Student Leadership University (SLU) 201
Overview
Speakers
Jay Strack, Brent Crowe, Jeff Wallace, Mike Pompeo, Dondi Costin, Keisha Toni Russell, Edward Graham, Barry Black, Tim Clinton, Jeff Struecker, Nikki Hoffpauir, Bill Brown, Emily Midgette, and Mallory Carol.
Places Visited
Lincoln Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, Iwo jima Memorial, National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, Washington Monument, FDR Memorial, Jefferson memorial, WWII Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, MLKJ Memorial, Capitol, White House, Holocaust Museum, Pentagon Memorial, Supreme Court, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History , and Museum of the Bible.
Habits of Leaders
- Wake up early
- Read lots of books
- Never stop learning
- Stay informed, news and Bible first
- Consistent
SLU 201 – Washington D.C. July 11-15
DAY ONE
10 members of our SLU 201 team gathered at Oakland Baptist Church early on Monday, July 11th 2022. We left at 4:00 a.m. and headed to Walnut to pick up the the last 5 people in the team. Brother Jim drove and dropped us at the Memphis airport using the “people mover,” as we Oakland folks lovingly call it…
The TSA line was the longest I have ever seen in Memphis. We made it through in time for our 7:00 flight, but with no time to spare. It was a very smooth flight. Upon arriving in Atlanta, Travis was nice enough to go with me from Terminal C to Terminal T to get a Chai Tea Latte at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. This is my leftover comfort drink from my time in Malaysia.
ever stood in.
Metro Transportation
Upon arriving at DCA, Brother Brad handed out Metro cards. We used the Metro to go to Crystal City were we were staying at the Gateway Marriott. A couple folks got left behind, but we will not reveal any names at this time… From the Metro we could walk underground to the hotel, making it a more pleasant and safe journey.
Metro before the door closed.
Waiting Again
We hung out in the hotel lobby while Brad completed all the paperwork. They had our rooms, workbooks, laniard, and key cards all ready. We headed up to get settled. I roomed with Buffy and Kelley.
Good Stuff Eatery
Kelley and I checked out local restaurants. We (I) decided on Good Stuff Eatery. As usual, NOBODY wanted to make a decision. It was a great choice. I was actually able to follow the walking directions on my map app. The group behind me was full of doubt, but we arrived safely with no detours or U turns needed.
The hamburgers and fries were amazing. And if you look close enough, you can see that the fries were HEALTHY. The unhealthy grease was all absorbed by the bag!!!!
They had 9 to choose from.
NEVER Stops Working
Travis had to do a phone interview or something work related so Kelley and I decided to explore while he sat under the cool umbrellas. We saw several other restaurants that looked really good as well as an ice cream store. Good thing we were already stuffed!
Wandering
One day I will own an egg chair of some variety. I don’t care if it swings or is stationary. They are very PRICEY so it may remain a bucket list item for a LONG time.
SLU 201 Official Kick off Session
Session one began at 5:00 in the Arlington Ballroom. There was a presentation of Colors by the Army National Guard, US Army Military District of Washington. The National Anthem was presented by an SLU Alumni. Dr. Jay Strack, SLU president, welcomed everyone and discussed Today Matters, Live it ASAP.
Are you a Pigeon or Eagle?
In SLU 101, we discussed being an Eagle and not a Pigeon. All year long the ones of us that went have joked with each other about not being a pigeon. Travis found this book one day while we were out shopping and decided that Savannah Grace HAD to have it. It was a hit!!!! Brad read it to the table of teenagers before dinner on night one.
Dinner One
All the meals were provided by the hotel from Monday night through Friday breakfast. We ate in the same room that we had sessions in – ALL 950 OF US!!!
Brent Crowe
Brent Crowe was one of the speakers at SLU 201. He also spoke at SLU 101 in Orlando last summer. He was very humorous with his stories, yet serious when driving a point or thought across with the students. His first session was on A Patriotic Ethos.We looked at the first 158 words of the Declaration of Independence. One specific comment he made really stood out to me. “A LINE BLURRED IS A LINE CROSSED.”
