Monday 7/26/2021 from the heart of Elena

 

Day 2: The sun is bright and Detroit is not

 7/25/2021

    Sleeping at the top of a triple bunk bed is cool and everything; however, I wish I had paid more attention to the window right next to my face. As you might imagine, the sun woke me up at 5 am this morning. Fortunately, I fell back asleep.

     Later in the morning we attended a church service inside of a beautiful cathedral. The pastor discussed the importance of knowing our purpose, as well as the danger of putting our purpose in worldly things. After the service we spent some time admiring the details of the building - painted ceilings, elaborately tiled floors, fancy furniture - and then we headed back to Detroit Love's building. Something that stood out to our missions team about the church we attended: contrary to our own church, the majority of the congregation were young people. 

    Detroit is smaller than I thought it would be. I'm not sure what I was expecting - clusters of sky scrapers, perhaps? Maybe hundreds of people crowding the streets, and stores extending off the main street everywhere you look? If that's what you've been picturing, you should know that it's not like that at all. Today our team took a walk through Downtown Detroit for about 2.5 hours. One thing we walked past was the baseball stadium, which had huge statues of tigers in front of it. We also walked down the main street with all the fancy shops. Down that street we went to the river, where you could look south into Canada, or to the huge General Motors building on the left. All of that was cool, but compared to other major cities with large populations, there was very little people on the sidewalks, in the parks, and driving on the highway. Furthermore, there is only one tourist street. That street was cool, but if you were to look down the streets coming off of it, the modern, fancy look of the tourist street almost immediately collapses, revealing an all-too-familiar narrative of Detroit's history that may be hard to believe. 

    I'm struggling to believe how our team has only been away for three days. We're always doing so many things, whether it be worship together, cleaning up a meal, or playing a makeshift game of wiffle ball before bed. The days are long, but every moment has value and is cherished as we grow closer as a team, to the community, and with God. 

    I've been having an amazing time serving here, though I hope things are all good at home. Please continue to be praying for unity and health within our team! 

Tabitha

Day 1 in Detroit 2021

Saturday, July 24, 2021

Greetings from the Motor City! 

This morning began at our motel in Elgin, Ill. We met at 5:50 in the lobby then off to Panera for bagels and coffee. With that, we were back on the road for our last five hour of driving. As I drive, I keep praying to God to use this amazing team of believers to do His will, as I know He will, but also, to open those hearts of the folks of Detroit that we will be meeting. About three hours into our drive we stopped at this amazing fruit stand, that former teams have stopped at. We all bought some yummy fruits, veggies, and jams to eat now, and share with friends and family later. Thankfully our drive to Detroit was an uneventful one, and I pray our return trip will be the same. Around 12:30 p.m. we pulled up to Detroit Love and were warmly welcomed by Kevin, Josie and Jacob, we unloaded the vehicles and got the tour of the building, had some free time where the guys brushed up on our wiffleball skills as the ladies settled in and rested. Kevin and his team then gave us a tour of the areas of Detroit where we will do our prayer walks and where our kids are coming from for our VBS (Big A!) we are running. We returned to the building and were joined by Diamond and Kenny (friends of Detroit Love and past teams) for a wonderful dinner from Kevin's wife, Lori. We when had worship time and Kevin asked each of us; what is the one thing you wish God would do this week? I want those "Ah-Ha" moments when people "get it" that God loves them and want to be a part of their lives.

As I write this, some of our team is prepping for VBS and others are playing 'Mafia" (a lot of laughter) I think we are all very tired from the traveling, and will probably turn in early. Tomorrow, we will be off to church and doing some more prep work.  

Please continue to pray for all of us for good health, and following the Holy Spirit as we do His will.

Thanks, hugs to you all, and God Bless!

-Jim

 2021 Detroit Mission Trip!

After an intense license plate game, we have officially arrived in Elgin, Illinois. We have finished up sharing faith stories and just came back from filling our bellies with sushi, which was delivered on a conveyor belt. Ask your students which roll was their favorite. We are excited to get on the road tomorrow and arrive in Detroit. Thank you for your prayers. 

