10 October 07 - 16:46
Coming Clean - Part 2
Dear Friends: It's so amazing to see the impact that the 70x7 outreach has on visitors in the van. This message is from Greer who accompanied us this week. Read on:
Last night was a moment of clarity. Clarity seems to be hard to come by these days. There is so much information and all too much noise. But last night proved to be a moment when God cuts through the fog of our own blindness. God shone his light clear and true and shocked and amazed me to the marrow of my bones.
I drove back to Detroit yesterday on a beautiful fall day. The colors were the beginning hint of something dazzling to come. Despite the evidence of seasons that God gives us in our lives and in nature, I was angry and afraid. My own life was in tatters and I had no idea of what I was about to have the privilege to witness or how this would be a guiding light out of a pit of darkness to give hope and assurance that God is working in our lives and at all levels.
I met my friend Donna to make the rounds with her at 8:00 at Dunkin Donuts. I wasn't entirely comfortable leaving my car in that neighborhood as we set off on her mission that takes place every Tuesday evening but the parking lot was well lit and I figured that Donna did know what she was doing. I reminded myself that God would provide protection. I also reminded myself that I was being confined by my own idea of safe which had proved was not safe at all. There was a woman sitting in the passenger side of Donna's van although Donna was not in the car. I figured this had to be the Cindy that I had heard so much about. Nothing prepared me for actually meeting this woman. Cindy waved excitedly at me as though she had known me for years. I felt shy. I began to collect the things that I had brought for the trip to Detroit's street's of evening commerce waiting for Donna to return from the doughnut shop to introduce us. Cindy did not wait for formalities. She hopped out immediately began to welcome me and told me how glad she was to meet me. She called me "Miss Greer" and she was so excited and so grateful that God had saved her from certain death as a hard core heroin addict and life as a prostitute in the worst area of Detroit's street life. She could not wait to tell me her story.
Its amazing that she is alive. Cindy readily showed me her arms as proof. Her tiny arms and hands were deeply scarred from the trails of years of needle injections. God saved her and I don't think anyone could be more grateful for the gift of life than this woman. I asked her how this life had begun for her. She was only 10, abused by her father with a mother who was dying of brain cancer and two younger sisters that she felt she had to take care of.
We waited a few minutes for Lauren who was coming from Northville. Lauren has become Donna's shotgun on these Tuesday night runs and she is definitely well suited to the task. She's exceptionally tall and I think that because I am exceptionally short but she is bounding with womanly charm and enthusiasm and love for God's street people. She brought all of us gifts, even me! She said she knew me from the Thanksgiving baskets at Kensington where we delivered to the inner city and also from the discussions about our trip to Israel. That was all too long ago and I hung my head when she talked about that. I realized that I had become derailed by my own selfish problems, which has to be one of Satan's biggest schemes.
Donna gave me a little briefing on what we were going to do and what we would be looking for. We began to assemble the 25 lunch bags with a sandwich from her cooler, a sanitation kit, a juice and piece of fruit as we set off for the evening's work. The streets were quiet and Donna said that she had heard that the police had been making sweeps of the area. They were also dark, too dark by suburban standards. There was a wealth of trash and inner city decay everywhere you could see. I was amazed that Donna had such a knowledge of the intricacies of the neighborhoods and where to turn and to look. But Donna had driven these streets for 9 months and prayed for God's direction before she ever began to work her ministry.
Our first stop was a young woman named "S". Donna knows these women, she has a list of their names and their streets on her dashboard but she says that there are more and more of them everyday. "S" was eager for a sandwich and she said she would accept prayer. Lauren stepped out and held the lady's hands and she prayed earnestly for God's blessing in her life. Cindy showed "S" her arms and told her with child like hope and excitement that if God could deliver her from that prison of the streets, he could deliver anyone. It made an impact. As we drove away from the curb, "S" was getting a date but I saw the wistful look in her eyes and a look of connection as Lauren and Cindy called from the windows of the car "We love you. God loves you. Stay safe."
We did not see much action until 9:30 or 10:00. I was beginning to think that we had pulled a dry night. Frankly it felt like something of a relief. But then, it began to happen quickly. Lauren spied a young person on the street and we pulled over. Obviously high, he was both desperate for our help with food but anxious that we would be on our way. He quickly accepted our prayer and then ran across the street to a waiting car. I saw the saddest look in his eyes as he stepped away from the car - a look that you would expect to see from an animal that had been caught in a trap and could not get loose. I don't think I will get that impression out of my mind. It kept me awake half the night. Donna said this boy was a cross dresser and part of the gay trade that was growing on the streets.
We turned down a side street looking for a particular family that Donna and Lauren knew. Cindy was excited to be going to their house. The street was dark and the house was in shambles. No person in their right mind would be down there at this time of night. There was a teenage boy sitting in a plastic chair in the front of the house that we stopped at. He quickly came over to the van and Donna asked about his sister. They were like family to Donna and she knew each member by name. Suddenly there was a pretty sister and a grandmother all crowded around the van talking about how good it was to see the van and that school for the kids was going better. Just a few years ago, Lauren and Donna had encountered this same young boy in a street gang that had terrorized the neighborhood. Lauren said she had been oblivious to the danger for some reason and had written blessings on each boy's shirt and each one had accepted a prayer from her. Donna admitted that she had been terrified that night and stood amazed at how God had worked to protect Lauren as she gamely stepped out and prayed. Despite the surroundings, the young man I met was gentle and respectful. I asked Lauren what she felt had made the difference. She said that these boys needed to hear God's hope and his blessings. Lauren said they needed prayer. She said that most likely no one had ever spoken blessings to them. I stood amazed! Truly the righteous prayer of a man availeth much!
At the next turn, we stopped at a car parked on the street. A young woman was talking to the driver. Everyone was edgy. A drug deal was in progress and we had interrupted the transaction. The driver accepted a prayer and a sandwich even though he was clearly stoned. His passenger would not get out of the car and although Lauren would have gladly gone to the passenger, Donna told Lauren to stay put. We drove on.
Then we encountered a woman, "M", who I guessed to be about 50 although Lauren said she was probably much younger as the streets will add years to a person's body. She clearly wanted the food but not much else. Life had drained all hope from her face. We offered a prayer but I could see she was going through the motions. There was a man walking by at that moment. He said his name was Leonard and he had to go home and take care of his daughter. The mother had recently died. He said he could use a prayer for sure and he gladly took two sandwiches. ; We were praying with Leonard when a car did a U turn on the street and pulled in front of us. A tall and enthusiastic woman burst in on Lauren. She said "It is you! I knew it had to be you! Its me Pam .You prayed for me! I'm clean! I'm clean. I've got a job." She hugged Donna and Lauren and she was just so thrilled to see them and tell them how she was doing. All the while "M" who had sauntered off into the shadows heard a story of hope and saw that God had given Pam a great blessing.
I can't thank Donna, Lauren and Cindy enough for the privilege of going with them last evening. I needed to go; I'm thankful I had the chance to go. I'm ashamed of all my complaining and whimpering and the time I have wasted in my own self centered problems. I'm so grateful for what I experienced last night and so encouraged to get on my knees and pray. Prayer breaks the bonds of oppression. God does have a plan and purpose for us all if we will but take it. There is nothing too hard for our God.
Be Blessed,
Greer
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