We sat so far from the front center that we could see better by watching the side screens. So all I got were pictures of the speakers on the screens. Not the best but better than nothing. Jeff Wallace spoke at 8:45 p.m. after Brent finished. my takeaway thought from Jeff was “TEACH WHAT YOU KNOW BUT REPRODUCE WHO YOU ARE.”
Merchandise and Photo Opportunities
During breaks there was a merchandise table set up throughout the week for students to purchase books written by the speakers and other SLU items. The SLU staff also had a photo drop for groups to take pictures. Our group used it several times throughout the week.
DAY TWO
DAY TWO began with Brent Crowe on the topic Disagreeing Well in a Divided Culture.
The Goal: To disagree well means to compassionately disagree in such a way that each party is adhering to the higher law of love, realizing at the end of the day, that God’s desired will on any subject is ultimately what matters. This was a great session!
Mike Pompeo (via video)
Mike Pompeo, former Secretary of State, was coming to speak but his daughter was getting married and he had to visit us remotely from his home. Listening to him was very uplifting and encouraging. He is a strong Christian, but admits that when he makes mistakes, he apologizes to that person and asks forgiveness.
After our break at 10:30, Dr. Dondi Costin, President of Charleston Southern University, had a table type discussion with Jay Strack.We did not get to hear much from Dr. Costin due to the way the table discussion was conducted, but hopefully will hear more of his story later. Questions an topics addressed were Where should I go to college? What am I going to do with my life? and Who am I going to spend my life with?
Lunch One on Day Two
We had chicken for lunch today with steamed broccoli and carrots. The hotel provided all of our meals from dinner Monday night to Friday at breakfast. Brad was not much of a fan of the chicken, but he tried to set a good example by eating some veggies.
Edward Graham
After lunch we heard from Edward Graham, grandson to Billy Graham. He served 16 years in the military with multiple combat missions before being felt called to serve in the ministry. He shared so many good things with us. “BE PART OF SOMETHING THAT LASTS FOREVER.”
Barry C. Black, Chaplain for the United States Senate spoke next. He served in the U.S. Navy over 27 years. He will soon be the longest serving Senate Chaplain in history.
Short Break with Family
I took the last two hours before dinner and went out to spend some time with my daughter-in-law Emerald. She and my son Jake live in Virginia. We ended up at Pentagon City Row shopping at DSW. While there we facetimed my daughter-in-law in Corinth and we were able to all get at least one pair of shoes. Getting the extra 3 pair of shoes in my carry-on was a challenge, but worth it!! Kelley had us looking for an Alani Nu Energy drink. We were successful but they were about a dollar higher than back in Mississippi. Everything was higher in DC!.
Headed Out on the Town
All SLU groups met back in the ballroom to divide into our groups and load coaches to tour D.C. We were coach 17 and our guide was Mary Kate. She was fabulous and lots of fun. As we waited, they played music. Wyatt showed us the Church Clap Dance that he perfected while working at WinShape last summer. He was adding more moves than some of the other dancers and drew a crowd. When they got tired of dancing, our group played cards. Can I just say we waited a LONG time to load our coach.
Wednesday and Thursday schedules rotated for groups Stars and Stripes. We were in the Stripes group.
Dinner in a Bag
On the way to the coach, SLU provided Chick-Fil-A for dinner. We grabbed our bags and ate on the coach. Arthur was the name of our driver and has lived in D.C. for 62 years. He was amazing at getting us through D.C. with the crowded streets in that large coach. He also gave us information about D.C. in addition to what Mary Kate shared.
Storm Rolling In
Before we could reach our first stop a thunderstorm rolled in. It was creating quite a bit of lightning so we had to delay our departure from the bus. There is a cool twitter feed with camera footage from the top of the Washington Monument. It looks like a scene from the movie Independence Day.
