I remember it was September 1999 and I was invited to come to Bethel. I arrived on the week of a Hurricane. I received my blue folder at 124 desk by Mark Bowden and I remember new boy training, navigating New York City and avoiding the vices and distractions with Jeff Genaris on the second floor of the 124 building in a classroom.
I received my building services assignment with overseer David Logan, Factory Cleaning and he assigned to train me a 19 year old 6 foot 7 lanky young man from Oakland Maryland, Shane Perry. Vibrant, bubbly and full of enthusiasm and appreciation. I remember clearly, we were in a woman’s locker room or restroom in Building 3 near the bridge that walks you over to Building 2 and there was a big mop bucket, and Shane walked me through training step by step. We filled up the mop bucket in the shower, he then took a jug of saniquat, poured it ever so carefully into a measured plastic cup (maybe ¾ ounce) and then poured it into the bucket. He showed me how to scrub showers, mop, etc, then he showed me how to clean the hinges between the doors so that they would shine…. He then said when you finish polishing the handles of the sinks, turn all of them to the left. It’s little but it especially the sisters appreciate it because it shows you care.
My next training, was with another brother who will remain nameless. ☺ He was the alpha of the locker room, a leader of men, no nonsense all business, I think he is a circuit overseer now…. He took the jug of saniquat, eyeballed it, threw it into mop bucket, budda bing budda bang, we finished it.
My last training was observation. Shane Perry was the observer. I walked through my steps, took my jug of saniquat, eyeballed it and threw it into the bucket. He said Chris…. what are you doing? I said what bro? He said you didn’t measure it. I said I eyeballed it bro. That’s what xyz does. He said Chris….. Some little older sister in Flatbush gave her donation for this, or some little kid in Africa sold a chicken so they can support Kingdom efforts…
I apologized and from then on in 117 Cleaning, I always measured all chemicals, even if it was an 1/8 of an ounce due to a sincere little big bro from Maryland….
6 months later..I’m on my own in the big bad factory and Sister Tonya Cunningham of housekeeping told me… Chris…. I know when you clean the women’s locker room brother. You always shine the faucets and handles, and you turn them all to the left…
Shane loved spiritual conversations, the ministry, appreciated nature, people, good music, language, the house of God.
Loved Shane Perry always….