Yesterday morning, I went to St. Al’s outreach center which is part of St. Aloysius Catholic Church to help at their breakfast and distribute clothes to the homeless. It’s incredible that the center is still running despite the fact that so many people in the city are trying to close it because it’s “not good business” to have homeless people around the downtown area where they are trying to bring in new companies and businesses. I absolutely love working with the homeless and especially eating with them. Instead of serving or eating breakfast, I was in the back sorting and organizing clothes. It was a very humbling job, but I know the help was needed. Slowly a small stream of men started coming back requesting socks, underwear, pants, boots, and coats. Most of these requests were not fulfilled because of the lack of men’s clothing, shoes, and undergarments. We instead tried to fit them into sweaters and send them on their way. People back home keep on asking what things are needed in Detroit. I haven’t really been asking, but instead waiting to see what and where the needs actually are. Often we know there is a need, but we don’t wait long enough to see what the need actually is or what is causing it.
There was one woman, Sunshine, who came back though, and I was able to help her find some clothes. She kept of saying, “Sarah, I like your taste. You’ve got style.” (So yes, I may have a horrendous brown sweater that is completely distasteful that I wear all the time, but I still got style!) My heart really went out to Sunshine. She was a young woman who I could tell went through a lot. A year ago she was in a bus accident, and her spine was injured somehow. She is now constantly in pain, and even the simplest tasks are difficult for her because of the pain. I was really blessed with the opportunity to pray with her. I pray that the Lord heals her whether it is physically, spiritually, or emotionally. I don’t know if I will ever see her again, but it is often those little encounters with people like Sunshine remind me of my purpose here in Detroit.
I was looking for your blue sweater today and found a bag of clothes and in it was a brown sweater. I thought it was yours and that you had left it in the house. then i pulled it out and realized it was about 5 sizes too small for you and would probably fit a person of Anna DeMarais' size. I chuckled to myself as I thought about sending this little sweater to you and make you try it on haha. Then I laughed at myself for thinking that when I first saw the brown sweater that it could have been yours. Of course you would NEVER leave that behind and of course you have it with you in Detroit. silly me. anyways, this story is beautiful, but I couldn't resist this funny moment when I thought of you today. And sadly, I couldn't find your blue sweater.
ReplyDeleteSo neat to read this! One of our friends is the Exec Director at the Center for the Homeless in SB, and he says the same thing! He loves working with the homeless and spending time with them. Over and over we read that God is closest to the poor. Perhaps that is why they are so wonderful! God is so much closer to them.
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