Friday from Elena

 Hello everyone!

Today was our last full day in Detroit. :( We had to pack up all the supplies we’ve been using throughout the week. Seeing all the items that were used daily, made the fact that we are leaving tomorrow real. 

This week has flown by, the people we met and relationships made are going to stick with me forever. I love this city and getting to go another year is truly a blessing from God. 

God has been so evident during this week. We got to see Him while prayer walking in the neighborhood and in Cass Corridor, in the kids at Big A, and in each other.

I am sad to be leaving, but happy with the work we were able to complete while in this amazing city.

-Elena Dirks

Friday from Natalie

     Our last full day in Detroit:( My name is Natalie, it my first year on this missions trip and i'm already anticipating next years trip to Detroit. Why you may ask? From the joy if have found from the people on this trip to the constant question, "Is God here?". On Tuesday, my team had the opportunity to prayer walk around the neighborhood. We stared with a prayer and I specifically remember Eric praying for interaction and conversations we would have with the people of Detroit. We soon realized we were not there to pray with or talk to people in the neighborhood, but instead to pray over the community. We knew this because the people were looking confused out their windows at us, and we would walk past a house and 15 seconds (I'm not joking literally 15 seconds) later we heard music starting to play and a younger man walks out and waves. Apparently this is just what the Holy Sprit had in store for us! From then on out, we prayed for local churches and things that we had encountered that spoke to our hearts. 

    That was Tuesday. This evening Lori made her infamous shepherds pie. She had made an extra shepherds pie, so the team came up with the idea of serving the extra food to the hungry in Cass Park. Eric, Amanda, Josie, Mattie, and I hopped in and drove to Cass Park. We made it and we served a couple in the main area of the park, it was pretty empty. So we hopped in Black Knight (aka the rental car) and drove around the Cass Park. There was a billiards building that in past years teams were not welcome in. But, sure enough Amanda said "Lets go!". We drove up and asked the two men sitting out front, if they had dinner yet, and their response was no. We all hop out of car and offered them dinner. We started small talk while preparing their meal and then he offered to let us in. We were all in shock, so we went in and served three men playing pool shepherds pie. This brought me so much joy I can't even explain it. I saw God in this, knowing previous teams were not welcomed in. I think God softened their hearts to have a conversation with someone they never knew and to allow us in was huge. Thank you for the prayers for our team. 

THIS YEAR WE HAD IT IN THE BAG (ft JOISE DEAN)

Thursday from Eric

 Our memories are funny things. Somethings are easy to remember because they have been seared into our brains through intense experience. Other things are easy to remember because we take our minds too them regularly to ruminate on them and mentally grip them like a young child grips their favorite stuffed animal afraid that if they loosen their grip they will lose it. Names and faces of most people we encounter are like twigs on a summer campfire. They make an immediate impact on us with delight and intensity but quickly have been replaced by other names and faces not to be brought back around.

         That is not the case here at Detroit Love and in the housing projects like the Diggs, McDonald’s Square or the Brewsters or the Cass Coridor. That is not the case with people in the neighbor that surrounds this century old building built by Polish immigrants. Names represent people who carry the image of God in their faces. These faces represent stories, stories we will never be able to fully comprehend because of our context. Likewise our faces represent stories and experiences that many people in Detroit cannot wrap their minds around. We have walked these streets and had our hearts burst open as we have heard the stories of people that our Heavenly Father loves unconditionally.

         Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting DJ and Tone (Antonio) who have grown up in the Brewsters housing projects where they were picked up at a young age in old vans to go to this thing called Big A (VBS). They recounted stories of years gone by and the people who shared the love of Jesus Christ with them through stories, snacks, smiles and games. These teenage boys who have had to grow up faster than anyone should have to telling us about their friends they have lost and the friends they have lost touch with. Smiling from ear to ear talking about the songs they sang all those years ago with groups of people who carved out time and money to come be with them.

