Ministry update for March 19
Week one of my Church of the Brethren outreach in Flint was a time of promise. I spent my first week building relationships with Bill and Mary Hammond of First COB, and Sam Smith and Mulondo Echols of NOW Ministries (No One Without), a church that shares the First COB church building with the Brethren congregation. Not many folks work harder to build community than the folks I have worked with in Flint.
At the church, I spent a total of 12 hours over three days helping with water distribution. Londo and B.B. (Sam) and I distributed water to people who pulled their cars up to a table set up in front of the church. As I posted earlier, nearly every single person smiled and expressed gratitude and shared blessings with us. We did not limit distribution, providing each vehicle with two cases of water, and then adding as many cases as were requested. No one asked for more than four cases other than one family of ten people. Remember, this water is for cooking, drinking, pets, plants, and some folks are using it to wash with.
I spent two hours at a community service providers meeting. This was very informative as I learned about some changes to the means of distribution that are coming soon, as well as what some of the needs are that need to be filled by volunteers. One of the volunteer positions I will be filling is role of volunteer MSW therapist for four or five hours a week. I am waiting for the details and how I can be used in this capacity. I hope to have something firmed up next Thursday.
I have also spent time speaking with two individuals about urban farming initiatives. I was provided with a tour of some of the urban agricultural projects while riding around the city with Bill, and was introduced to an individual who is transforming ten or more acres into an urban farm. I also spoke with a community activist, Joe, who is interested in learning the methods to produce pastured broilers. Mark is interested in layers, broilers, and perhaps goats among other livestock options. Related to this urban farming initiative is an idea to produce a plan for a seminary program for Earlham and Bethany that provides for an MDiv with a focus in rural and urban farm ministries. I will deep folks updated on that!
Some things that I learned about the response effort – a social work rapid response team called Crossing Water reported that more than 75% of the households they work with have not been using filters on their faucets for a variety of reasons. Some don’t fit the faucet, others are being used incorrectly, and still others simply will never trust the water again, and don’t bother. Sometimes the cartridges for the water purifiers are the do not match up. This rapid response team, all volunteer, is going to some of the most poverty stricken neighborhoods.
Water distribution is going to switch away from the fire stations and police stations to nine distribution hubs that will set up in each ward of the city. One of the things the church team is thinking about is how the switch to new locations will affect the number of cases of water we distribute. There is no way to tell as of yet. However, after listening to some of the problems experienced by residents related to the current method of distribution, our team is considering a plan for serving our immediate area as more detailed concerns emerge. We plan to access an area that surrounds the church that we feel we can serve, and send questionnaires to residents to see what needs they need to have our help in meeting. For instance, we are not clear how many shut-ins are in the neighborhood, and it has been made known that some folks are not receiving services due to their incapacity to travel to distribution points, and the fact that they lack family support. Also, it has been reported that women who are feeding formula to infants cannot use much of the bottle water that is being distributed. Some bottled water contains chemicals that are not good for ingestion by infants, and other water does not contain the necessary minerals necessary to fortify the formula. Getting this water to mothers is important, as is disposable diapers, as folks are not hand-washing cloth diapers in bottled water.
Some information about the rashes that are felt to be related to the water crisis was shared. The Center for Disease Control has identified 400 individuals with symptoms or rash. While they have successfully interviewed these individuals, it was shared that over 40 percent of those interviewed have been unable or unwilling to attend the necessary follow up appointment with a dermatologist for further review and treatment.
Finally, I had one suggestion related to the infant formula concern. I indicated to the Red Cross representative that WIC and Le Leche League should develop cultural and class conscious public service blitz about the benefits of breast-feeding. That should be worth my weight in gold, if my wife has anything to say about it! There had been no such information being distributed to pregnant mothers in a manner related to the water crisis. Overall, I spent 80 hours in Flint. I ate and slept well, thanks to the Hammonds – new grandparents who could use some prayers.
I take the bus back to Flint on Monday afternoon. I’ll update folks again next week.
