I have been so blessed to be a member of this year’s Jackson team! This trip has not only blessed me in so many ways but has also opened my eyes to my faith and how I can be a small change in this world. On Saturday instead of having the Easter Bash for the little children in the neighborhood we got a chance to go to downtown Jackson. It was in such shock to see how completely broken downtown Jackson was and to find out that 1 in 4 people in Jackson do not own a house. Seeing how broken it was got me thinking that we as sinners are broken without God. In maybe ways we are like a broken town waiting for someone to rebuild us. Myself being a sinner I know I am broken but I am so fortunate to have God and be surrounded by friends and family to rebuild me up to be a strong and courageous woman of God. What I want to take back from this trip is to use my gifts and strengths to help rebuild all the broken towns and people so they may be closer to God. 

               

On the first day when we had met Mr. Perkins for our devotions he asked us all to answer what we like most about ourselves. When it came for me to answer I said “that I work hard and am eager to help others.” Not until today did I realize how much I used those things that I said I like about myself. Today I went to water down a house to get it all clean for them to paint and then after I went to another house to pick up their yard and rake leaves. I wanted to work very hard to make each project I did close to perfect because I wanted whoever lived in that house to love it. I felt passion within myself to work hard to make their house perfect because I know that would bring so much joy and appreciation for them. I have learned so much this week and I hope that I take back my passion and work ethic to glorify God and be a reflection of Him!

                 

Sincerely, Stephanie Albright

I am so thankful that I received the opportunity to come on this mission’s trip this spring break! We have done so many things over the last 5 days but I am going to tell you about this Saturday when we toured Jackson. One of the things we did that really struck me was when we went to the house of Medgar Evers. Thad, who works at the Perkins center, told us about the story of Medgar Evers life, which was quite emotional. After Medgar was shot, his family called the police, but since he was black, the policemen decided to wait 4 hours, since he was not priority. So, his family took him to the hospital, but once again his race stopped the doctors from immediately operating on his wounds. After awhile when someone decided to operate, Medgar only made it through 45 minutes of surgery before passing away. What really struck me was the fact that people were hateful and racists enough to ignore a dying man’s plea. It was only his race that stopped people from helping him, which is just wrong. Thad also told us that after that, Medgar’s widow would be seen on the driveway often trying to scrub away the blood stains, and when I heard that it really made me hate the way people were treated back then.

One of the great things about this place is just the people who run it. At the Spencer Perkin’s Center, the people who work here really care about the people in the community, and also run a daycare after school for kids in the community so they could be safe. Dr. John Perkins is also one of the cutest sweetest old man I have ever met! His passion for God is so great, and every morning when we have devotions with him you can just see how much he loves this community, and how he wants us to be the generation for change. That is a tough position to fill, but I pray that I can be a part of that change!

                 

Sincerely, Molly Anne Penalver J

Impact

On Friday we helped set up for the Easter bash.  It was supposed to rain on Saturday so unfortunately the Easer bash got canceled and we had to take everything back down. Though that happened we were able to meet and bond with an 8^th grader named Jeremiah. He told us how he comes to the center to work and to stay out of trouble. The thing that really hit me was when I asked Jeremiah if he wanted to stay in Mississippi after he graduated. He said he’s already thinking of places to move when he does graduate. He was able to see the problems that were and are going on in the neighborhood, he was tired of it and he wanted it to be over. I like how he sees the Perkins center as a safe haven, he knows how it is in West Jackson and he sees how there is a need of a change. To me this show how there is really a need for a change and that the Perkins center is a light in the dark. People know where the Perkins center is it’s a start of a change here.

I love the church here. They aren’t afraid to worship. They stand and clap and praise with no shame. They are happy and excited to worship God I really enjoyed seeing that. They were so happy though they are in a place where homes are destroyed and windows are boarded up with wood. They are still able to smile and worship God wholeheartedly.

From, Aryeh j. Perry

Jackson & Easter

This trip has showed me a lot about my life that I have taken for granted. When we toured West Jackson I could really see the brokenness in the community. There are entire streets that the buildings are completely destroyed and famous landmarks in history are like a ghost town. Thad, who was our tour guide, told us that every one and four houses in West Jackson is boarded up and vacant. This made me realize that the Spencer Perkins Foundation has really made a safe place for these kids to come to and learn values that they can take with them for the rest of their lives. I am so blessed to be here on this trip and to have these experiences.

On Easter Sunday we went to New Horizon Church. At first I was a little worried because going to other churches is really out of my comfort zone. I use to worry that the “new” church would have contradicting ideas with my “old” church. But, I think I have a strong enough grip on my beliefs to attend a different church. The church was in this huge warehouse, like an old Costco. I was a little confused, but the inside was beautiful. I have never been hugged so much in my life. I could go on and on about the differences, but the main concept behind all churches is to give praise to God and then learn from his word. The part of the service that really touched me was when people would come up to the stage and give these beautiful testimonies. God has really changed their lives for the better because of their faith. Then, they would walk across the stage and everybody would stand up and give them a round of applause. The story that was absolutely extraordinary was of this husband and wife who had four kids with sickle cell anemia. She would pray to God before each birth that this child would not inherit the disease. When the news came that they had the disease her doubt would strengthen and her faith weaken. She never gave up on God and over time, and many operations they are all free of the disease to this day! God really can change people’s lives. An aspect that was consistent throughout all the stories was that it all happened over a long period of time. Faith takes obedience, patience, and perseverance.

Love & God Bless,

Breann Fox

HE IS RISEN!

HAPPY EASTER!   ...don't they clean up nice?  :)

We spent Thursday and Friday hanging out in Jackson, working at the foundation and touring the historical sites of the city.  Ask about Medgar Evers, Farish Street, the blues and the Alamo Theatre, Foundren and Brent's Drugs, the Capital Building and the King Edwards hotel... and so much more.  In the midst of our work and tour, we saw glimpses of both the broken and the beautiful, places in need of hope and peace and places of hope and peace at work. 

MEMPHIS!

On Thursday, we hit the road for Memphis to visit the Slavehaven Underground Railroad Museum and the National Civil Rights Museum.  We ended our tour at B.B. King's on Beale Street, enjoying dinner with each other and the sound of live blues.  It was a long day, but full of listening to the stories, voices, and sounds of history and learning together.

Slavehaven and Civil Rights Museum

Today I was really struck by my surprise at the Slavehaven Underground Railroad Museum. I knew that slaves would escape, but I never knew the lengths that they went to to get their freedom. I thought the secret codes in their blankets and songs and drum rhythms were very clever. I never would have figured that out. I think the bells that they put on the captured runaway slaves were just unbelievable and very cruel. Coming back from this museum, I have to say that African Americans were way smarter than people then gave them credit for. Another very significant thing for me was getting to go and stand not only in the spot that Martin Luther King Junior once stood, but where he was shot and killed. It was very emotion evoking to see the room he was staying in at the time of his death perfectly preserved as if it had just happened.

I can’t believe how much we have grown as a nation over just the past few decades. Just since the 60’s with Martin Luther King Junior and African Americans being shot just because he didn’t abide by a white man’s rules, we have come to loving and welcoming differences with open arms. I believe that we have come so far, and that is awesome, but I still think that we can do so much more. And that is what we’re striving for here.

Christina Baith