Peace, Love & Hygiene Report: Vol. 4-
Tonight was an onslaught of Love. Traci and I had an epic adventure. Oh, my goodness. We were packed up with 2 large bins of blankets, 2 large bins of hats/gloves/socks/scarf packs, 2 large bins of Mags Bags (survival/hygiene purse), a medium size bin of socks, and 50 bagged lunches. (Shout out to Ann for taking me to the store and then making chicken salad and PB&J sandwiches in hyper-speed. It was impressive to see her work.) I threw in a banana for potassium, and a mandarin orange for vitamin C. I also put in a drink and a napkin. Good stuff! (Shout out to Panera Bread in Green Oaks and to People’s Church for the bread donation) We squeezed in a small tote of ladies boots that Ann brought over, and hit the road.
We have started a tradition of ordering take-out from Mi Pueblos’ on Dix Road before we get there. I strongly believe that we should fill up on authentic Detroit food before we begin. It’s the best of Detroit coursing through our hungry veins. That’s out of my pocket, btw. I happened to sell a book today!
It was a lot warmer tonight, 49 degrees according to my rear view mirror. Our first stop, we only talked to a couple of people, but one guy we talked to for several minutes. He was the nicest dude. He couldn’t stop thanking us and telling us what a blessing we were to him. He had heard about our ministry and kept trying to make it out to see us. He got his days mixed up, but this week he thanked God he found us. We gave him everything he needed to keep warm until the next time we saw him, and a healthy meal. Then we told him it was because he was loved, come see us next week. He told us, “Maybe, unless I can get into a clinic.” He opened up to me and Traci. He wanted us to know that he was a drug addict. He told us he wanted to tell us the truth, because he also wanted us to know that he hated it. He wanted to be free. He said he would get clean, but as soon as he got around those same people…
I remembered some of the sage advice I learned in church. Traci and I tried to build him up. He asked us, so we prayed over him. We told him we would keep him in out prayers. Traci and I don’t lie about things like that.
We drove around a lot tonight. At one place, a few ladies came out, and then one came out for herself and some friends inside who were afraid to come. We packed her up until she could hardly walk; purses, blankets, food, extra socks and hats. We then fed, warmed and supplied several more people.
We parked across the street from a park I would not have encouraged my children to play in. Traci and I remarked on what a horrible place it was for children to play. Only one gentleman came to us there. We gave him food, hats, blankets and a bag. He asked for one for his girlfriend, too. He also told us that he had recently adopted a puppy that someone left on the side of the road. He said it was all starving and banged up, so he had to be there to make sure he lived and was loved.
We traveled on…
*Our highlight of the night: Somewhere near a bunch of highways there was a guy on the side of the road with a sign. I don’t even know what it said. The light was green. I couldn’t risk losing my caravan in front of me. I reached behind me as fast as I could to grab a lunch bag. Without stopping, I rolled down the window and and handed him the food WHILE STILL DRIVING! I yelled out the window, “It’s food! TAKE IT! TAKE IT!” Then I screamed, “I LOVE YOU!” as we drove away. We laughed and laughed about that all night. It was SO totally ninja.
We went to another neighborhood. We had many people come up to the vehicle super appreciative. A small swarm. An older gentleman gave me his mother’s number. He said she really could use clothes. Would I please call her and help her? Of course we will. He opened up to us, too. He told us his tale. He asked us to pray for him so we did. Then he asked me to call him and check on him from time to time. Of course I will. One of the ladies was completely choked up because we loved on her like we did. We just want her to be safe and warm. She told Traci, “No one loves me. No one tells me that.” Traci looked her dead in the eyes and said, “Well, I love you. I do. You ARE loved.” She just stood there with her arms full of bags and cried.
We went to another neighborhood we had been to before. This time, a couple of people came out of their houses and curiously asked what we were doing. I asked them if they needed something to eat, a blanket, extra socks. Eyes lit up like UFO’s. Another man drove by in his car, and asked what was going on. He was so hungry, and cold. He couldn’t contain his appreciation for the food, and survival supplies.
One of our last stops of the evening, was a bunch of very elderly men. We were out of men’s bags, so I emptied the contents into a plastic grocery bag so he would be less insecure. We loaded them with extra socks and extra food. They shuffled off together into the darkness.
We were glad that we could help as many people in need as were led to us, or could find us. By midnight, we had given away all the blankets, bags, food, socks, and almost all the hats/etc., that had filled my truck just a few hours earlier. We had to call it a night. Traci and I took down a couple of pants and boot sizes. Next week is clothing, for sure.
What a wonderful evening with a bunch of new friends, and the delight to see of few of our friends who really look forward to our visit. I heard over and over how wonderful it was what we were doing.
“No one does this.”
“People forget that we are here.”
“Thank you. You are such a blessing.”
I just chauffer the blessings.
Shout out to ALL my donors! You save lives! You open doors! You give hope! You shower forgotten people with love! We are a team. We are fighting the good fight, and we are winning battles.
It’s 2:22 a.m. I am taking the next train to Sleepy Town.
p.s. don’t call tomorrow, but anytime after that
