What a night! What a year! This report is short and bittersweet. We drove all over Detroit last night, but there were only 3 stops, and I only got out of the car at the last 2 of them. There is a reason for this. Many of those beloved characters whom you have been following along with (45 people, to be exact) have been put in jail over the past 7 days. 45 homeless people in jail for being homeless during the holiday season. Most of the charges were minor offenses, such as loitering. The Day Outreach Team could only find a few people, so they left a couple for me.
When we did stop, it was near an abandoned building, behind a tall fence that apparently had a secret entrance. I stayed behind to guard the vehicles and play lookout. All they found was an empty tent.
We had 2 confirmed stops. One was to a man and a woman who have been on and off the streets for a long time. We pulled over was only able to meet up with the man. He was delighted for food and hygiene for them both. He met up with the medical team, and as I waited, I saw an elderly woman pass by shivering in the night. I offered her a pair of hand warmers and she glowed from her smile to her toes. Finally, we went to my final stop of the night- Ms. GG’s house.
It is an actual house with utilities. Hallelujah! But it’s not like an actual house, it’s too many people. I know why we always go there. It’s full of senior citizens with handicap’s, and other people whom I can tell have developmental challenges that contribute to their situation. I’m not sure how it runs. I don’t ask. I just know that the 20 or so people who live together there all shared a full turkey dinner, with cookies and doughnuts for dessert. Then slept safe and snug in a fresh blanket.
During the middle of the swarm, I yelled out loud enough so that all of Detroit could hear me. “You are loved! Even into the darkest corners of Detroit, God finds you! He loves you!”
Because that’s how we do it in Detroit.
Amen.
And Have a happy New year!
