of this hurt being systemic. It started as this oppressive environment to a people who had no means to change the situation and continues today with a similar vicious cycle, though the blatant racism and segregation has left. But not everyone in the community of Jackson chooses to simply accept this. This morning after breakfast we were able to go to Koinonia Coffee shop and listen to a woman tell her story as to why she decided to open a coffee shop in a run-down place like west Jackson whose demographics wouldn't usually support a business venture like this. As a senior looking to study business in college, I found that God used Lee Harper’s story to speak to me. I see it was definitely God working through her that allows her to run a successful business in Jackson, a community where no business thrives and no business wants to go. Though it’s going to take a little more than a coffee shop to encourage business back into the town and more than just business to fix the economy of west Jackson, they are small steps that are taken with God in the right direction. God is working through the people here and he is now working in me in this new way.

Railroad Crossing: Breaking the Barriers.

Hi friends and family! I am so happy to say that our first day out in Jackson was great, perfect, amazing, moving, and successful. This morning we were blessed to have our morning devotions lead by Big John. We dove into the word together and read through Leviticus 19. Leviticus talks about the ways in which The Lord calls us to live. It covers honesty, integrity, generosity, justice, and love. Justice is headed by the Lord calling us to love our neighbors. The phrase “love your neighbor as yourself” is short, but I learned that it is much more than 5 words. The first part is ‘love.’ To do justice and to show love require action. The second part is ‘neighbor.’ I know that sometimes a neighbor is only defined as the people next door or even our friends in church.

Friday Reflections - from Jessica

Today was a great day for the Jackson team. We started the day off with an amazing devotion about the joy of Christ, by Mr. John Perkins himself. To be completely honest I was kind of nervous to meet him, because I thought he would be intimidating, but he was actually one of the sweetest kind-hearted man I've ever met. You could really see his passion for Christ in the way he spoke. His words were full of wisdom and a true excitement. I took a lot from what he said. 

After devotions we went to the Perkins Center across the street and began to set up for the Easter Bash. We started by building three huge tents, which turned out to be pretty hard work. Then we went to make posters and we were later joined by the local boys who lived in the neighborhood, who gave a helping hand. It was quite a great experience to work with these kids and learn more about them. We had a lot of fun working with them and we actually became friends with these boys. I think it really changed some of our perspectives on the people living around here and the community as a whole.

--Jessica

JACKSON TEAM 2015