Photo of the Week!

Alrighty so this weeks photo of the week is a little late I sorry about that! But it is more of a serious conversation that has really been pulling at my heart strings for quite sometime now since August upon first looking into the topic. Below you will find photos from a documentary and panel discussion that I attended called "Broken On All Sides." It was a really informative and challenging discussion on mass incarceration in the United States. The Panel discussed everything from the privatization of the Prison system (including the new stadium by Geo Global in Florida), the conditions while in prison, the "prison pipeline" and what we as concerned citizens see and can actually do. I must admit I left the panel with a heavy heart after hearing testimonies and a motivated spirit to at least continue to talk about these issues that some of the most prophetic voices of our time are highlighting. More to come just with some thoughts!

There was a pretty great turn out where about 100 people piled into a basement theatre in Midtown.

I think it was the panel that was the most fascinating for me. From left to right there was the documentary's director, a man who began a nonprofit built to aid those transitioning from prison and a prior inmate, the Vice President of the Law Office Guild and finally a former detainee studying Social Work (with a perspective of what the prisons are actually like on the inside and highlighting the difficulties from a first hand perspective).

Photo of the week- Whitewater, Wisconsin

Well this week's photo of the week came from an awesome opportunity I actually am just getting back from! Mistead Sai (fellow US-2missionary serving in Chicago) and I were invited up to Whitewater, Wisconsin to speak to the youth group, a university group and anyone else who would like to join! It was so great for us to be able to share why the US-2 program drew us in and what our experience has been with it thus far! It was also a fantastic time to sit and discuss missions, the Methodist Church and hear more stories from different people! Mary Beth Byrne was the main mover for helping us to get out to Whitewater and actually hosted us by opening up her home to us for Sunday night! I am so thankful to Whitewater UMC, their hospitality (and very thankful for their delicious servings of chili) and their passion for missions, they have such a heart for service and it is so motivating! Great weekend, with great friends, and great times (yes I did get to have some stuffed pizza, possibly one of my favorite things about Chicago).

Me and Mistead with Mary Beth Byrne (former US-2 missionary) and Lisa (youth director for Whitewater UMC)

Awesome frozen lake in Wisconsin!

Not the best picture, but hey I think you can tell what it is right!!

Photo(s) of the Week!- North American International Auto Show

So I must confess these pictures are technically from last Saturday, but I didn't think anyone would mind!

Anyway, I had the opportunity to go to the North American International Autoshow in Detroit! I must admit I am not all that interested in the cars, but it was so awesome to see Detroit so busy and bustling. For the past two weeks 770,932 people came through for the show! For me this is really awesome not because that many people are going to look at vehicles from all around the world, instead that is 770,932 people seeing one of the awesome Detroit attractions and Detroit itself! May it serve as a reminder Detroit is not so crime ridden and scary as some would make you think. The event was very well done and I must admit I saw some bikes there that looked pretty perfect if I ever strike it rich! I think it was just another really good "Detroit" experience.

This was probably one of the biggest crowds of the night around the new Corvette, I thought it looked pretty cool, but I really loved the car on the wall in the background too!

Man, Hotwheels sure have changed since I last played with them...

In addition to the bikes that I found, this guy caught my eye too!

Emerge Detroit Interview!

So this was a pretty awesome occurrence!

I was recently interviewed by a local website called Emerge Detroit ran by a friend of mine! I am pretty excited about it, its suuuuper casual, but we talk about the gem that is Detroit, what I am doing here and his giant dog Moose eating cookies! So grab a coffee/tea, sit back, relax and check out this awesome ministry in the city of Detroit. And hey maybe you'll hear a little bit more about whats going on here!