         Picture this: our group has been invited to join in for a Hip Hop Bible study at a project near by. Being the excited and willing collection of people we are there was no hesitation to participate. As we park our vehicles and walk up to the park we meet the organizers of the gathering, one from the church, one from the neighborhood, along with three young girls who appear to be nine or ten years old. After introducing ourselves to the girls Amanda boldly asks, “Do you girls know a DJ who used to live here?” The one girl proudly retorts back, “DJ, that’s my brother!” Amanda asks the girl to go see if he would come out and talk to us. She willingly scampers down the sidewalk towards her townhouse. Less than a minute later we look down the sidewalk to see two young men strutting back towards us, one clad in a white t-shirt and white shorts adorned with a smile as wide as the Grand Canyon and a sparkle in his eye would make the north star blush. Amanda approaches with joy on her face and her phone in her hand exuberant to show them a picture from the last time they had been together, more than four years ago. Incredible!!! DJ as a young boy had spent his summers going to Big A, meeting team after team that shared Jesus love with him. He was immediately asking about Adam who was his leader five years ago. FIVE YEARS AGO! I have astonished at the power of the Holy Spirit to knit people together in a way that even after five years a young man living in Detroit thinks of a middle aged man living in rural MN and remembers his love, kindness, and compassion. Tone shared about having his picture in his basement tucked in a safe spot from all those years ago so that he can remember.

         God has shown me throughout our time here that our team is a spoke in a much larger wheel. The 2022 Detroit Team has not entered into a spot for a short trip that exists in it’s own orbit. We have joined something that God has been doing here in Detroit as a piece of the puzzle. Detroit Love has shown us the value and importance of fostering long lasting relationships by intentionally pouring year after year into the lives of people who God loves deeply and unconditionally. I have been amazed how the Lord has invited us in to see what he is doing in the lives of some of the residents of Detroit, those housed and those unhoused. How he has shown us the importance of long-term investments in relationships. How he has shown us the priority of listening to the Spirit and joining God where he is at. How he has shown us that the Kingdom of God is a kaleidoscope of vivid colors.

         The stories abound for us and we are excited to share them with you all when we arrive home so please ask!

Thursday from Tabitha

 What does God’s faithfulness look like to you?

Spending time here in Detroit opens your eyes both to the brokeness and beauty of the city in a very intimate way. As I’ve been noticing the pain that exists here throughout this trip, I’ve been praying to see the city come together in unity and community, lifting each other up in Christ. I know that my prayers have been echoed on the lips of many people before me. I also know that throughout today I was able to talk with people from multiple different Christian groups in town that I had never heard of and through hip hop dancing in the projects to receiving a flier for a cookout, God showed me today that he is listening to our prayers, and lifting up the people of Detroit. I thank Him for that. 

What does God’s joy look like to you?

Every day when I walk into VBS, I get to see tons of little faces light up with joy before I’m swarmed with children. Kids I’ve never talked to run up for hugs, which I give willingly. Do you know how much a game of foursquare means to them? Earlier today in the gym I noticed a girl chillin on the ground. I laid down next to her to interact with her, but before I even knew it she had curled into a ball and tucked herself under my arm. The touching moment ended with an impromptu tickle attack from another group of kids. I was so tired, but too full of love to care. How could I not smile?

What does God’s goodness look like to you?

There is no way I could fully articulate to any of y'all at home what this trip means to me. However, even if you know nothing about Detroit, knowing God is the biggest step you can take. After all, everything our team is doing and has done has been directed by God; we have been practicing being aware of the Holy Spirit; we are listening continually and hearing this: God is showing himself here in Detroit, and it is a beautiful thing. Thank you for being a part of it. 

See you soon!!!

Tabitha Kibwaa :)

(PS, if you have never attended a Hip Hop Bible Study, I highly recommend!)

