1-4-22
The theme for tonight was bullets and beauty.
Traci and I pulled up to the meeting point ready for war. We must have had at least 60 meals ready to go for tonight. It took us 6 hours to get all the hygiene bags packed up, clothes loaded up, food ready to serve, blankets and everything else ready to go. It took 3 hours to empty the van.
It was bone-clenching cold out tonight. As the volunteers were standing outside having our pre-outreach chat, we heard a ‘pop’ in the distance. It was immediately recognized as a gun shot. Conversation casually continued. A few minutes later there was another ‘pop’, then silence. After a few seconds we all had different hypothesis for the timing of the shots. A few moments later there were 3 more shots in succession. Two quick, and then a third. After another 10 minutes or so we heard the sirens. We left to go out shortly after that.
Our first stop was behind a hotel. The couple we met were receiving medical help. Traci offered them our wares but they politely turned her down and said they didn’t need anything. We got back in the van and gave them their privacy. A few minutes later, the nurse came and got them some food after they were feeling better.
Our next stop was to see one of my favorite people. She used to stay in a really bad place. She hated where her life was. She is in the process of changing it. She’s living in a cute neighborhood now. She looks healthy and her boyfriend has a job. She wanted to see us because she had a job interview and she was hoping we had a couple warm outfits she could have. Also, she just really likes to see us. I am so proud of her. Her daughter is on the honor roll again.
Sometimes, it can be a real rollercoaster of fear and fantastic.
The next stop was a new stop. Andy heard about it from someone he knew. It was an abandoned house that had several people living in it and they were sharing a single space heater for warmth. We were able to make sure they had plenty more blankets to keep warmer. There was enough food for everyone. I was so glad they all had warm chili. I made sure there was a hygiene bags, too. Their dear souls were so sweet.
Our next stop was a familiar place with great people. One friend in particular wanted to make sure he didn’t miss us. He is one of the nicest people to talk to. For a second there, he thought Santa Clause lost them. But I told him Santa left his presents at my house. I somehow still had 1 Christmas bag left. I always wish it was more, even though he tells me it is plenty.
Our final stop of the evening was our favorite spot. We saw many people. There are some people from another abandoned house nearby that have started coming out when they know we are there. They trickled over a few people at a time. Traci stood at the back of the van regulating the clothes. I went back and forth getting food from one side and purses from the other.
At one point we saw someone walking up who we could barely recognize, because they looked too skinny to be that person. But it was him. This dude. This dude and I have cultivated quite the friendship. I thought he was a ridiculous human being when I first met him. He thought I was just being stuck up. We stood toe-to-toe exchanging words one night. After that, we decided we were the same height. We’ve been buddies ever since.
Tonight, he came straight up to me and Traci. He asked us for clean clothes and a hygiene bag. I got him a meal and I put extra food in it. When I brought it to him I told him I gave him extra food because he was getting too skinny. He said he had been shot in the stomach, so that’s why he wasn’t eating as much. Then he lifted up his hoodie to show us the gunshot wound with white and pink gauze peeling off below it. There was a giant hole in his stomach! I asked him if he had shown the medical team yet. He told me that he already went to ER. Not good enough. I walked him to the medic-team, and told him I would bring his stuff. The medic told him that he needed to lay down. To rest. He was aggravating the wound and it wasn’t able to heal. He replied that he couldn’t rest. He had to keep moving. There was nowhere to lay down.
I gave him my best, ‘Mom says do what the doctor told you’ speech. Now, I pray and I pray and I pray…
By the time everyone from that spot came to see us, we were out of food. We’re also out of hats and gloves. The one thing we’ll never run out of is Love for people. All the people I meet on Tuesday night are my people, now. I love them like I love on my own. I mother them, but I don’t smother them.
Tonight there were a lot of bullets and a lot of beauty. Both are reasons for me to keep coming back. Because that’s how we do it in Detroit. Amen.
#magdalenesmission #peaceloveandhygiene
