As the Men's Summer Project is underway for 11-weeks I will be bringing you up to date on what is happening in Juneau. Week One has been busy so far things look good so far but it will be a challenge...
A day before taking off to Alaska, I was hanging out will one of my friends in Kansas City watching his cousin play baseball. Their team ended up winning the game by if I can remember 3. Then spending some time with my friends nephews house of night ended up falling asleep. Then waking having to get ready for my long flight up to Juneau.
I been to airport before I just haven't been on an actual plane in my life until now. Once I finally got out of security, I was able to get on the plane and sit in between two experience guys who have been traveling on planes for years. But before we were able to take off rain and lightning came and for two hours sitting on the plane became a long wait that I didn't need but I the same time I got a little bit comfortable with sitting on the plane. Having two guys on the plane who were experience felt...well to me felt more relaxing. After the two hour delay we finally take off and I manage to survive the take off and landing to. I never been up that high in the air for so long.
After the plane landed in Seattle, me and 6 other guys from project were called out to leave right away because of the fact that we were about to miss the plane to Juneau. This wasn't really a good start to project but it was a funny way to meet some of the guys who on the same plane with me. Within six minutes we were on the run to make that plane and we did somehow...
The scene up in the air at Juneau was something else, all you can see is the mountain ranges all along the coast of Juneau, the sight of the clouds being all low and stuff covering up the mountain tops a little bit. It was about dark when I arrive after some delays earlier in the day time. We walk off the airplane and meet most if not all the stuff guys that were there waiting for us. Everything was with except our luggage and that was a pain. Not having all of my stuff with felt very awkward for me and the guys that were on that same flight but eventually the next day we would finally get our things.
I had a chance to meet my action leader for half the summer because staff leave after 6 months and also meet my roommates for the summer too. The next day followed with a little orientation about the project and that things will happen if you're not careful. One of the things that was talked about was bears and you're NOT suppose to run away from them. All you have to do is stand there and look tall and slowly walk away. Everybody thinks that i have the best chance of out running a bear black or brown. I'm not going to say that I can...maybe lol.
Mid-week we attended our first CRU meeting of the summer on the campus of the University of Southeast Alaska. The main speaker talked about what Campus Crusade for Christ is all about mainly serving Christ. After that our action leader took us to our hanging spot after CRU Wednesday nights called Waffle Co. and man their waffles are pretty good! Our Men's group had the opportunity to go to Echo Ranch for a couple days to serve for the people out there and they are really some nice people to work with out there. The first day we worked with them on whatever needed to be fixed up whether it was chopping wood, cherry picking, or working on a 4-wheeler it was great to see all of us starting to come together as one and being there for one another.
The second day out there all we did was play a basketball tournament within all of the action groups and ultimate frisbee. Our team won the tourney without losing one single game it was awesome, followed by a victory in ultimate. As a group we did some silly things out there, but I will not say anything about what we did, haha! But we did have a good campfire at the very end again just bonding and getting to know each other for the first week is very important to build those relationships...talk to you guys next week.
Green-White-Checkered: 3 Questions (My thoughts) P.S.- this is without looking at the sheet
Green: What is the vision of this project?
A: To put the Gospel with arms reach of everybody in Southeast Alaska...that's really our main focus here everyone needs to know who Jesus is what he can do in peoples lives.
White: What is the mission?
A: To equip and send out Christ-centered laborers...we can't be selfish all the time, we need to be in a different mindset when we are serving Christ. We must not think about ourselves give it all up to him.
Checkered: What are the core values?
A: White-hot faith, effective evangelism, authentic relationships, never walking alone...as a big unit we each need to take these things to hearts and be serious about them.
Introduce my roommates for the summer that I'm living with-
Action Leader: James (Missouri)
Steven F. (Missouri)
Eddie (Kansas State)
Cody (Missouri)
Mike (Wisconsin-Lacrosse)
Monday, May 30, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Chapter 8: Juneau Preview
A week from Tuesday, I be on my way to Juneau, Alaska for Men's Summer Project 2011. I will be up there for pretty much most of the summer. But first, there was this past weekend meeting with close friends and meeting new ones. And there is some relaxing thrown in there before the trip...