What is the Difference in a Monument and a Memorial???
This was a question that came up on our bus? I sent my son Jake a quick message to ask. I figured he would know. This was the response I got and shared.
- Isn’t it like a square is always a rectangle but a rectangle isn’t always a square?
- A monument is always a memorial but a memorial isn’t always a monument.
- Because a monument is a physical object but a memorial can be a gathering of people.
World War II Memorial
The coach was able to unload at the World War II Memorial at about 6:30. Even though it was still sprinkling, we were able to walk around and see each state’s monument, view and take pictures of the Washington Monument in the distance, and take a few shots in front of the Mississippi stone in the Memorial. We only stayed 15 minutes before loading back up to go to the next stop.
Korean Memorial 1950-1953
Stop number two began with the Korean Memorial. This memorial was dedicated on July 27, 1995. This memorial commemorates the sacrifices of the 5.8 million americans who served in the U.S. armed services during the three-year period of the Korean war. They are working on adding to this memorial. The monuments are life size soldiers dressed as they would have been during the war. We must ALL remember “FREEDOM ISN’T FREE,” for us or others round the world wishing to be free!
Lincoln Memorial
Amazingly, planes fly right over these memorials as they take off from Reagan International Airport. It was still drizzling rain and the steps up the memorial were pretty slick. Everyone safely arrived at the top. Brad pointed out to the students that all the memorials, buildings and monuments we had seen so far, and all that we would be seeing, put God in the conversations of what our country would be in the future. God and the Bible are found throughout our foundational plans. Everyone should read or reread how God is infused in our founding governmental documents.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
At 7:20 the group arrived at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. It is VERY heart breaking and moving to see and read all the names engraved in this wall. There are 58,132 names on the memorial. Approximately 1,300 of these listed are still MIA’s, POW’s and others. Pictures and flowers are left daily by family members to remember loved ones lost. This is not my first trip to see this memorial but after having traveled to Vietnam while teaching in Asia, I have a whole different understanding of the horror they went though that we will never fully grasp. I cry every time I visit this wall.
Albert Einstein
There was just enough time to stop by and visit Albert Einstein before reloading into the coach. He was a large rough looking fellow.
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
Construction is ongoing around the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. You have to walk all the way around to the water side to get access to the stairs. It was about 8:00 when we arrived and began making our way around. It was so dark inside the dome that pictures were difficult. Kelley and I were able to wait out the crowd a get a picture making it look like we were the only people here.
Pop it Up
At 8:20 as we are headed back to the coach, I was able to catch a pop of lightning in a photo. It does not even begin to show how the sky was lighting up about now!!!! I couldn’t resist stopping along the water to take a picture of the sunset. It just kept getting prettier and prettier. By 8:30 the rain was pouring on the coach as we headed back to the hotel.
Coldstone Creamery
Being with teenagers means that everyone is always hungry. So as soon as we arrived back at the Marriott, we headed out to find ice cream. I remembered seeing a Coldstone Creamery close to the place we had eaten lunch on day one. Off we went through the underground tunnels. I knew where I was going but everyone doubted me. After a 15 minute walk, we arrived at 9:00. I was not even hungry and I ate anyway and man was it GOOD. I stayed stuffed the whole trip. The walk back to the hotel was MUCH slower as we were all tired and full of ice cream.
DAY THREE
Breakfast was at 8:00. Our team had learned that if we wanted to sit together we had to arrive very early and stand in line at the ballroom doors. Sometimes we were successful and sometimes we were not. 950 people rushing into one ballroom through about 15 doors is like Black Friday shopping. By the middle of the week I had given up. Breakfast was typically the same each morning with the meat options switching each day between bacon and sausage. There was always soft scrambled eggs, pancakes or french toast, a variety of muffins/cereal/fruit, with juice, coffee, milk, and water to drink.
