Sleeping on the Streets of Detroit

A New Bank Account in Uganda!

Hullo Don! I hope you are already in contact with Jeremy’s team from OLGC that visited St Kizito on 8th and 9th March 2012 for some more sharing of their experience within Uganda, and what has emerged from the work of your humble efforts that was started in St Kizito. On 5th February 2012 a Germany couple had come to see me and to tour the pear of Africa. They visited the girls’ Home (Daughters) and were so much impressed by the efforts put in to bring these young girls back to their God given dignity with their little ones. They donated some 50 Euros to buy some clothes for their two children in the Home: Shakira and Stephen. The girls were extremely happy for their visit. On 10th Feb. 2012, the girls had some outside catering services, when they cooked food for some 30 local leaders’ seminar at Ug shs. 125,000/=, after borrowing some Ug. Shs. 100,00/= to buy the foods to be cooked. They got a profit of Ug. Shs. 25,000/=. They shared Ug. Shs. 14,000/= among themselves, and they were able to buy some 14 table forks at Ug. Shs. 2800/=, and some 8 plastic plates at Ug. Shs. 5,600/= and some cooking Charcoal at Ug. Shs. 2,000/=. The remaining balance being Ug.shs. 600/=. Candle making: On 14 February 2012 the girls started making candles as indicated below: 14.02. 2012: 18 packets x 8 candles sold at Ug. 12,800/= 20.02.2012: 16 pkts 28,900/= 23. 28 pkts 47,400/= 27. 24 pkts ? 06.03.2012: 10 pkts 33,200/= 10.03. 23 pkts. 20,800/= N.B.: 1. When I met the girls on 16 March, I asked them to take the above amount (Ug. Shs. 143,100/=) from the candle making project to KCSC SACCO (Bank), and open up Savings account with them immediately, to avoid keeping the money in the house which is very much tempting, which could lead to misappropriation as well. 2. It skipped my pen to record the amount of money from the candles they made on 27 February. 3. Nakafeero Juliet, who is the mother to Stephen of 3 years, is most likely to deliver her child in May 2012. 4. Madina and Phiona are still busy learning hair dressing at Ms Bakka’s Saloon in the neighborhood! May God bless you! Gerald.

El Salvador Trip

This letter was sent by my daughter Megan to those who helped her raise funds for the La Mora Clinic. She adequately describes our trip a few weeks ago. Deacon Don Leach

Thank you all for your support for La Mora Clinic in El Salvador. I wanted to let you know that the trip was a success and my group returned safely and in good spirits!

As a group, we raised over $4,000 for La Mora Clinic! The doctors and nurse expressed their gratitude. They were anxious they would have to close the clinic, but now have funding to remain open through July. We will be continuing our efforts to keep the clinic open after this date. Please know that your support is appreciated and is helping thousands of Salvadorans receive essential medical care. While in El Salvador, my group spent time with the staff of the clinic painting the building with a fresh coat of green. The staff had requested this project and were very happy with the results. It looks like a completely new building!

In addition to our time at the clinic, we spent our trip building relationships with the people of Haciendita Uno, Our Lady of Good Counsel's sister community and one of the communities served by La Mora Clinic. The families of Haciendita Uno opened their homes to host our group for three nights. We met with the leaders of the community to discuss their visions for the future and with the students who are receiving university scholarships to see how their studies are going. The youth of the community taught us a thing or two about “futbol” and the community hosted an informal dance for us on our final night. They schooled us in dancing as well!

We were able to take a group of high school students across Lake Suchitilan to hear the story of the sole survivor of the Massacre of Copapayo during the civil war. He was only ten years old when military forces killed his entire family and community. He emphasized that it was through the grace of God that he was able to survive. His story is one of many Salvadorans who witnessed the harsh realities of war between 1979-1992. Later in the week, we took another group of students to see the historical ruins of Cihuatan. This was the first major city in the area and has been unoccupied since 1500. Even though these sites are not far from the students' communities, they are not able to tour them due to financial restrictions-they cannot pay the 80 cent bus fare or the $1.00 ticket fee..

While staying with Haciendita Uno, we visited the nearby communities of El Roble and Zacamil Dos. These communities are in various stages of obtaining running water in their homes. The job at Zacamil Dos is mostly completed and the 78 families in the community are receiving purified water in their homes. The process at El Roble is still in the planning stages and requires a much more complicated system due to the location of the community to it's water source. It will be expanded in the future to covere the neighboring community of Palo Grande. In addition to simplifying the physical process of obtaining water, the community members benefit from cleaner water free of parasites and bacteria.

Our final day in El Salvador was spent touring the capital and learning about the fight for social justice that continues throughout the nation. We visited the chapel where Archbishop Oscar Romero was assassinated for being a voice for the poor. We visited the University of Central America where a group of Jesuit priests and two civilians were murdered because of their efforts to speak out about inequality. Their stories are examples of people standing up for their beliefs and refusing to accept violence and injustice. They continue to be symbols and examples of peace and solidarity throughout the country.

I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to spend the week with our brothers and sisters in El Salvador. I had not visited Haciendita Uno in over two years and it was great to see the advances the community has made and to see how much the children have grown! The clinic is a vital service for the people of Haciendita Uno and over 34 other rural communities. On behalf of myself, the clinic staff, and the communities served by the clinic, I thank you again for your financial support.---Megan Leach

News from the House of Jjajja Don in Kampala Uganda

Greetings from your God-daughters in the House of Jjajja Don, who are filled with gratitude to you, for enabling them, to recognize their dignity in the community as truly human beings.

The girls purchased some materials to make candles on Thursday 26 January 2012, including a pack of wax; aluminum source-pans; candle mold; polythene sheets, etc.. and handled over to the girl, to start the candle making project. The girls were so excited, and on 10 February 2012, a volunteer lady assisted me in instructing them how to make candles without charging us any coin. Some pictures will be forwarded to you by Matthias.

