Sunday, July 19, 2015
Spreading love
Thoughout the week, the kids spread God's love by giving clothespins with messages on them! 
Serving with the bishop!
Hannah's God Moment
My God moment of the trip was our service day. Grace cleaned up two houses on the outside. As we were cleaning up around the house, other people started coming over and helping us make it beautiful. I thought it was so great how everyone comes together and help each other even though they don't know us. That was my God moment.
-Hannah Hughes
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Eastern Market
The youth group went to the Eastern Market this morning to enjoy breakfast in the community! 
Friday, July 17, 2015
God Moment
For our service work we cleaned up outside some houses that were boarded up and while we were working so many people stopped and thanked us for working in their city
Emily Hartman
Lunch Prayers
Yesterday at lunch we were eating at a small park in the city. As always, we circled up to pray before beginning our meal. There were a few local citizens sitting at the surrounding tables, as well as two security officers. We invited them to join us, and together we were able to "unite" in a way and pray. Will even taught them the batman song grace and we could tell they enjoyed it. I saw God's presence in the people of Detroit and in the moment that we shared with them.
Matt Little
Some images from Thursday
A schwarma which is a Greek sandwich we enjoyed for lunch.
Matt and John playing minute to win it.
We had our picture with Agape!!!!!!!!
Some of the youth re-creating the last supper.
Dinner! We're all there! :)
Thursday, July 16, 2015
My God Moment - X
My God moment from yesterday was during the gathering at Ford Field, a Rev. Dr. from Duke University, Luke A. Powery, spoke one of the most powerful sermons I've heard. The way he used his words made put you in awe, just waiting for what he was gonna say next. He compared events in the Bible, specifically in the book of Mark, with events from issues in the present day, including issues like racism, sexism, classism and homosexuality. He stated at the end of his sermon that if we all Rise Up with God, that we all can accomplish anything.
Diapers galore!!!
Here is just a quick look of the diapers collected from just our hotel. Go Grace!!
Molly's God Moment
Yesterday while we were in Hart Plaza, I experienced a God moment while we were finishing lunch. As I was throwing my trash away, a man sitting nearby asked me where I was from, and I replied "Pennsylvania." I didn't think much of it until a couple minutes later, when Jesse brought the same man over to the group and told us he had a message to share. The man told us he wrote something that he thought we would like, and he started reciting a poem about Jesus. Jesse later told us that he simply said "God bless" to the man, and that's how the man responded. It was really surprising and amazing to see how we can connect with random people we meet through our beliefs and love for God. The man also told us that God spelled backwards is "dog" because God is a man's best friend. His message really stuck with me, as if God wanted us to meet this man and hear what he had to say.
-Molly
exploring the city
Yesterday we walked around Detroit exploring the city. There were many groups of lutherans that were doing the same. my main god moment was being able to talk to the other groups that were walking around. we could stop and talk to people like we already knew them when we didn't. when we would talk to people, i felt like i could see god in all of them. i loved knowing that we were all there for the same reason. we were all there to worship god. and to me, that is an amazing thing.
Olivia Hartman
Olivia Hartman
Hey this is Greg Kincaid, and I wanted to share my god moment with you. I'll start with the morning. We took a tour of a church built in 1844 that was a crucial part of the Underground Railroad. It was called "Midnight", and was a slaves last stop before entering Canada. After the tour we walked through the city and enjoyed lunch by the river, with the only part in the U.S. where you can look south to Canada. Next we walked to the Ford Stadium and raced for floor seats. It was amazing! On our way back to the hotel we were singing to music on the way back, with some great songs such as Under Pressure, Bohemian Raphsody, and Uptown Girl. I just loved that because we were all just singing like crazy.Thanks for reading, so excited what will happen today!
