Group 1:
Group 1 started their day by sharing group devotionals. Each member shared a verse that was meaningful for them and they prayed for the day ahead. From there, they went to the Boys and Girls Club and played more with the kids. From playing basketball to working in the classroom with math tutoring to serving lunch to cleaning up, their service with the kids has been fun, but also formational as they gain a new perspective on city youth. After all that, they ate lunch at Centennial Park, sitting on the steps of the Parthenon replica. They then went to the Second Harvest Food Bank where they helped package over 5,000+ pounds of food, equal to 4,000+ meals! Dinner was served at a Nashville soul food staple, called Swett's. And they also got ice cream at a place called Pied Piper.
Group 2:
Group 2 was able to sleep in a little longer today because they went back to Loaves & Fishes for lunch with the homeless of Nashville. The group was very excited to return and continue building relationships with the men and women they had met a couple days ago at the same place. Upon arrival the team immediately jumped to finish preparations for lunch and then serve lunch to the 103 homeless people that showed up. After serving lunch, everyone went out and sat with the men and women for over an hour as they listened to them share the stories of their life. It was inspiring to watch the group be willing to sacrifice their own comfort to offer not just food but a caring ear and living attitude to this community. After Loaves & Fishes, the group spent the rest of their afternoon writing encouraging notes to the people they had met all week at the serving sites. The CSM staff will deliver them later in the week to all the people they had built relationships during the week.
Group 3:
Group 3 returned to the Magness Potter Boys and Girls Club where they had a guest scientist this morning! So in addition to fun lab experiments, they continued to have a computer, craft, gym, and music rotation. Though it has only been three days at this site, it has been challenging to imagine doing it full-time, but also encouraging to see those who do serve at similar sites day in and day out, loving and disciplining the kids who come there in the hope that they might leave there equipped to serve and help the world. From the club, the team ate lunch outside of Krispy Kreme, which of course led to some donuts and coffee being a part of that lunch. After lunch, the team visited a non-profit called Project C.U.R.E. Put plainly, the purpose of this organization is to ship medical supplies to those who need it. All sorts of donations come in (clean gloves, needles, hospital beds, wheelchairs, etc.) to this warehouse where they are then given a quality assessment before being shipped where they are needed. It was neat to be in the warehouse doing very much behind-the-scene work, knowing that the supplies and equipment we helped move and pack will greatly impact someone who doesn't have the access that we do to modern medical practice. Group Three then ate dinner at Sitar, an Indian restaurant; it was phenomenal.
Group 4:
Group four started off their morning going to a non-profit organization called Project C.U.R.E. Similarly to what Group 3 did in the afternoon, the group sorted though all kinds of donations in a warehouse and prepared them to be shipped around the world to countries who don't have access to the same kind of medical supplies we do. This group, however, focused on packing hospital gowns and lead x-ray vests. The group then ate lunch and after lunch, they learned about human trafficking in Nashville and throughout the country at End Slavery. After learning about it, they went into the community and handed out flyers educating people on the reality that slavery still exist in the country and community that we live in. They ended their night by joining group 3 for dinner at Sitar and going to Centennial Park!
Group 5:
Group 5 went to a shop called Barista Parlor for coffee this morning and then went to the YMCA. There they played basketball with the middle school students before a breakout session. During the week, they have three breakout times. Today, they were able to choose between going to an economic and personal success session or a fitness and nutrition session. At both sessions there were interactive games in addition to the lesson. The former session featured games of teamwork and building trust, while the latter session featured proper technique for static and dynamic stretching, running, and lessons on healthy eating. The team then went to the farmers market for lunch and then joined Group 2 for the rest of their day!