Amanda Quisberg

Week 2: Ministry Day 4

Hi Everybody! 

            This has been an awesome and growing week.  Today we prayer walked Hart Plaza, which was a new experience for me during which I was able to see new parts of downtown Detroit that I haven’t seen before. It’s amazing to compare the different sections of the city, like downtown versus the projects.  As we talked about, Detroit architecture has the habit of being created in a way that allows you to experience only the nice, clean part of Detroit you want to see while veiling the truly broken pieces of the city. It does inspire hope, though, when I am able to compare how the city has changed in the past three years. As I said before, it’s been so amazing to see God work in this city.

            My truly favorite part of the trip, as always, is Big A with the kids. Being here two weeks is both wonderful and heartbreaking, as you are able to spend more time with the kids to grow stronger relationships, but it makes it so much harder to leave them. Last week I started to spend time with a sweet girl named Aaleigh and it’s been so fulfilling to just pour into her and see her drink it in. Today as I was spending my last few minutes with Aaleigh, one of the Florida leaders let me know that she became a Christian during Big A today. It made my heart so full of joy to know that even if I am never able to see her in Detroit again, I will be able to see her again in heaven. As I was giving Aaleigh her last hug, I told her how happy I was that she accepted Jesus and she whispered in my ear that she was safe. I truly saw God in that moment as it felt like He was telling me she would be okay. 

            God has been working with the 15 and up kids as they have surprised me, wanting to know more about God once they drop some of their guard. Our group has been able to build more of a relationship with one girl in 15 and up group. Seeing her grow from not really wanting to participate on the first day this week to her answering questions and asking questions has been amazing. It reminds me to never put limits on God and always expect God to move in big ways. 

            Well, that’s all for tonight, but please pray for us with our last day of ministry tomorrow! Hope you’re all doing well! God Bless! :)

Summer H 

Week 2: Day 3 of Ministries

I can’t believe we are half way done with the second week. Time has really flown by. I woke this morning to a text  from a Detroit youth, DeShaarmani, who we drove to a job interview yesterday and got the job. She was texting me to say Good morning and that she got on the bus. I am so proud of her. Later in the day, I got a text asking to pick her up for Big A. Just the simple task for giving her rides has grown our relationship with her. 

            During morning ministry, we walked around the city and prayed for people. One of our favorite ladies from last week was sitting in the park. She loves to read and told us she lost her reading classes. We decided to buy her a pair of reading glasses and bring them to her. She was so excited to be able to read again without straining her eyes. 

            Having a larger team join us at first was quite overwhelming. However it has been so cool to get to know new people and see how our common faith has bonded us together. Watching the children on the team worship and pray has been such a blessing to me. It sure has made me miss my kids more, but has lit a fire in me to do a family trip mission trip with them. 

            Thank you for all your prayers. God has been soooo good to us. 

            Gratefully, Amanda

Week 2- Day 2 of Ministries

Greetings,

         We had an amazing first week and are now into the second week here in Detroit! As we are now in the second day of Big A my group of 5 from Timberwood are growing closer to God everyday. Today we awoke up to egg bake for breakfast and morning devotionals in the book of 2 Thessalonians. After time alone going through the devotional we were able to come together as a group and discuss with Kevin leading discussion. We have had some amazing discussions and I have learned many new things about God. Service Evangelism followed and we as a group have been able to connect with a woman to help her find a place to live and a place to go to Church. Big A (Day 2) went well today, I taught on Faith and Works to the fifteen year olds out of the book of James and I feel like it went well, after much help from our group and from Matt (an intern here at Detroit Love).  After Big A we moved into dinner and then free time with the other Church here; we played games and by doing so we have made new connections to both teens and adults in Florida. I have seen God work in so many ways during my trip including; through prayer walking, servant evangelism, and through the fifteen and up group that I have now been meeting with for two weeks. When I’m here I feel like I search and find the Holy Spirit and see God’s plan so much clearer and I have grown in many ways because of it. See you guys on Saturday! 

                                             With love,

                                                 Bryce