The Emerge Detroit Podcast Interview

Photo of the Week!- MLK Day

So this week's photo of the week actually comes from last Monday which was Martin Luther King Day. I tell you what it was one beautiful and hectic day! The day started with Joni and I were in charge of a meal that would be served at NOAH. Well the morning started off right when about 50 or so volunteers showed up to serve meals! This is madness considering we normally need about 5 at the most! Anyway, there was pork, chicken and beef on a stick, mashed potatoes, vegetables, salad, pasta salad, bread, dessert and more pasta, so along with a lot of people there was a lot of good looking food! It was an awesome time to be at NOAH to just see the mass amount of food and energy that could go into a meal when a lot of people get involved and get excited about it, so thank you to the local 600! I am sorry I whiffed and failed to get a picture of the craziness of the lunch, but take my word for it, it was a beautiful sight!

Then I was a part of a MLK March, which was in memory of the June 23, 1963 march that was had in Detroit that went to Cobo Center. We participated in the march and there are a few pictures of it. It was a pretty powerful time to speak up about more of the issues that are going on today, while also giving our respects to the bravery and courage that Dr. King had in helping to organize and lead a march in Detroit during such a tumultuous as the 1960s.

The flyer for the march

Central UMC decorates the church with several Dr. Martin Luther King quotes.

Artistic Picture?

Awesome Happenings

So currently I am in the process of writing up my next newsletter for December/January, I have my favorite drink, the Champurrado at my favorite coffee shop, Cafe Con Leche and I am hard at work on another update for everyone. So I thought I would just take a moment right off the bat to say if you woud like to receive my newsletter and have not yet or ever, e-mail me at: powellbc88@gmail.com! Alright, not that is out of the way, story time.

So this actually happened earlier today and I just thought it was a story worth sharing, with some awesome underlying ideas:

Today my good friend (we will call him Rick, and as a background Rick has become one of my very best friends at NOAH) Rick came in early in the morning as I was just finishing organizing a food donation we receive on Wednesday. Rick sat down at my desk and as I was relieved to finish moving boxes of food around, I also slumped into a seat across from my friend. Rick, like myself, uses his bike as his main mode of transportation to work and as Rick is a seasoned 60 year old who has spent some time on the streets, he has developed quite few tricks to riding through the winter and receiving handouts from other shelters of clothing, food and other items from shelters. Rick is very giving of these items and is constantly offering food and other things to his friends. I have never taken Rick up on these offers, as often times I have already eaten breakfast, I don't think I'll use the item or sometimes I just don't want to take his things. During our conversation of catching up we discussed how very cold it had gotten and I mentioned my hands were getting pretty cold while riding. Rick instantly offered to me a pack of hand warmers, but I declined saying I wouldn't use them. The conversation continued and came to an end and on Rick's way out he offered me an egg and cheese sandwich, once again I declined not wanting to take my friend's food. It seemed that was the last straw, Rick abruptly turned around, slightly irritated and says, "Brandon, why don't you ever accept anything I want to give you? Why can't you let me be your friend?" Rick exited and I was left stunned in my chair.

This really left me thinking. How is it that I expected Rick and I's friendship to continue to grow when I expected to be the only one pouring into it? I was convinced that by simply pouring into Rick and by being there for him and by letting him talk to me about things then we were good friends, I would give Rick almost anything. I think my track record of never ever accepting any of Rick's gifts was a reminder of an important factor of friendship that it much be a two-way street. I don't pretend to say that a friendship is built on giving and accepting certain gifts, but I do feel this served as a more tangible and blatant warning to myself. I feel that I am willing to give really anything to my friends, but the question is am I also willing to receive? 

Later on I did snag a biscuit as I realized the oatmeal I thought was in my bag was actually left on the kitchen counter, it's strange how things can work out like that isn't it? I'd like to work on being more open to people's giving and more accepting of the small gifts people would like to give. After all its not much of a friendship if I am only willing to do half the job. Right?

Photo of the Week- We're a Community! (But not singers)

This week's photo of the week really has a lot more of a story to it than I can tell here, but this an awesome picture of our dinner party where Brian made some ribs and we made sides, dessert and invited people over! There were a few families in attendance and yes as you can see there was singing (mostly Motown music) and laughs all over the place! It was awesome to see some of our neighborhood get together under on roof and get to know one another better, I'm so thankful for that night and excited to just share my joy at street breaking bread together!