The first year in Manhattan going to Kansas State is officially in the books and now summer is here. A lot of big things to come in the upcoming months. This first weekend of summer was really good. I had an opportunity to go over to Barton County land to catch up with some of my closest friends. Friday night I arrive in Great Bend, KS after taking care of some things for my apartment in Manhattan. Then once, I arrived in town I when to a concert that one of my friends was putting on. Even though I got there a little late I had the chance to listen to some great music and saw a lot of friendly faces. Some of my friends were fooled because of the fact that I grew out my hair...it's always short form last year running track but this year I kind of grew it back out a little bit because I wasn't involved in sports that much this year.
After the concert and everything I finally got settled in at my buddy Matt's place where I'm currently spending the week at his place before my summer trip to Juneau. This past Saturday, I went to Tyler and Nicole Ball graduation from Sterling and now they are done with college! Really happy for my friends following that we celebrated their accomplishments in the afternoon. Had a chance to catch up with some great friends like Jeremy, Brittany, Joann and Trever. As the weekend moved on I met some new friends like Annie, Gwen, Ashley D. and some more.
Later on Saturday night, most of the group played this weird card game called "Flick it." It kind of a fast game but a little bit confusing at first though but slowly I got the hang of the game. Never really heard of this game until came back so I like it a little bit. Sunday, I was back at Grace Community attending church again and once again it always feels like i'm at home we I go there because I went to this church while I was attending at Barton. Still have the many connections that I made at Grace and I'm really thankful for that. Never have I made connections in another place before and to be able keep up with the people who you have met. Overall, I'm just happy that I had a chance to see most of my friends over the weekend and currently right now friends like Katlin, Holly, and Mahlia they are really fun to hangout with...spending time with friends that I've met during my Barton days are always fun! =)
Green-White-Checkered: 3 Topics about Alaska (Juneau)
Green- How did you get opportunity to go to Juneau?
A: I still have no idea how I ended up going there. My application was moved a few times during the process and during the whole process I did some praying about what God wants me to do this summer and for some funny God mention something about Juneau I don't know what or how but Juneau at first honestly was a joke but it became almost real when I got accepted to this project. Reality will set in once I arrived on a plane, that's right an airplane!
White- Climate
A: When I think about Alaska I usually think about the cold weather up there and that it is up there all the time. Talking to a lot of people about the weather getting ready for the trip it's suppose to be really mild with some if not a lot of rain. Talking to others as well who have been up there or have relatives up there that it's really, really nice. Anxious to get there and find out.
Checkered- Men's Summer Project 2011
A: What I'm looking forward to the most is that fact I will be with 24 other guys and their will be ladies on this trip as but on their own project we will be doing some things together. Just getting to know everyone and where they come from things like that. This is unknown territory for me so I'm ready for just the experience I'm still shocked that I'm going up to Juneau but it's almost here and I'm ready to take that next step.
The first year in Manhattan going to Kansas State is officially in the books and now summer is here. A lot of big things to come in the upcoming months. This first weekend of summer was really good. I had an opportunity to go over to Barton County land to catch up with some of my closest friends. Friday night I arrive in Great Bend, KS after taking care of some things for my apartment in Manhattan. Then once, I arrived in town I when to a concert that one of my friends was putting on. Even though I got there a little late I had the chance to listen to some great music and saw a lot of friendly faces. Some of my friends were fooled because of the fact that I grew out my hair...it's always short form last year running track but this year I kind of grew it back out a little bit because I wasn't involved in sports that much this year.
After the concert and everything I finally got settled in at my buddy Matt's place where I'm currently spending the week at his place before my summer trip to Juneau. This past Saturday, I went to Tyler and Nicole Ball graduation from Sterling and now they are done with college! Really happy for my friends following that we celebrated their accomplishments in the afternoon. Had a chance to catch up with some great friends like Jeremy, Brittany, Joann and Trever. As the weekend moved on I met some new friends like Annie, Gwen, Ashley D. and some more.
