“There is a crack in everything.
That’s how the light gets in.”
This is the direst time of year. Magdalene’s Mission has been working to expand our unconditional love to everyone who we can reach. A couple of weeks ago, we worked in a coalition with a huge group of other nonprofits in an event to cover as much of Detroit with as many resources as we possibly could. There were doctors and nurses, veterinarians, housing resource specialists, harm reduction advocates, rehabilitation councilors, preachers, churches, shelters, and even Magdalene’s Mission. We gathered enough love and resources to last for at least 9 hours helping the homeless all over Detroit.
I spent 2 days packing and loading the most useful goods we had. Magdalene’s Mission’s contribution to the event filled 2 vehicles. Maggie the Van was loaded with warm meals, and hygiene kits. I had sloppy joes, and then I made mac n cheese with sliced hot dogs. We loaded the bags up with chips, cookies, and best of all, love.
The hygiene kits were extra special this week. We loaded them with lots of goodies, including extra handwarmers, emergency blankets, notebooks & pens, gloves, a hat, scarf, and 2 pairs of clean socks. Nice, huh?
Nick rented a cargo van again. This time we filled it with even more blankets. Every blanket in that church basement was packed into the van. We brought as many coats, boots, extra hats/gloves/scarves, socks and bibles as we could fill.
We were loaded for polar bear!
Tuesday morning, we met up with all the other teams. Everyone was excited to work together. We knew that we would have a day of real impact upon the shelter challenged who are living in Detroit.
The morning was overcast and gray. By the time we left Fort Street Church together that afternoon, the sun was extra bright and overpowered all the dark clouds. The sun was screaming to be noticed.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness.
Only light can do that.”
The first stop…
Wow. I still can’t get it out of my head. I’ll never forget it.
One of the girls from another group who rode in the van with me had been to that spot before. She said it was a “swarm spot”. Meaning that a lot of people would be there. It was an abandoned gas station. There was a long, overgrown alley behind it, and an empty lot behind that. We sat and looked out all the windows.
First one, then a couple, then another couple, and another couple. The next thing I knew, the vans were surrounded by homeless people. Most of them looked like they were senior citizens, but not all. I saw every age and every ethnicity you could imagine. The crowd of people begging for coats and blankets was so thick that volunteers from other groups had to go and help Traci before she drowned in a sea of dirty, calloused hands. My volunteers and I were passing out food/hygiene bags from our van to them as quickly as possible.
Their arms were reaching out to us through the windows and doors of the van. There were so many tears. Cries of desperation to survive. Men and women wailing to us for food and blankets. I would hand them a Mag Bag, then send them to Nick and Traci.
After they received their gifts and blessings, they wept again. The praises of thanks to a merciful God rang down the alley. It was what we prayed for.
We went through 75 of the 100 Mag Bags and meals there in under an hour. All but 5 blankets were given away. Every coat, all the boots, gloves and hats, was gone. Every bible was taken. I feel as though we could have stayed another 15 minutes and emptied out both vans completely.
There was just enough left to eke through the rest of the night.
The other teams spent longer periods of time helping individuals after that. Which was fine. The veterinarians took care of a lot of homeless animals.
The goal was to help 100 homeless people in one day. With your help and God’s blessing, Magdalene’s Mission did just that.
I heard that a few bodies were found lifeless. I don’t have any more details than that.
I know the temperature outside is deadly cold.
I’m not exactly sure what I’m taking out tomorrow. I’m just well enough to make it out there. But I must go. I must be the lamp upon a table, high enough for all to see and to feel its warmth.
“For I have great works prepared in advance for you to do.”
Because that’s how we do it in Detroit.
Amen.
