Day 1 -- Orientation

What up,

Today we got what Steve called our Orientation to Flint. It's pretty late now, but I thought I would share a few poems I wrote reflecting on the day.

Quick recap of Day 1:
Morning Prayer and Reflection
Dave made us an awesome breakfast (Ham and Crepes)
We went to Mass :)
Got a driving tour of Flint from Fr. Tom and Steve
Went to a fundraiser for the cross-country team that Dave works with
Some of us got Groceries at Meijers
Then we hung out at Dave's house (playing pool and bohnanza and napping)
Some awesome people made us dinner (Spaghetti and chicken wings)
Pastor George Wilkinson talked to us about his ministry work
Evening Prayer and Reflection

Anyway, I'm tired, but here are two poems I wrote in the late afternoon.

Statue in St.John of Vianney

Hands outstretched
as if waiting
for a hug, he stands
above all, ringed
by red, yellow,
blue sun beams
as radiant and
love-filled as
a warm smile
from my mother.

Observations of Flint

Take any home you would see
in Chicago, Cincinnati, or Minneapolis
compared to a suburban mansion it is
small, humble in its square footage,
but with luxurious property taxes.
Sometimes you might even see someone
sitting on a white porch
with blocky columns, reclining in an
overstuffed plaid easy-chair.

In Flint there is only one
of these for every
four or five. In a block
the occupied buildings
are crowded by their
dilapidated neighbors.
The letters C/P marking
in spray paint that
the gas is turned off.
The windows are either
broken or boarded
plywood blocks
the doors. Structures
barely recognized as
houses whose only
use is as a stage for
drug deals or fuel
for a fire which
engulfs the city.



I think all of us are excited to get working on our projects, not because we think we can change anything overnight for Flint, but because we want to do something. I know that I can't wait to meet the incredibly strong people who deal with this as their everyday reality.

~Grace