Greg Kincaid
God's Face
Yesterday as we were finishing up our live tour of one of the last Underground Railroad stops, our slave guide faced us with a question on our last step to "freedom". She asked us "Where is God, Where can he be found". We all looked around at each other, searching for the right answer. As Christians, this single question defines our faith journey. Where do we meet God? She noticed our inquisitive stares and said "Well he's right here!" She told us to look around at the people around us, she said we each are the face of God. She said if you look up at the sky on a sunny day or listen for a laugh or a prayer, that's where God is. Behind smiles and love and sunshine. God is in each and everyone of us when we choose to be good and faithful Christians. We are the face of God, so we should show everybody the same love and compassion and forgiveness God would. The question isn't "Where is God" anymore, but rather "How do I show others the face of God".
Sarena Vogelsong
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Arabic bakery!
On the way to our new hotel we stopped at an Arabic bakery. We stocked up and gave the kids a little extra dessert! They are all tucked in for the evening! 😄
Ready for worship!
We are getting ready to worship with @lutheranhands one more time then we will leave the Dearborn and head to the Comfort Inn.
Monday, July 13, 2015
Capturing the first day
Helping to prepare for the gathering!
Mixing paint which will cover the boards on houses to make the neighborhoods more welcoming.
Jesus is here! 😄😄
Day one
Today we had a wonderful first day of work. My group was able to help people from the gathering to start the preperation for the service day on the elca gathering. I loved being able to see the behind the scenes of what has to be done to be able to finish up things for the gathering! Thank you for all the love and support!
-Madison Snyder
day 1 inspiration :)
Hello, Grace Lutheran church!!!!! We miss you all very much.
Today, half of Grace had the opportunity to work at a warehouse called UDC. It is an understatement to say that I was completely inspired. Maddy Hindermyer and I were blessed to meet a lady named Vanessa, who ran the warehouse. After a conversation of small talk, Vannessa was PREACHING!
She grew up in Detroit, ended up going to school in D.C., and moved back to what she said was still her home. When she came back, she said she felt like she had just been in a war. The odd thing was, she wasn't sure who she was fighting. Houses and companies in ruins, lives destroyed, the city forever changed. That really stood out because she was so unsure about what they did to deserve this, why this had happened, but she still was overflowing with hope and faith in the city.
Another part that stood out to us during this conversation is INSPIRING. She said that there are 4 choices: life, death, blessings, and curses.
When you pick up a cigarette, are you choosing life?
When you pick up a beer, are you choosing life?
When you rob a bank, are you choosing life?
When you go into someone else's home and strip it of everything inside in 5 minutes, ARE you choosing life?
She got very emotional during this conversation because she was so passionate with helping her community and living through Christ.
When the group was leaving, we ended in prayer. Megan Ozimok noticed the relationship that Maddy and I had made and offered for us to give her a prayer shawl. We walked up to her and told her we would keep her in our prayers and give our wishes that her hopes for the warehouse would be fufilled.
So, I thank all of Grace Lutheran Church for giving me, and the Grace group these types of opportunities to build relationships, and learn life changing lessons. And, thanks to the prayer shawl makers!!
We love YOU ALL so much and hope all is well in PA :)
With lots and lots of love,
Maci Russell :)
P.s. Love you Lucy Russell, sending kisses!
Heidelberg Project
It's Monday. Everything is slow on Mondays. You never know what you're doing and you have no idea what you're getting yourself into. Not this Monday.
This Monday we were sent right to work and all I could think of is "This is going to be a looooong day." We worked in a paint warehouse this morning and afternoon. And it was was all fine and dandy, but afterwards Jesse told us we were going to this urban art exhibit. And I was thinking "OMG really? We are covered in paint and I am so tired, can't we just go?" Gosh I am so glad that we didn't go back to the hotel. We went to this place called the Heidelberg project.
This place is urban street art made out of the ruins of a riot in the streets if Detroit. Houses were burnt down and the area got very dangerous.
This guy named Tyree Guyton started this project to attract people to this area to make the area safer for his family when he was 12. This park was a beautiful symbol for togetherness and how the city got together to build this beautiful exhibit. One part in the exhibit, a sign says "Detroit is a Pheonix". For those of you who don't know a Pheonix is a bird that dies by going up in flames and reborn from it's ashes.
That's my last thought for the night. Love and blessings.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
We found Detroit!
We are pulling up to our hotel as we speak!!!! We have made it safe and sound! Best bus drivers! 
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