Today was our first full day here, but the last day we’re gonna get to sleep in.  Starting tomorrow, the majority of our time will be scheduled by the people at the Perkins Foundation.  Normally, any group that comes here for the week spends their Sunday going to church with Grandpa Perkins, but today he had to speak at 4 different services around town.   We did, however, go to New Horizons International Church - the 11am service.
I would imagine if you asked any of our students what their thoughts were on the morning, the first they’d share is that it was long - even though they all said it didn’t feel like we were sitting in there for 2 and a half hours.  Something else they might remember is that the worship was likely the livliest they’ve ever seen.
There’s a story Donald Miller tells in his book, “Blue Like Jazz” where he says he never liked jazz until he was walking down a street in Portland and saw a man playing a jazz instrument.  The man never opened his eyes the whole time he played his song; he felt his music.  From that point on, Don Miller liked jazz.
I had that same thought this morning about interpretive dance.  Two of the 4 women who danced this morning ended up with tears all over their faces, and a good number of the congregation had stood up to worship by the time the song was over.

I keep forgetting that Woodland Hills is as unique as it is.  Most of us have been there for quite a while, and I still get surprised when I visit another church and realize we’re not all saying the same things.  When we got back from church this morning, we had a group discussion about some of the good differences we noticed from New Horizons, and some of the more challenging differences.  If you’re one of the parents of these students, it might be an interesting conversation for you to ask your child about their experience this morning.

Katie Van Sickle joined us today.  She flew in from Denver to the Medger Evers-Jackson Int’l Airport.  Tomorrow, we’re going to visit the house where Mr. Evers was shot.  The people at the Perkins Center recommended we watch the movie “Ghosts of Mississippi” that tells the true story of his murder and the quest for justice 30 years after the first trial back in 1963.
Also, tomorrow will begin our work projects with the Perkins Center.  We’d appreciate your prayers for our safety and our attitudes in the heat.