Wednesday by Truman

 

Hey this is Truman, just giving you an update on what we did today. We started Wednesday morning like all the others waking in time for breakfast at 7, although with the time change it feels so early. Following breakfast, we did our morning devotionals for about an hour, leading us into about another hour of discussing what we said and our opinions of what we were studying (Galatians Ch2-18 or so).  After we finished that discussion, we went out to do prayer walking in The Cass Corridor or what I was personally doing, servant evangelism. Today servant evangelism consisted of praying for an idea for ways we can help people, as well as driving around looking for ways to help. As we got about an hour into this it began to rain, and we had to pick up the team that was prayer walking. Once we had concluded that and drove back to where we are staying, we had a little extra time due to ending a little early, so we were able to get to our chores early, once we had completed our chores it was just about lunchtime. Post lunchtime we began preparing for Big A as well as finishing any chores that we had remaining. Once we were done with those, we had enough time between then (1:30 ish) and Big A to take a nap, we are all very tired. I, as well as others woke up at about 3:00. Now for Big A, today was hectic like other days at moment I felt unprepared or behind but, in the end, I think that we got the message across as well as had a good time with the kids (about 45) as well. Once we made it back from Big A it was time to begin dinner prep, following that was dinner believe it or not. After dinner we began our evening worship/stories of the day around a campfire in a lot next to the building, where we had some great conversations. Once that was concluded we played some games the I began to write this, that pretty much sums up our day. Thanks for the prayer and support it is much appreciated, hope to be back soon and good night.

 

P.S. Love you Mom and Dad can’t wait to see you soon.

Tuesday by Caleb

This morning I started my day going upstairs to help set up the breakfast bar. Breakfast with this crowd can get pretty rambunctious and might be too loud for someone who isn't a morning person like myself. But getting to spend time laughing and sharing stories helps me to enjoy every second.

After Breakfast we jumped into our Galatians study. My time with God was especially productive today, I found myself understanding the passages easier than before, and that was an answered prayer. 

When we separated into our teams, my team went shopping for school supplies for a Back to School program that Woodside Church is running. We spent time in prayer asking God where he wanted us to be and became drawn to, "oi" (Kevin just typed that as he walked by), we felt drawn to collect supplies for the kids going back to school in the coming weeks.

We made sure to stop at Sonic, per Mattie's request, and I got to enjoy my first Cherry Limeade, I was pleasantly surprised. We all gathered again for lunch and then prepared for Big A. 

Big A went surprisingly well today. My kids were all engaged in the story and we had a wonderful discussion about using our gifts from God to help others, with a quick lesson on sharing in the middle. 

Kevin led a very good discussion where some of us shared their testimonies and we discussed how we bring others to Jesus. 

And brings us up to now. As soon as I finish writing this I am hopefully going to take a hot shower if it hasn't all been used up already, and go straight to bed so I can be ready for whatever tomorrow brings.

Sincerely and Emphatically,

Caleb

Day 4 from Mattie🍌🍌🍌

 Hello all! Mattie here and I am going to tell you all about day 3 in Detroit AND day 1 of Big A!!! After getting a good nights sleep on the bottom bunk (I learned my lesson last year by sleeping on the top bunk about 12 feet high and let's just say its not worth the climb) we began our day with breakfast and our Galatians devotional.  My group that includes Joy, Caleb, and Tabitha had servant evangelism and came to a decision after praying and going on a drive that we would be buying school supplies to fill backpacks for a local school through the church we attending this year and the previous year called Woodside as they are holding a back to school campaign. The kids living in Detroit struggle each year with school and their want to learn as well so we prayed that they will want to engage more among other things. Big A was a new experience for me this year because while I came last year it was at the Detroit Love building outside while this year we were able to have Big A back at the Peoples Mission Church like previous years. So we loaded up the cars and headed off to the church. We actually use the Dream Center across the way from them which is just a big gym. I am with children 4-6 and they are definitely different than the older girls I had last year. I gave so many hugs and did so much dancing and coloring. It is such an amazing experience to be able to love on these kids who are so deprived of physical affection. That makes it even harder to leave at the end of the week. After saying our goodbyes and giving even more hugs we headed back to the building for a delicious dinner made by Lori. We got to have a great and deep discussion outside by the fire before worship and were able to share the gospel with a former Big A goer Daisharmonie and were hoping she would come back tonight so we could further the discussion with her and possibly start a relationship with Jesus. Being able to share the gospel is such a unique experience. I think I can say for all of us here in Detroit that we were ready for a good night of sleep and ready for the next amazing day. 

Thank you all for keeping us in your prayers and I am excited to see what the rest of the week has in store for the team. 

Peace out - Mattie