Later on Saturday night, most of the group played this weird card game called "Flick it." It kind of a fast game but a little bit confusing at first though but slowly I got the hang of the game. Never really heard of this game until came back so I like it a little bit. Sunday, I was back at Grace Community attending church again and once again it always feels like i'm at home we I go there because I went to this church while I was attending at Barton. Still have the many connections that I made at Grace and I'm really thankful for that. Never have I made connections in another place before and to be able keep up with the people who you have met. Overall, I'm just happy that I had a chance to see most of my friends over the weekend and currently right now friends like Katlin, Holly, and Mahlia they are really fun to hangout with...spending time with friends that I've met during my Barton days are always fun! =)
Green-White-Checkered: 3 Topics about Alaska (Juneau)
Green- How did you get opportunity to go to Juneau?
A: I still have no idea how I ended up going there. My application was moved a few times during the process and during the whole process I did some praying about what God wants me to do this summer and for some funny God mention something about Juneau I don't know what or how but Juneau at first honestly was a joke but it became almost real when I got accepted to this project. Reality will set in once I arrived on a plane, that's right an airplane!
White- Climate
A: When I think about Alaska I usually think about the cold weather up there and that it is up there all the time. Talking to a lot of people about the weather getting ready for the trip it's suppose to be really mild with some if not a lot of rain. Talking to others as well who have been up there or have relatives up there that it's really, really nice. Anxious to get there and find out.
Checkered- Men's Summer Project 2011
A: What I'm looking forward to the most is that fact I will be with 24 other guys and their will be ladies on this trip as but on their own project we will be doing some things together. Just getting to know everyone and where they come from things like that. This is unknown territory for me so I'm ready for just the experience I'm still shocked that I'm going up to Juneau but it's almost here and I'm ready to take that next step.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Chapter 7: Kansas State
Summarizing my first year at Kansas State as my first year in Manhattan draws to a close...
Walking into a whole new atmosphere was a little scary not knowing a ton of people, coming from a community college where I had good success. I had a good rhythm going until the first week at Kansas State came up and I wasn't really. The classes were a lot different and you had to but more effort into your studies because these test aren't that easy. Too many good organizations and clubs that you can join. I was kind of you know trying to do everything that was out there since I wasn't involved with athletics anymore. I wanted to focus more on schoolwork instead of running track and I wanted to be involved in something else other than just playing sports and having no time whatsoever to do anything else.
In the middle of first semester, I remember I was still having trouble getting adjusted with everything and at the time I felt that this isn't the right place and I was this close to closing the book on this one real early. But after talking with a few people about what was going on then everything started to come together. Making this transition was maybe the toughest yet looking for some kind of routine anything for that matter. Overall, my first semester at K-State was decent it could have been a little bit better. All in all it could've been worse...someway, somehow I manage to get through it and I didn't do it alone. God really started to change my way of thinking and being more positive than always thinking negative. Things began to turn around for me.
The second semester has been a big improvement from the first, you know trying to find a comfort zone that you really like and staying with. it for the long run. Looking back at all of the events that I have been to this year has been an eye opening experience. First, The Maze which was pretty awesome how that turn out follow by going to Denver and DCC the conference was pretty powerful and then you have retreats, get togethers things like that in between that makes you excited for more things to come.
Spring semester I have been able to find some rhythm and it's been really good. Not all the way quite yet but I'm looking forward to I have next year and hopefully it's going to be even better than the first year was for me. The future looks good so, I'm currently getting ready for finals week. The focus shifts to doing the things right in the classroom to able to do well on these finals. We are on what they call around here "dead week" that means when you don't get any new material for the week. You are suppose to be reviewing any recent or past things that you have been learning over this past semester. Man, this semester has gone by so fast I feel like I'm finally starting to have some fun now, lol. It's been a really awesome getting to know all of my friends that I've made in this past year, the school isn't quite over but I'm beginning to enjoy my time with the KSU friends.
