Chutes and ladders. Sometimes you climb a bunch of ladders and do all the work to make it to the top, then one random roll chutes you back down to the bottom. But you’re not out of turns! So, keep rolling until you get back up there again.
Yesterday was a day like that. Plenty of plot twists. Plenty of good to be found along the way.
Plymouth Thrift Store isn’t working out. I couldn’t make it last week because I had a health issue. I’ve been fainting, heart issues, the family freaked. Now they aren’t collecting for me anymore. That’s fine though. They only donated clothes. And as you know, clothes, we got covered. I’ve got a stellar army of clothes donators. We are grateful for our time working with them. Moving on… (Chutes)
Our volunteers from the Fort St church returned and we got a lot of stuff sorted and organized. We packed a tight van full of warm clothes, blankets, tons of food, and lot of flashlights, pepper spray, etc. (Ladders)
Then I realized that I hadn’t seen or heard from the other outreach team all day. (Chutes)
After 2 hours, I never heard back from anyone. A random volunteer from another group showed up. She didn’t know what was going on. We finally confirmed that Magdalene’s Mission was going to do street outreach on our own that night. We agreed on a route. Thus, Nick, Traci and I said our prayers and away we went. (Ladders)
We couldn’t find anyone. Not a single soul anywhere. It was cold. Bitter cold. Wet cold. No one. If I had more notice, we could have planned for it. But by the time I realized what was happening, the warming centers and drop-in centers were closed. I don’t know where everyone is. I have a van filled with everything and there is no way to get it to people who need it. (Chutes)
I’m going to investigate other places or shelters for people who may need our clothes. I’m on a tight work schedule Thursday through Saturday (sometimes Sunday if it’s a home Lions game). If you know of anyone or anywhere who can utilize warm clothes, coats, etc., get a hold of me. (Ladders)
I think we are finally able to launch the Magdalene’s Mission Boutique! I may finally have a volunteer to help with selling the high-end donations in an online store. Of course, 100% goes back to Magdalene’s Mission to fulfill our mission of serving food, warmth, and hygiene to those people living without shelter on the streets of Detroit. It’s a goal, years in the dreaming! (Ladders)
Details to come on that…
We’re going to keep plugging away. (Ladders)
We’re going to keep serving and filling needs. (Ladders)
We’re going to wait for orders from above. (Ladders)
We’re going to keep that Devil down in the hole. (Ladders)
Because that’s how we do it in Detroit.
Amen.
