Peace, Love & Hygiene Vol. 113
2/6/24
The adventure continues! I went back to the car rental that loves us, Enterprise by the airport. When I walked up to the counter, the lady not only remembered me, but she said that she and the other employees were just speaking about us only a few minutes before. I watched white striped airplanes jump up and land around the tiny building while I waited.
The young man who helped me at the counter thanked me for what we do in Detroit. I gave the glory to God. I replied that it was a lot of people he moved through to make these miracles happen. I was grateful they went above and beyond for me. They are a part of it.
Then he led me to me awaiting chariot for the evening. Another perfect minivan. But before I left, he wanted me to know something important. He told me that he was a Christian, but that the other people that he worked with struggled with their faith. But when I came in two weeks ago and talked about Magdalene’s Mission, it gave them reason to believe that God is real and does good through us. That there were people who believed in the right things for the right reasons.
I told him, “Honey, I BELIEVE in Santa Clause. I KNOW there is a God. I think what gets in the way is the White Jesus believers trying to look good because they belong to the right club. But the Real Jesus was a rebel who loved on the least popular people the most. We only have to love each other, and people still find a way to get out of having to do it. Thank you for being on my side.”
God is good
All the time.
And all the time
God is good.
Traci’s daughter Lilli was a badass sidekick for the evening. She was warm, and engaging with every person.
Next order of business- The Bad Date List.
A friend of mine in Portland, Oregon mentioned that they have a list that sex workers can report men who were abusive or violent to a list that other sex workers can reference so that they can avoid those evil customers. I mentioned it to the SOT (Street Outreach Team). They said that several groups have a compiled cross-referenced list already available.
I said, “I’ve never heard of it. Are you sure our ladies have? Let’s bring it up.”
As a matter of fact, I did bring it up to a couple of lovely young ladies who were sex workers. They said they had never heard of it. We’re going to have to fix that.
I saw my Girl Who Reads. She has an apartment, but she keeps getting robbed. Her landlord is supposed to be helping her with that.
I saw my sweet smiling Widow. Her lame eye doesn’t look as bad anymore. Thank you medical team.
I saw the same guy eating out of a trash can again. Again, he was overwhelmed with joy that I gave him food.
I made cheesy tuna casserole out of leftover food donations. Mac n’ cheese, cream of mushroom soup, tuna, and peas. I didn’t have any milk or butter, but I had a case of mushroom milk. Weird, but perfect. A little bit of black pepper and BLAM! Warm comfort food for 35 people.
Wen and Sommer did their awesome job of making 50 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and packing them up with the other desserts brought by our food angel, Julie G.
One of my ladies begged me to make brownies again. Nothing was so good in this world as when I bring out homemade brownies.
That last spot was a new spot. We had a swarm of people from every direction. We cleaned through all of the food, all of the blankets, the coats, the clothes, and every last hygiene kit, with people begging for more.
Lilli and I waited for the medical team to finish before we pulled away for the night. People kept coming up to the windows begging for anything. All I had were empty totes, and one white jacket that no one would take because it was bright white. No one can keep clothes clean. It would be a waste of a pretty jacket, they all said.
We made a lot of people happy last night. We delivered keys to self-preservation and hope. I prayed over people. I let people pray over us. I learned about a new way to keep our working ladies safe. I learned of a new place where I can help many people at one time. A few I recognized, a few I didn’t.
When I opened the doors on the van, people came out of shadows from every direction. There was one tiny lady who approached me first but was getting shoved out of the way by more desperate or aggressive people. So, as I was getting things for others, I kept putting stuff just for her in a bag. Then I grabbed her a fat hygiene kit and extra food. She was standing several feet away from the van as the mass of outreached hands surrounded the van. I broke away from the throng and took it to her.
“Here you go sweetheart. I SEE you. You are precious. God SEES you, and I see you. You will not be forgotten or walked over on His watch. Not while He’s using me.
Because that’s how we do it in Detroit.
Amen.