Walking into a whole new atmosphere was a little scary not knowing a ton of people, coming from a community college where I had good success. I had a good rhythm going until the first week at Kansas State came up and I wasn't really. The classes were a lot different and you had to but more effort into your studies because these test aren't that easy. Too many good organizations and clubs that you can join. I was kind of you know trying to do everything that was out there since I wasn't involved with athletics anymore. I wanted to focus more on schoolwork instead of running track and I wanted to be involved in something else other than just playing sports and having no time whatsoever to do anything else.
In the middle of first semester, I remember I was still having trouble getting adjusted with everything and at the time I felt that this isn't the right place and I was this close to closing the book on this one real early. But after talking with a few people about what was going on then everything started to come together. Making this transition was maybe the toughest yet looking for some kind of routine anything for that matter. Overall, my first semester at K-State was decent it could have been a little bit better. All in all it could've been worse...someway, somehow I manage to get through it and I didn't do it alone. God really started to change my way of thinking and being more positive than always thinking negative. Things began to turn around for me.
The second semester has been a big improvement from the first, you know trying to find a comfort zone that you really like and staying with. it for the long run. Looking back at all of the events that I have been to this year has been an eye opening experience. First, The Maze which was pretty awesome how that turn out follow by going to Denver and DCC the conference was pretty powerful and then you have retreats, get togethers things like that in between that makes you excited for more things to come.
Spring semester I have been able to find some rhythm and it's been really good. Not all the way quite yet but I'm looking forward to I have next year and hopefully it's going to be even better than the first year was for me. The future looks good so, I'm currently getting ready for finals week. The focus shifts to doing the things right in the classroom to able to do well on these finals. We are on what they call around here "dead week" that means when you don't get any new material for the week. You are suppose to be reviewing any recent or past things that you have been learning over this past semester. Man, this semester has gone by so fast I feel like I'm finally starting to have some fun now, lol. It's been a really awesome getting to know all of my friends that I've made in this past year, the school isn't quite over but I'm beginning to enjoy my time with the KSU friends.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Chapter #6: Man Up
This past weekend I had a chance to hangout with most of the guys from Campus Crusade for Christ for Men's Retreat 2011 in Bushton, Kansas.
This past weekend was a really good experience with all the guys from CRU. We had our men's retreat in Bushton, Kansas where we had a chance to communicate with each other as guys and connect with God which was really the main thing. One of the topics that was discussed at the retreat was telling the truth and also taking of the mask. People now will doing anything for there themselves, live in the person's sure things like that. I learned that we need to be honest with ourselves and God. As the first night went on my group share a lot about our lives and how we were changed by it. The information will be kept private. But there were good things that we learned in our group that everybody is different.
The next day we talked about in open discussion about repentance and that changes our lives everyday. We need to ask God for guidance though times of prayer, easy or hard times. I'm not trying to preach or anything like that but going on this retreat I came away learning a lot about how to lead in the right way instead of the other way around. Once we grow up, then we can start leading others to get toward the path of Christ too. When we face hard challenges, we tend to look the other way and for the easy routes. I know I do that sometimes for sure...as men we need to challenge ourselves to be the best that we can be and not run away from the whole situation.
One of the best highlights of the weekend, was going out and shooting rifles and shotguns on Saturday afternoon. For me, I had never pick up a gun in my entire life until that point and man was I nervous to say the least. But after I fired my first shot, I realize that everything will be cool and it was. Took out some big targets out there in the open field...a fan and a bottle of baby powder that was with a shotgun. I definitely felt the reaction of the shotgun after I creamed it. It was a fun afternoon out there just shooting stuff up.
Had a nice campfire towards the end of the retreat with the guys singing some weird but funny songs. They were very creative, some of it didn't really make any sense but oh well, haha!! The final word to the retreat was about living on a mission. Basically what 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 says from my point of view is that we as men are have Christ in are hearts because he died for us all and that we should go out and tell others about Christ who was raised from the dead on the third day.
