Days in Flint

After a wonderful retreat with Giving Voice, I was home in Adrian for a day before heading up north to Flint, Michigan, to visit our sisters in ministry there.

On Wednesday of last week, I arrived at the Saint Luke N.E.W Life Center to visit and assist Sr. Carol Weber, OP, Sr. Theresa Mayrand, OP, and Sr. Pat Magee, OP.

St. Luke's was begun 20 years ago by Sr. Carol and her longtime friend, Sr. Judy Blake, CSJ. After 7 years of street ministry to the disenfranchised in Flint Michigan, Srs. Carol and Judy responded to the needs they saw around them. With the generous donation of a building from their diocese, they opened a center that would help to educate, uplift, and empower the community.

I was struck by the organization of all the spaces used: winter clothing storage, fabric storage, classrooms, a vision center, and a literacy center were just some of the spaces created at St. Luke's.

Sr. Carol is an avid seamstress and one of the programs offered at St. Luke's is a sewing class. From there, clients of the Center can be educated in sewing and become part of the sewing workshop at St. Luke's where they make clothing, bags, and teddy bears (among other things!)

St. Luke's is a very special place: I was impressed by the way the volunteers and employees of the Center treated everyone with respect and dignity. I was always greeted with a "Good morning!" and never heard a quarrel in the hallways.

On my first day with Sr. Carol, after a tour, a family walked in off the street looking for assistance. It was below zero that day, and none of them were warmly clothed. Folks in Flint know to come and see Sr. Carol if they need something, but this family had no idea the Center was here. So, Sr. Carol greeted them, employees completed new paperwork to register the family as clients, and we asked how we could help. I assisted in finding warm winter clothing for all four members of this family and I was happy to do it.

On my first evening, after getting home from St. Luke's, Sr. Theresa and Sr. Pat came over to Sr. Carol's and we shared a meal.

What I found most enjoyable was hearing their stories and understanding their own journeys toward and within our community. The sisters are funny, fun-loving, and energized in their work.

The next day, I joined Sr. Theresa's Life Skills class for women. She is dedicated to teaching and empowering women through positive thinking and goal-setting and action. All of these women were incredibly kind and respectful to each other. We enjoyed sharing our stories and singing (you knew there'd be singing!)

Sr. Pat is an experienced educator- I was thrilled to help her in a tutoring session last Thursday. I had two young kids working on Math and Reading. It's been a while since I've helped someone with their math homework, but it was so fun.

The variety of ministries offered at St. Luke's is a testament to the creativity and collaboration in Flint. Flint and St. Luke's is the recipient of a Resilient Communities Grant from our congregation and I could see how well they were putting the grant into action.

On Friday, my last day in Flint, I assisted the employees and volunteers in handing out boxes of food to those in need. We stood outside in below-zero temps greeting folks and putting items into cars, bikes, or backpacks. It was so. Cold.

The only thing I could concentrate on, however, was how much colder those without homes, heat, or gloves were than I. It was a kind of lesson in solidarity that I knew I needed to learn.

What can I say about this wonderful immersion experience except that I want to return? Srs. Carol, Pat, and Theresa were wonderful company and I learned so much from them in such a short time. I loved the employees and volunteers and enjoyed engaging with those who came in to seek assistance. I learned from every person who walked in over the course of those three days:

1. Listen attentively
2. Ask questions - don't make assumptions
3. Always be kind and give what you can

This experience affirmed my desire to continue hunger and homelessness ministry in whatever way I can. I cannot wait to return to St. Luke's and visit once again!

Peace,

Jamie