Jeff Struecker
Jeff Struecker was a decorated soldier. He has been inducted into the Army Ranger Hall of Fame. He survived and tells the real story of Somalia/Black Hawk Down…very humbling to here. The list of things he has done and accomplished is so amazing and long. He was so moving in his talk to the kids. He has 5 books in print and we have already ordered one. His stand out points to me were….
- Be ready for eternity, not the enemy.
- Thank God for the price paid for your freedom.
- Protect the freedom you’ve been given for the next generation.
Iwo Jima Monument
By 10:00 we were loaded back up on the bus to go to Arlington to see the changing of the guard and a special SLU wreath laying ceremony. We made a quick photo stop at the Iwo Jima Monument at 10:15.
Arlington Cemetery
By 10:35 we had arrived and headed up through the Arlington Cemetery to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The changing of the guard was at straight up 11:00 followed by the wreath laying ceremony. It was very hot but the soldiers are so precise and dedicated to their duties at the tomb. The Tomb of the Unknowns is guarded by the U.S. army 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The 3rd U.S. infantry began guarding the Tomb on April 6, 1948. There has been a Sentinel on duty in front of the tomb every minute of every day since 1937.
My phone got so hot that I could not see the screen, even though I kept taking pictures. When I got back in the shade, several of the last pictures I had taken were just white with no images. I had never had that happen before.
The soldiers will verbally correct anyone making too much noise or not being respectful. It was so very impressive to watch.
We were able to walk fast and go by John F. Kennedy’s grave and the Eternal Flame. We were loaded back onto the coach and headed out of Arlington National Cemetery by 11:50.
see it in the photo due to the bright sun.
Lunch at Reagan Center
After we left Arlington Cemetery and headed to the Reagan Center, Mary Kate gave us food vouchers. There was a list of places that you could go to in the food court that would take them. Before entering the building, we had to go through security screening again. I was one of the first in the building since we always sit at the front of the coach. I went straight to Kabuki and got a rice bowl. As I ate, I watched the line get really long. I decided to splurge and get a Smoothie King for dessert as I waited on everyone else to finish. Travis and I shared.
Holocaust Museum
The trips on the bus were never long. Most things are centrally located. We arrive here at 1:15 and stayed about 2 hours. The Holocaust Museum is hard to walk through emotionally. To see how the Jews were treated by Hitler, and for so many years no one reached out to help them. You could read and spend hours and hours and still not be able to take it all in. I had been here before but it is never easy to take in.
I heard several people talking about the movie The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. I may try to watch that this year.
The White House
Our trip to the white House was just to see it and take a quick photo. We did not spend long here. Arrived at 3:30 and headed out at 3:45. The kids did get the opportunity to dance with the man on the street. How Low can YOU go??? He did pretty good for an older man under an umbrella in the heat. Amazing what people do to get money these days.
The other man that we saw was…You’ve got to check out the link below. It is an awesome testimony of our great nation.
Random Photos Through Town
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
The coach dropped us here around 4:00. This was one of my favorite Memorials. It is so nicely laid out and has shade throughout. Each area has an audio description of that specific area. This memorial runs closely alongside the Tidal Basin.
Water-Side Walk to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
When we finished walking through the FDR Memorial, we walked alongside the water back to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. Most of us were getting tired, so maybe it was more of a stroll. We stayed a few minutes and read some of the quotes along the walls of the memorial before heading back to the hotel to prepare for the red white and blue dinner.
Red White and Blue – Night Three
There was actually a competition to see who had the best red white and blue outfit at this dinner. There were some really far out costumes.
Brent Crowe spoke on his book Chasing Elephants: A Theology of Belief for the Gray Areas of Life. This was a fabulous session with GREAT notes. There is a weekly Chasing Elephants Podcast. It was followed by Samaritan’s Purse Highlights.
The kids did not really care for the food, so at 10:15 they ordered pizza. Their curfew was 10:30 to be in their rooms so Kelley ad I had to wait out front for it to arrive. It finally showed up at 10:55. We cheered when Mohamed Molki showed up from Dominoes. He said we made his night!!! It was so far past my bedtime and I was so tired that I forgot to get a picture with him or the Pizza.