Allow me now to update you about some achievements these girls have been able to register in some few past days.

1. These girls impressed me greatly, when they offered some outside catering services to a number of 60 people who had attended a meeting at St Kizito on 23 January 2012. Some funds were borrowed to buy certain foods, and hired some needed utensils, some cooking charcoal; transport for 3 days, and they were able to get some payment from the services they offered. Each one of the girls received about $7.00 for themselves. The net profit of their catering services for the Home was an equivalent of US $ 104.

2. On 27 January 2012 they offered some other catering services to 20 people and got some funds again. This time each individual received about $3.50 each and about $25.50 for the Home.

3. On 30 January 2012 they bought some utensils for their catering services in case chance avails them with an opportunity, namely:

a) Some 6 small serving dishes

b) 3 dozens of plates

c) Sugar bowels

d) 2 dozens of Cups

Incomes from catering services on 23 Jan and 27 Jan minus the expenditures for some utensils on 30 Jan gives a net profit of $36 USD and the use of good utensils for future catering jobs.

Such is some interesting news from your Daughters!—God’s Blessings to you, Gerald.

I was able to call the girls this morning and let them know I had received this information from Fr Gerald. They were all so excited about the three business ventures they have embarked on: Banana Chip Production, Candle Production and Catering Services. I told them how proud I am of all of them and that they are in our hearts and prayers each day. They give their love and prayers to all who are helping them succeed.

Thoughts from Downtown Detroit

So much good and so much evil all intermingled in life…

In the last six months I have seen and heard some pretty different and exciting things. What I am most aware of here is the intermingling of good and evil in the life of the community and its members.

I see constantly how we can become so focused on the stuff we have to offer that we fail to take the time to see the person we are trying to serve. I see how rather than the stuff being used as a means to open the entrance to someone’s life, it becomes the mechanism to hide behind so that we do not have to do the hard work of relationship. While the stuff is good and important, it can be an evil influence at the same time.

I have seen how we can focus on the past and not try to live in the present or expect anything different in the future. I have heard about so many past hurts, insults, demeaning words having been spoken that they are now a hindrance to the ability to forgive and work together for the good of the community. Relationships are hard but they are always worth the work. If we cannot build relationships with each other than what do we have to offer others that appears to make any sense or is seen as being valuable?

Life comes with good and bad. Trying to walk the line and not get caught in the evil is hard work. Without our eyes being fixed on Jesus, the journey becomes precarious. We can get caught up in a cult of personality or the desire to be the focus of the work rather than the servant. We can try to be so good for all the wrong reasons.

I was reminded recently of why I want to do the work of relationship in downtown Detroit. Fifteen years ago I met a man at the outreach center. He was a tall strapping strong man who had some drug and mental health issues. At times he seemed angry and frightened some people. Occasionally, he would be banded from the center because of disruptive behaviors. He always seemed to be nice to me and never really gave me any difficulty. When we would see each other, we would smile and point at each other. It was some kind of sign of friendship we developed over the years. About three months ago, I was out with the afternoon street ministers and I saw the man step out of a bus shelter on Woodward Avenue. Our eyes met and we smiled and pointed at each other. He yelled out, “I know you!” and I said in return, “I know you!” He grabbed my hand and we spoke about how the center had closed and that we were now on the streets trying to meet some of the needs of the homeless. Before I knew it, he had me in one of his huge bear hugs and was yelling at the people on the street corner. “See these people. They are the good people from St Al’s. They take care of me. They feed me and give me clothes when I need them. They are true Christians. They love me and I love them.” He finally let me go and he took a pair of gloves from us. As we parted, I said to him, “Let’s keep an eye out for each other on the street.” He pointed at me and smiled.

I found out a week before Christmas break the police had found him dead curled up behind a dumpster in an alley off Woodward Ave. His brother told me the Medical Examiner thought it was most likely a drug overdose that killed him. I was not able to attend his Memorial Service at Sts. Peter and Paul Jesuit parish in downtown Detroit. I know he was among good friends there.

When all is said and done what I believe we are called to do on the streets of the inner city is to build loving relationships so that we can point to each other and say, “I know you!” Perhaps in the knowing we will grow to be friends, brothers and sisters to each other. I will miss my friend but I know that the Lord will introduce me to someone tomorrow who I will point to eventually on the street and say, “I know you. How are you today?” Each day we struggle to get through the petty and unseemly things of life-the good and the bad-so that we can find the freedom to do what Jesus calls us all to do, “Love one another as I have loved you.” If you would like to come and join us in this wonderful journey please call me at 313-309-1270 and step into an unbelievable journey with God and His people.

New Street ministry Team

We started a Wednesday night Street Ministry team yesterday. Five new volunteers found their way out on to the streets of downtown Detroit. We encountered five homeless men and began to learn more about homelessness at night in Detroit. If you would like to join us please call me at 313-309-1270

Next step for Street ministry….

The weather is changing and the shelters are starting to open in the evenings for the homeless. In an effort to identify and support the most marginalized homeless who generally do not find their way to a shelter, Bro AL and I will be starting a Wednesday evening street ministry schedule. The first night will be November 9, 2011. We will meet in the parish office’s lower conference room at 6:30 pm to discuss the ministry and go over the content of the ministry with anyone who is volunteering to be part of these days. The office is located at 1232 Washington Blvd. If you would like to participate in the Wednesday evening Street Ministry please call me at 313-309-1270 so that I know how many for sure will be at the meeting. Make sure to wear appropriate clothing for the weather. We will go out no matter what the weather is like. I would recommend you bring a small flashlight also.

Deacon Don Leach