Jackson Mission Trip Update: Day 6

Today was our last full day at the Perkins Center.  We will certainly miss this place and the people we have come to know and love.  Many in our group have commented that the rich community and love of this place is palpable.  It would be nearly impossible to spend any amount of time here and not feel loved and like you are someone incredibly special.  We are certainly tired, but it has been a very full and rich time for our group.

The Perkins Center certainly embodies this sign that hangs at the entrance to their grounds!

This morning, we had the honor of spending some time with Jerry Mitchell.  Jerry is an investigative reporter for Jackson newspaper, the Clarion-Ledger who, in 1989, discovered through his investigation that the state of Mississippi had secretly given assistance to the defense of Byron De La Beckwith – the man who assassinated civil rights leader Medgar Evers.  Jerry’s revelation of that news led the case to be reopened after 30 years – a case that had been to trial twice in the 60’s and ended in a mistrial both times.  Jerry was instrumental in rebuilding the case for the prosecution and Beckwith was finally convicted in 1994.  Through his sources and interviews with other clansman, Jerry’s reporting has led to convictions of at least three other men who committed racial hate crimes during the civil rights movement.  It was inspiring for our group to hear someone who is so committed to justice and has spent his life helping to right the wrongs of the past.  Even though Jerry and his family have received many threats over the years, he is still committed to justice.  You can read Jerry’s blog here.

Jerry Mitchell with our group

After a full morning of our last breakfast with Dr. Perkins and our time with Jerry Mitchell, we headed out to our last day of work.  We completed the latticework and put the finishing touches on the freshly painted house, but most of our work time today was spent organizing loose ends and tidying up the grounds of the Perkins Center.  Hopefully, our labor has contributed something of value to this community, but more importantly, our time spent at work has freed up the staff and resources of the Perkins Center to engage in their primary ministry of community development.

This evening, we were invited by several of the Perkins Center interns to go to a Mississippi Braves baseball game.  The Braves are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.  It was a wonderful time to relax and simply be with one another.  On top of a win for the home team, they put on a fireworks show after every Friday home game.  We can literally say that our time in Jackson is ending with a bang!

The interns and our group at the Braves game

What ends a day better than baseball and fireworks?!

In the morning, we will pack our stuff, clean our house, and make the 3-hour drive to New Orleans.  While in New Orleans, we will do a little sightseeing, eat some great food, worship at Trinity Episcopal Church, and be led on a tour of the post-Katrina city.  Your prayers for safe travels are much appreciated!