We ended our day of work with our first showers since leaving our homes in Chicago. Talking about decreasing. Everyone realized that we actually be uncomfortable longer than we thought. Believe me, we truly appreciated warm showers and clean clothes. Oh, did I mention that our showers had to be 3 minutes long?
Remember everything that we do is on a time schedule. 75 people can’t take all the time they want to bathe. We can truly do what we thought was impossible.
We close tonight with some pictures from our evening activity and an interview with first time Student Missionary Sydni Johnson who is a 15 year old sophomore at H-F High School. This is her first trip.
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PJK: How did you find out about this trip?
Sydni: My friends Danielle and Sadie Banks and their family invited me to come with them. I looked in to it, and read the information. I really started to look forward to going.
PJK: Wow, what did they tell you, did they put pressure on you?
Sydni: No, not at all. Honestly they really didn't tell me a lot, but they did say that I would be helping people. I did PADS before and I liked it and wanted to do something similar. Plus they said that it was fun too.
PJK: So did your parents have questions and converns?
Sydni: At first my parents were a little bit concerned about me going on the trip. Mainly because I don't attend Emmaus and they didn't know who I would be going off with. They also questioned my motives as well. "why would I want to do some thing like this?"
They really wanted to know if my heart was sincere about going on the trip. They had already spent a lot of money last month because it was really busy for me. They just didn't want to waste money if I was just going to "kick it" with my friends.
PJK: I know that you enjoyed the van ride, has there been any high moments for you so far?
Sydni: So far, the best part of being here has been when I was serving food at the Soup Kitchen. I liked knowing that I really was helping someone. I felt like that I was giving back for all the blessings that I have enjoyed in my life. I also painted a book shelf at the Genesis Center. It was in this HOT warehouse. I have painted before, I painted my bedroom, but it was the first time painting for someone else.
I really didn't get painting in this hot warehouse but now I understand that we are all a part of a really big process that helps the "less fortunate" individuals and families here in the city.
The thrift stores sell donated goods, like my painted bookshelf, that support and employ the really large homeless population here in Jackson. Places like the Genesis center and Gateway are so efficient at what they do, they can take one dollar and provide 4 meals for hungry people. So, when I paint a bookshelf and someone buys it. That money directly goes to feed people like the ones that we served today, provide after school and summer programs for kids, and even rescue and treatment for people who have addictions.
It feels pretty good knowing that my little efforts in the heat today will go so far to show God's love and hope to people that I will never know.
PJK: Thanks Sydni. Are there any areas in your life that you think can decrease?
Sydni: Yes, for one, my stress and my busy schedule. I can see how I can have a little more room for Christ in my life.
PJK: Anyone you want to say hello to?
Sydni: I want to say hello to my mom and dad, brother and sister and my dog CoCo.
The one thing that is decreasing in my life right now is stress and my busy schedule.
More to come on Day Two. PJK