This past weekend was a really good experience with all the guys from CRU. We had our men's retreat in Bushton, Kansas where we had a chance to communicate with each other as guys and connect with God which was really the main thing. One of the topics that was discussed at the retreat was telling the truth and also taking of the mask. People now will doing anything for there themselves, live in the person's sure things like that. I learned that we need to be honest with ourselves and God. As the first night went on my group share a lot about our lives and how we were changed by it. The information will be kept private. But there were good things that we learned in our group that everybody is different.
The next day we talked about in open discussion about repentance and that changes our lives everyday. We need to ask God for guidance though times of prayer, easy or hard times. I'm not trying to preach or anything like that but going on this retreat I came away learning a lot about how to lead in the right way instead of the other way around. Once we grow up, then we can start leading others to get toward the path of Christ too. When we face hard challenges, we tend to look the other way and for the easy routes. I know I do that sometimes for sure...as men we need to challenge ourselves to be the best that we can be and not run away from the whole situation.
One of the best highlights of the weekend, was going out and shooting rifles and shotguns on Saturday afternoon. For me, I had never pick up a gun in my entire life until that point and man was I nervous to say the least. But after I fired my first shot, I realize that everything will be cool and it was. Took out some big targets out there in the open field...a fan and a bottle of baby powder that was with a shotgun. I definitely felt the reaction of the shotgun after I creamed it. It was a fun afternoon out there just shooting stuff up.
Had a nice campfire towards the end of the retreat with the guys singing some weird but funny songs. They were very creative, some of it didn't really make any sense but oh well, haha!! The final word to the retreat was about living on a mission. Basically what 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 says from my point of view is that we as men are have Christ in are hearts because he died for us all and that we should go out and tell others about Christ who was raised from the dead on the third day.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Chapter #5: Unknown
For the last couple of days I have been meditating and thinking about the days ahead and the opportunity to go on summer project to Juneau, Alaska. Feels like I'm taking a big risk at something that could end up changing how I look at things...
As the school year winds down, and all of the project, essays, and tests pile up which equals no life for most people that I know. As I get ready to finish the school year on a positive note, I have quite a task ahead of me...heading off to a place that I never been before or seen. Slowly but surely, I'll be preparing for Juneau and what it has for me up there. The way I look at it, I feel like I'm leaving the county for some reason. I know, you are still in the Untied States but I will be going through most of Canada to get there. Never seen Canada before and top it I haven't seen a lot of states from the west side for the exception of Colorado.
A few people have ask me, "well you could have done something else like going back to the south or choosing another state because Alaska is too cold. That's the first impression that I get when I hear Alaska being mention. Oh wow, that place must really cold with a couple hundreds of people up there. When I was younger I thought of Alaska as having all of this snow and not beautiful weather. Some friends that I have talk to over the past few weeks say that is really nice in that part of the state. and I have seen quite a few pictures of the place and it's really nice. And having the opportunity to go up there for pretty much most of the summer it is still mind-blowing.
I have been in reflecting mode of a few days now, and it's funny how God works everything out in a sense that you doing even plan the entire thing by yourself. Slowly leading up to the day I have to leave to head out to Alaska, I'm excited but for right now I'm more intimated than excited...if I had a short meter between two I would say intimated. Why, a lot of things come into play (I won't mention them all) I had a few reasons that I will address that I'm worried about
#1: How is the trip going to turnout especially being long as it is though I have been on long road trips before like say Florida to Kansas
#2: I will be joining other students that I really don't even know on this trip and I will be with them all summer
The fear of the unknown always has me worried at some point. But there is a time where you have to hold you head up high and go after it. I remember when I had to memorize Psalm 23 and to this day I still remember the entire chapter. One verse that I have pick out is really good "even though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me: your rod and staff, comfort me." Psalm 23:4 I usually think about for a while. Sometimes i think something bad is about to happen to me, but I know that God is always watching and I'm learning everyday to trust God. It's not really up to me. God always will have a plan for you no matter what the situation is. Raising money for trip is nerve-racking but you have to go into the right state of mind and be on the positive and not so much on the negative side.
