Today started off like Monday did, with Grandpa Perkins joining us after breakfast for teaching.  Hanging with him in the morning and hearing his heart for people has quickly become one of the more valuable parts of this trip.  Yesterday we went through 1 John 1, then 1 John 2 today.  He had each individual say something that they liked about themself; that was actually pretty cool.  It was great to hear the things the students said about their character or personality that they enjoyed, even though it was awkward at first to tell everybody in the group why you think you’re so great.
That whole thing took about 20 minutes, but then Trevor was the last to go … so it went another 35 minutes.
(joking!)

Since yesterday was our tour day (I should mention that I wrote a very long and detailed post about yesterday, but when I hit ‘publish’ it erased it all; I’ll try to recreate it after this, so look below for “Perkins day4“), today we had the chance to serve the Perkins Foundation (JMPF) with some manuel labor.  It was a great experience because we got to see how the JMPF did so much to serve the community they’ve been placed in.  One group went into the neighborhood around the corner and pulled tons of weeds.

The weeds were just as tall as the chain link fence it was hiding, but we were able to pull about 75% of them today and will most likely finish the job tomorrow morning.  It’s a drag what happens in a neighborhood to areas that aren’t part of anyone’s actual property, no one takes responsibility to keep those parts of their community looking nice.

The other group went to a house in the same neighborhood to do some roofing for a woman who was having some huge leaks when it rained.

We were lucky enough to have Scott Olson with us who has done some roofing in the past.  Funny thing is, after his season of roofing was over years ago, he swore that he would never do it again!  We got just about half way done tearing the roof off today, and expect to start putting new shingles up just before we leave.  JMPF has another group coming next week that will probably finish what we can’t.

Wayne Perkins is in charge of us all week, and tells us each day what we’re gonna be doing.  I asked him today if organizing work projects mostly for people who can’t do skilled labor is actually a bigger chore for him than it’s worth to the foundation.  “No way,” he said, “Groups like yours is what makes us able to serve so many of the people in our community.”  It seems that they even set their ambitions hoping to get enough groups like ours that will partner with them.  That was great to hear; we truly feel like the JMPF is better equipped to serve by the efforts we’re making.

A lot of people were tired yesterday because they didn’t get enough sleep.  A number of them were actually ready for bed before us leaders! But today we were all tired for a different reason - they all worked their butts off today.  I can’t speak for the weed eaters because I didn’t get to work with them, but all the roofers had an amazing work-ethic, even in the 99 degree heat we had today.

At the end of each day we get together as a big group to process our experiences, then we break off into small groups for discussion about the things we feel God’s been telling us or to discuss thoughts we’ve been tracking in our journals.  That’s actually what they’re all doing now, which is why I’ve got time to be on here again - it’s the only time this house is quiet!

Please be praying for the students that God will renew their energy and willingness to serve.  I have been SO encouraged by the thoughts some of them are sharing in the small groups, and even the questions they’re asking Dr. Perkins in the mornings.  Please pray, also, for God’s continued voice speaking to our students through the lives of others.  Paul said in Romans 1 that he was excited to hang out with the people of Rome so that he and they might be “mutually encouraged” by each others’ faith.  That’s what we’re all hoping for with our time with the JMPF crew.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN PERKINS IS AN OFTEN EXCITING WAY TO START OUR DAYS.