Gannon University's Detroit ABST: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

February 28, 2017

Here we are at day two. If you’ve been following our journey, you know that we have started our work at Earthworks and have met the wonderful people involved there. So, here comes our next fun-filled chapter.

Set the scene at 8 AM this morning as we sat around sipping coffee with the sound of raindrops outside the windows. Our stomachs were ready for the delicious treats that awaited us at On the Rise Bakery, an affiliate of Capuchin Soup Kitchen and Earthworks. The bakery specializes in employing ex-convicts who are trying to get back on their feet. It is an empowering business that spreads a message of hope and love.

Stepping into the bakery that morning, we were in awe (as in mouths gaping in awe). Before us stood rows of glazed donuts, homemade muffins, and cinnamon rolls bigger than our hands. We all ordered our treats with some coffee and sat down to eat our way to a sugar high. Trust us, we wouldn’t have wanted to start our days any other way.

When we arrived at the worksite, we met with Roxanne, the assistant head farmer. She put us to work immediately, despite the slight drizzle falling. Splitting off into groups, we worked on putting up chicken wire around the greenhouse to prevent cats from getting in, along with digging up old bushes that were no longer producing fruit. The best experience of that whole time was our great teamwork. It sounds cliché, but teamwork truly does make the dream work. This was evident enough if you saw all that we accomplished within the span of a few hours. The bushes were gone, vegetables picked, and chicken wire put up along one whole side. The feeling of accomplishment was felt by all.

Lunch brought back some old friends to us as we sat down to our home-cooked meal. Some individuals recognized us and motioned for us to come over or asked how Belle Isle was. It just goes to show how tight the family is at Capuchin Soup Kitchen.

After lunch, we headed back to the Hoop House to continue on with all of our hard work. This time, we met with a worker named Eric, who taught a group of us how to prep the beds. The amount of work that we went through was super intense. My arms were definitely feeling it after we were done pushing wheelbarrows full of compost across the length of the greenhouse.

Shortly after leaving Earthworks, we quickly changed to head to Dearborn, picking up Shane and driving to a mosque. The scene in the girl’s bathroom was hilarious ahead of time as we all lined up to have Miriam wrap our scarves for us. Once we arrived, we wandered around to see the beautiful prayer room and architecture within the mosque. Many of us come from a different faith background, so we were constantly pestering Miriam and Hitham about what different objects meant or the translation of certain phrases.

We did actually sit in the back of the prayer room as the prayer went on. During prayer, the men sit at the front and the women sit near the back. All of us women headed toward the back wall, while Tommy and the other men headed to the front. Tommy was actually drawn into the prayer, making friends with the men sitting beside him. As someone who has never experienced a Muslim prayer service before, it was truly an amazing experience that I won’t forget.

After the service, Shane directed us to an Arabic restaurant in Dearborn called Al Ameer. The food was absolutely delicious and we all went out of our comfort zones to try something different. Many of us ordered shawarma, an entrée consisting of lamb, beef, or chicken grilled in delicious spices. Hummus, pita bread, and garlic sauces covered the table as we ate and talked for a while. This dinner will go down in history as one of the best.

The day was packed with activities and by the time we shuffled through the retreat center doors, it was after 9 PM. We all soon hit the sack, still reminiscing about an amazing day spent with new friends, new experiences, and lots of good food.

XOXO,

Detroit 2K17