The focus for me, to stay on tasks and do what I need to do to finish the school year, then sets my sights on this summer 's journey to Juneau. One thing that I will keep doing is improving my relationship with him in prayer and reading the bible. I know that's one of the things that I started doing a while back, so that's what I need to keep doing. In almost less than one month I be making the trip to Alaska! Who would've though of that.
As the school year winds down, and all of the project, essays, and tests pile up which equals no life for most people that I know. As I get ready to finish the school year on a positive note, I have quite a task ahead of me...heading off to a place that I never been before or seen. Slowly but surely, I'll be preparing for Juneau and what it has for me up there. The way I look at it, I feel like I'm leaving the county for some reason. I know, you are still in the Untied States but I will be going through most of Canada to get there. Never seen Canada before and top it I haven't seen a lot of states from the west side for the exception of Colorado.
A few people have ask me, "well you could have done something else like going back to the south or choosing another state because Alaska is too cold. That's the first impression that I get when I hear Alaska being mention. Oh wow, that place must really cold with a couple hundreds of people up there. When I was younger I thought of Alaska as having all of this snow and not beautiful weather. Some friends that I have talk to over the past few weeks say that is really nice in that part of the state. and I have seen quite a few pictures of the place and it's really nice. And having the opportunity to go up there for pretty much most of the summer it is still mind-blowing.
I have been in reflecting mode of a few days now, and it's funny how God works everything out in a sense that you doing even plan the entire thing by yourself. Slowly leading up to the day I have to leave to head out to Alaska, I'm excited but for right now I'm more intimated than excited...if I had a short meter between two I would say intimated. Why, a lot of things come into play (I won't mention them all) I had a few reasons that I will address that I'm worried about
#1: How is the trip going to turnout especially being long as it is though I have been on long road trips before like say Florida to Kansas
#2: I will be joining other students that I really don't even know on this trip and I will be with them all summer
The fear of the unknown always has me worried at some point. But there is a time where you have to hold you head up high and go after it. I remember when I had to memorize Psalm 23 and to this day I still remember the entire chapter. One verse that I have pick out is really good "even though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me: your rod and staff, comfort me." Psalm 23:4 I usually think about for a while. Sometimes i think something bad is about to happen to me, but I know that God is always watching and I'm learning everyday to trust God. It's not really up to me. God always will have a plan for you no matter what the situation is. Raising money for trip is nerve-racking but you have to go into the right state of mind and be on the positive and not so much on the negative side.
The focus for me, to stay on tasks and do what I need to do to finish the school year, then sets my sights on this summer 's journey to Juneau. One thing that I will keep doing is improving my relationship with him in prayer and reading the bible. I know that's one of the things that I started doing a while back, so that's what I need to keep doing. In almost less than one month I be making the trip to Alaska! Who would've though of that.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Chapter 4: Alabama (Part 2)
This is the second part of two for the Spring Break mission trip in Montgomery, Alabama...
Yeah, its been a week since I did the first part of this blog, but lucky for me I wrote some things down that we did on the trip so I can remember what happen on C4C mission trip. So, the following day we continued to work on the outside part of the house then for the rest of the afternoon, as a group we had a chance to work with the kids at Common Ground and their after school program. Half of us did the reading and writing, the other half did basketball/soccer. I was part of working with the kids doing basketball and soccer. These kids I think were pretty good for the most part but they can be wild at times.
Afterwards, we went to Landmark church to be apart their weekly meeting that was held that night. Had a chance to meet some of the students from the group get to know them for a little bit. Then, C4C and Landmark group well some of them anyway ate at Buffalo Wild Wings for the rest of the evening.
Thursday (two weeks ago) we put kind of the finishing touches of the house that Charles's family was about to move into. We had the opportunity to spend the afternoon in Montgomery downtown if I might add. To look at history of how the Civil Rights movement all started. It was a great experience to learn more about just it's history and how the Civil Rights played a big part in society back then. We went to the Civil Rights Museum, followed by a trip to the Rosa Parks museum. It gave a more in-depth analysis on how the Rosa made her stand in the history books.
