Monday, February 29, 2016

Apples and Pears - Pictures!






Apples and Pears



Hello Family and Friends!

Today was a special day: our first day at Earthworks. We took a tour. We ate some food. We trimmed some trees. But it was much more than that. Entering into this new experience with open minds and open hearts, we first gave our undivided attention to Shane, our Earthworks community partner. After some quick introductions, he gave us a tour of the grounds supplemented by historical information. 

Some Q&A and relevant issue discussion followed, which led into lunch at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen. We shared the meal with guests from the local area, joining with them through silence, conversation, and solidarity. As we discovered in our reflection later in the day, this was a touching and enriching experience for all of us. Whether we were out of our comfort zones or returning to a familiar experience, we entered into an important element of service; presence.

Once the lunch hour was over, we took a crash course in pruning fruit trees and tackled the unkempt growth of the orchard. Artful snipping, trimming, and sawing ensued. Although Patrick, our pruning instructor, didn't exactly follow up on our work, we left Earthworks relatively confident that our work was at least satisfactory (We hope). 

Our adventures did not end there; Kaustav, one of our accompaniers, had a delightful dish in store for us. After hours of his careful preparation, we indulged in a true culinary masterpiece that satiated not only our hunger, but our quest for the diverse tastes of the world. Sharing his Indian culture and cuisine with us proved to be a true blessing. 

As this "Leap Day" comes to a close, know that we keep you all in our thoughts as we prepare for tomorrow's adventures.

With love from Detroit,
Detroit ABST 2016


Sunday, February 28, 2016

Welcome to Our ABST!

Hello friends and family!

We're excited to report that we are officially in Detroit! It's been a crazy couple of days, and we anticipate the next few days to be even better!

One of our themes for the week is experiencing different faiths, or "interfaith" relations, and we began to live that out this morning. We attended a Gospel-infused mass at Sacred Heart Parish. This was a new experience for most of us, and we found that we collectively really enjoyed the music.

This afternoon, we had the opportunity to explore the history of the city through the Detroit Historical Museum. This interactive experience let us learn more about the diverse past that Detroit has experienced, and will be valuable information for us as we continue our week.

Check back later to hear more about our adventures!

Love from Detroit,

Detroit ABST 2016