Middle College Commute

Our first presentation for MTR was a Community Snapshot of the schools we will be residents at this year. Sarah, Janessa, and I are all going to be at Middle College High School, which is an optional school located adjacent to Christian Brothers University. The students apply to go to MCHS and can take dual enrollment courses at CBU during their junior and senior years.

We put together this video to show what the students go through to get to school each day since they do not go to their neighborhood schools:

*If you had trouble viewing the video before, I have uploaded it directly to blogger, so it should work now!

MTR at the Shell

I love living in Midtown. One of those reasons is the convenient free concerts at the Levitt Shell. Perfect way to spend a few nights a week with my new friends:

Great fellowship and sometimes even a little reading or dancing.

Civil Rights

During Orientation last week, we spent an amazing morning at the Civil Rights Museum which is located at the Lorraine Hotel where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on the balcony in 1968.

I had not been to the Museum since I was in elementary school, so it had a big impact on me. My emotions ranged from disgust from the mindless hatred shown by many and admiration for all the people who stood for truth. This quote has stuck with me: 

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963

The right to a good education is a civil right. Every student is worth it. 

I Love

that my fabulous roommate stays up too late doing homework just like I do...

God of This City

I officially started classes today for MTR. Tonight a couple of my new friends had a group over to their apartment for worship. For me it was a time of assurance that God is doing great things here in Memphis, especially in dealing with the injustices of the public school system. For many of us this song speaks a lot to why we are here:

God of this City 

You're the God of this City 
You're the King of these people 
You're the Lord of this nation 
You are 

You're the Light in this darkness 
You're the Hope to the hopeless 
You're the Peace to the restless 
You are 

There is no one like our God 
There is no one like our God 

For greater things have yet to come 
And greater things are still to be done in this City 
Greater thing have yet to come 
And greater things are still to be done in this City 

There is no one like our God 
There is no one like our God 

For greater things have yet to come 
And greater things are still to be done in this City 
Greater things have yet to come 
And greater things are still to be done here 

There is no one like our god 
There is no one like our God 

Greater things have yet to come 
And greater things are still to be done in this City 
Greater things have yet to come 
And greater things are still to be done here


Moving into Midtown and getting to know all of my peers and the MTR staff has been amazing during the last two weeks. We have already gotten very close with each other and together have been immersed into the history of Memphis, making me love the city even more. I have lots of stories and pictures to share, but not much time. One quick story about how well we know each other: On Saturday I went with my new friend Kristin to get a pedicure and the man doing her pedicure asked how long we had known each other. He was shocked when she said, "Only a week." Only God could remove the barriers and bring our group together so perfectly to serve in Memphis. 

1st Redbirds Game of the Season

I cannot believe it was three weeks ago when we went to our first Redbirds game of the season. Carolyn was in town with her friend Ali, so my mom made fried okra and we went to a redbirds game. [Two treats for our family]

It was a great night at the ballpark and the Redbirds scored 10 runs in the 8th inning to come from behind for the win.

One highlight of the evening was getting our picture taken with Rocky - we ended up chasing him toward the exit and were so excited that we caught up with him that he said, "Woah, lay off the Skittles!" and when he saw Carolyn, Ali, and Lara later in the game he shouted, "Hey Skittles!" So, here are Rocky and the Skittles:

Lexington

While visiting Cofer we did venture into Lexington a few times where there is much more to see!

Like bicycle racks made from bicycles and beautiful stone buildings:

and the Kentucky theater where Cofer's church meets:

And we had pizza at Joe Bologna's, which was originally a Presbyterian Church and then a Jewish Temple, but now is re-purposed as a restaurant. The jury is out on whether or not the raised seating was an addition or  a part of the church. I think it was completely an addition - any thoughts?

And I have share my inspiration for my blue table:

However, there was one part of Lexington that I did not enjoy so much - spotting Calipari. As a true Memphian, he just disgusts me!