To end things in Montgomery we had a chance to go back to the Landmark church one more to hangout with the students to play games...including playing a game called "kick the can." It a game where everyone who is not the seeker goes and hide in a room or something and you can't get caught. If you do, you have to go to jail (not that kind of jail) someone who is not caught can try to kick the can without getting caught. Idk, that the simplest way to put it, I guess.
On the way back from Montgomery, we made another stop in Memphis again to look around the city and walked around Graceland (some kind of park) to see where Elvis Presley's house was. And that the summary of what happen during the trip to Alabama.
Yeah, its been a week since I did the first part of this blog, but lucky for me I wrote some things down that we did on the trip so I can remember what happen on C4C mission trip. So, the following day we continued to work on the outside part of the house then for the rest of the afternoon, as a group we had a chance to work with the kids at Common Ground and their after school program. Half of us did the reading and writing, the other half did basketball/soccer. I was part of working with the kids doing basketball and soccer. These kids I think were pretty good for the most part but they can be wild at times.
Afterwards, we went to Landmark church to be apart their weekly meeting that was held that night. Had a chance to meet some of the students from the group get to know them for a little bit. Then, C4C and Landmark group well some of them anyway ate at Buffalo Wild Wings for the rest of the evening.
Thursday (two weeks ago) we put kind of the finishing touches of the house that Charles's family was about to move into. We had the opportunity to spend the afternoon in Montgomery downtown if I might add. To look at history of how the Civil Rights movement all started. It was a great experience to learn more about just it's history and how the Civil Rights played a big part in society back then. We went to the Civil Rights Museum, followed by a trip to the Rosa Parks museum. It gave a more in-depth analysis on how the Rosa made her stand in the history books.
To end things in Montgomery we had a chance to go back to the Landmark church one more to hangout with the students to play games...including playing a game called "kick the can." It a game where everyone who is not the seeker goes and hide in a room or something and you can't get caught. If you do, you have to go to jail (not that kind of jail) someone who is not caught can try to kick the can without getting caught. Idk, that the simplest way to put it, I guess.
On the way back from Montgomery, we made another stop in Memphis again to look around the city and walked around Graceland (some kind of park) to see where Elvis Presley's house was. And that the summary of what happen during the trip to Alabama.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Chapter #3: Alabama (Part 1)
This year's spring break was pretty amazing...I had the opportunity to go back south to Montgomery, Alabama with some of the Cats 4 Christ group.
Last Saturday morning, me and 6 students including the campus minister made our way to Montgomery, Alabama to work with a company called Common Ground. This group helps with inner city youth plus works with families who have trouble keeping up with their house, etc. But before that Saturday night we stopped in Memphis, Tennessee to stay with the McGraws. They were I guess our C4C headquarters for our midway point of the trip. They treated us very well...
That Sunday before we completed the trip down there, we had a chance to go visit the church over there called Highland church. It was really beautiful on the outside because they did some remodeling to it a few months earlier if I'm correct but the inside of it was big and nice. The church is also open to the public too. They were planning to a couple of shows in their church like bringing in David Barnes and comedian Michael Jr. Not many churches to that now, but it was good to see them use there own building for others big name people.
Sunday night we made the trip down to Montgomery and we were greeted by some of the forks who were working with the kids. They free food for us...nice! Once our group was finished eating, we went to the house that we were staying for the most of the week. Big 6 foot 9 man named Alex also was living there he was our dad when we got there. Most of the time though when we were at the house he was never there going to meeting and other things. Being in the neighborhood that is almost like a third world country you hear strange things. And the very first night some of us who stayed at the house we heard some gunshots somewhere down the street. I don't know exactly the place but it was kind of scary for a little bit but after that things during the week for us down there would be pretty calm.