National Museum of American History
This museum is part of the Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest research complex-it includes 19 museums and galleries and the National Zoological Park. Most Smithsonian Museums are free and it is open every day of the year except December 25th.
Travis is a history teacher at heart and tries so hard to teach me all he can. I hear it all, I just have difficulty retaining it. Someone approached Travis in this museum and asked if he was the astronaut. When he responded no, they wanted to know if they were brothers?
TS- My sarcastic side left me for a moment or I could have really had some fun with this one!
We stayed here at the museum a little over an hour.
The Pentagon Memorial
We had to walk for bit to get to the Pentagon Memorial after exiting the coach. Spent 15 minutes at the Memorial. We were warned not to point our phone toward the Pentagon EVER or it would become property of the U.S government. We could take pictures once we arrived at the Memorial. It was to the left of the Pentagon as we walked up. 184 people lost their lives here on September 11, 2001. All their names and birthdays are remembered here in a very neat way.
Pentagon City Mall for Lunch
We walked back from the Pentagon to the Pentagon City Mall at 12:00 for an hour lunch break. We once more used vouchers to eat in the food court. Travis and I had Panda express and a much needed sit down time.
BEST BUS GUIDE EVER!
Museum of the Bible
Loaded back up on the coaches and arrived at the Museum of the Bible at 1:15. We stayed until 3:30. The Museum of the Bible opened in 2017 and covers 430,000 square feet. It showcases rare and fascinating artifacts spanning 3,500 years of history. I had never been here before today but hope to be able to go back one day. Definitely did not see it all.
After going through the oddest looking security checkpoint ever, we headed to the 3rd floor. We were advised this was the best floor to start on. I think there may be 6 floors total. Certain areas did not allow photos.
Drive through D.C. Pictures
I didn’t even know what all I was taking pictures of as we drove toward the Supreme Court Building and United States Capitol.
Supreme Court
Yes, I took a picture of the Supreme Court Building with my phone stuck behind the gate. No, I did not realize that a security guard was yelling at me to get back due to the loud music and yelling (with a bullhorn) by protesters who were writing on the sidewalk and riding bikes. I did however see her as she came toward me waving her arms. I BACKED UP.
United States Capitol
Our son Jake works for a Senator. He was able to come out briefly and say hello as we walked in front of the Capitol Building. He answered some of our questions.
Dinner on Day Four with Jake and Emerald
Jake and Emerald were able pick us up when they got off work Thursday. We went to their apartment to walk the dog and let them change clothes. Aloy was so glad to see people.
We drove to Del Ray which is an area close to their house. Jake had told me about a restaurant they really like called Matt and Tony’s. The food was fabulous and not out of this world expensive. I had the chicken and waffles and LOVED IT. I don’t think anyone was disappointed in their food. Bonus for me was eating outside!!!!
Formal Dinner Night at the Marriott
The rest of the team was having the last formal night of the conference. They sent pictures throughout the long night. It did turn into a long night for them due to way they had to conduct the session. It was a question and answer night that went WAY OVER TIME. It started with dinner at 6:30 and didn’t end until 10:30.
Thursday Night Debrief and Packing
The adults had Chick-Fil-A waiting on them and Brad did a debriefing to finish on a positive note with instructions for the next day. We were back before they finished the last session and participated in the debriefing.
Friday Breakfast and Last Session
just drink all three.
Store the luggage and Grab Lunch before the Plane
Travis Hall of Fame
There was a random hallway inside the underground walkway that displayed pictures of BALD people. Bro. Travis offered to set up a table and give autographs but there were no takers.
Metro to Jet Plane
Easy walk back to the hotel to get luggage before boarding the metro. We got right in, printed the tickets, checked some luggage, and WAITED. How old will the boys be when they stop playing Pokemon?
WHERE IS THE LUGGAGE?
