February 8, 2022
The theme for this week was Lots of Little Successes. We stayed back last week because I needed to get us caught up on sorting and organizing your beautiful bounty of clothing, blankets, and hygiene products. I also needed to get us ready for our yearly fundraiser. But I did it. I outsourced the meals this week. (Something I will be doing from now on. Text me or keep your eyes open for a sign up sheet) I got plenty of Mags Bags packed to the nines, and an assortment of the warmest coats, clothes and blankets I could find. Oh, and hot cocoa! We bundled up as warm as we could, and set out to help out some homeless people. We got more than we bargained for and in the best way.
We started off on the east side of Detroit this week. We went to a lot of neighborhoods around Eight and Seven Mile. The first couple of stops were to new places. Then we went to where one of our favorite senior men lives. He is quiet, and humble. Another kind homeless man whom we have gotten to know did us the honor of introducing us to his wife. They are the sweetest couple. He is always so overly polite, and compliments my food a lot. Maybe that’s why he’s one of my favorite people? He is always looking out for his wife. I respect that.
The greatest gift happened tonight. Do you remember me talking about a guy who Traci was making him eat and he did it? We had not seen him in a couple of months, at least. I was concerned. I don’t ask many questions, but no one had mentioned him either. Well, tonight we saw him. He was doing so much better! He got out of that terrible house and was living in a much nicer place. He looked healthy. He was building himself up. He was so happy to see us. We were able to help him keep up his good look with a hygiene kit and a newer, warmer, shirt and pants. It feels good to see people care about themselves. No matter how small the step, it took everything he had left in him just to lift his foot. But he did it anyway. Freedom is a powerful motivator.
We had another adorable thing happen tonight. It occurred at one of our hottest hot spots on the Eastside. When the caravan of vehicles arrived, we lined up around the corner then waited. One of the volunteers went up to their house to let them know we were all there. Just a couple of minutes later, one tiny little figure came running through the snow as fast as she could with her arms wide open. She hugged me and Traci as tight as she could for a long time. She was looking better than I had ever seen her. I could tell she had put on weight. She was eating! Her hair was styled. She was smiling. I had never seen her so happy. She was getting healthy. She ran right past all the other various resources to come and get her Love. She is one of the tiniest people you ever saw in your life. When I first met her last winter, she had no shoes, no coat, no pants, and no jacket. She was standing outside in below zero temperatures wearing a blanket wrapped around her and sandals. Traci and I have been spoiling her a little bit, and letting her be one of our favorites. I can see unlimited potential in her. She is blossoming like a tiny, shy, miniature rosebud.
Next, we went back to the Southwest side. The first person we saw was standing outside doing her job. She panhandles for money. She is a widow who lost everything after her husband died a few years ago. She’s been through even more just since I’ve known her.
She looked good. She was putting on some weight. She had been injured and then sick for a while. Yet another person who was looking better than I had ever seen them. She is just gorgeous. She has such a compassionate heart. I asked her if she needed a tent. She said she didn’t at the moment, but her friend did, so could she have it for him. After we gave it to her, she went back and got the guy and brought him to the van. I offered him food. He said he hadn’t eaten in two days. She told him we were the ones who gave him the tent. He was so gracious and grateful. We gave him a sleeping bag and a Mag Bag to go with it. I asked her if she needed more pepper spray. She kindly turned it down, explaining that she still had some left. It did help save her from being kidnapped yesterday. She was panhandling and someone tried to grab her. But they didn’t. She is still here. She is still mothering on the other homeless people. She is a flashlight in a dark alley.
We thought we would be out for a few more stops, but it was the next one that cleaned us out all the way. We were only going there to see a couple of people, but a few more appeared and the next thing we knew, we were empty. Our favorite senior lady was out and about tonight. She has the best smile. She’s been on the streets of Detroit for a long, long, time. Sometimes I wish we had more time to talk to people and hear all of their stories. Perhaps in the Spring, when the weather gets warmer and it’s not raining.
It was all these little successes that came together to make this last year one big, fat, successful mission.
Because that’s how we do it in Detroit. Amen.
#magdalenesmission