Monday, we starting to work the outside of the house where a family was going to move into sometime next week. The family was been in Montgomery for all of their lives and they have a daughter (more on this family later) We also worked with a construction group from Clearmont, Georgia and they were doing the heavy lifting on that house, while our group me, Cary, Loel, Kelsey, Molly, Richie, and Courtney were taking care of the outside of the house and we would do that for the rest of the week. We learned how to caulk meeting we put some kinda of substance into these cracks at a 45 degree angle and it fills the cracks nicely there's few more steps but I won't go in to them...that the simple version. The second day was more about painting the house and getting it ready for at least the other group who coming in after us.
The second day of the trip, we had a chance to hear the testimonies of the two men. One goes by the name of Frog yeah lol don't remember his real name quite yet and the other person was Irving. Frog and Irving came out to house and told their story about how they both came to Christ. And it was amazing to hear these guys stories, and how they managed to survive under the conditions before they came to Christ. The things that they did and how they came back was just stunning. What sticks out for me in all of that was second chances/redemption. And currently, they are both working together a little bit at a time to restore the community. They want to give back to the community that they both having grew up in since these guys were little...also they want to have an impact on these younger kids have them know Christ too.
Tuesday night we had the chance to go bowling and hangout with some students from the church that they go to called Landmark (more on them in P#2) then ate some good ice cream at a Italian shop called Fancy Nancy's. Never had that before...it was pretty good.
Last Saturday morning, me and 6 students including the campus minister made our way to Montgomery, Alabama to work with a company called Common Ground. This group helps with inner city youth plus works with families who have trouble keeping up with their house, etc. But before that Saturday night we stopped in Memphis, Tennessee to stay with the McGraws. They were I guess our C4C headquarters for our midway point of the trip. They treated us very well...
That Sunday before we completed the trip down there, we had a chance to go visit the church over there called Highland church. It was really beautiful on the outside because they did some remodeling to it a few months earlier if I'm correct but the inside of it was big and nice. The church is also open to the public too. They were planning to a couple of shows in their church like bringing in David Barnes and comedian Michael Jr. Not many churches to that now, but it was good to see them use there own building for others big name people.
Sunday night we made the trip down to Montgomery and we were greeted by some of the forks who were working with the kids. They free food for us...nice! Once our group was finished eating, we went to the house that we were staying for the most of the week. Big 6 foot 9 man named Alex also was living there he was our dad when we got there. Most of the time though when we were at the house he was never there going to meeting and other things. Being in the neighborhood that is almost like a third world country you hear strange things. And the very first night some of us who stayed at the house we heard some gunshots somewhere down the street. I don't know exactly the place but it was kind of scary for a little bit but after that things during the week for us down there would be pretty calm.
Monday, we starting to work the outside of the house where a family was going to move into sometime next week. The family was been in Montgomery for all of their lives and they have a daughter (more on this family later) We also worked with a construction group from Clearmont, Georgia and they were doing the heavy lifting on that house, while our group me, Cary, Loel, Kelsey, Molly, Richie, and Courtney were taking care of the outside of the house and we would do that for the rest of the week. We learned how to caulk meeting we put some kinda of substance into these cracks at a 45 degree angle and it fills the cracks nicely there's few more steps but I won't go in to them...that the simple version. The second day was more about painting the house and getting it ready for at least the other group who coming in after us.
The second day of the trip, we had a chance to hear the testimonies of the two men. One goes by the name of Frog yeah lol don't remember his real name quite yet and the other person was Irving. Frog and Irving came out to house and told their story about how they both came to Christ. And it was amazing to hear these guys stories, and how they managed to survive under the conditions before they came to Christ. The things that they did and how they came back was just stunning. What sticks out for me in all of that was second chances/redemption. And currently, they are both working together a little bit at a time to restore the community. They want to give back to the community that they both having grew up in since these guys were little...also they want to have an impact on these younger kids have them know Christ too.
Tuesday night we had the chance to go bowling and hangout with some students from the church that they go to called Landmark (more on them in P#2) then ate some good ice cream at a Italian shop called Fancy Nancy's. Never had that before...it was pretty good.
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