BY LYNNE ANNE HUFF
Special to The Lake Orion Review
For a long time now — to this very day — you have not deserted your brothers, but have carried out the mission the Lord your God gave you. Joshua 22:3.
And so it was as 40 teens carried out the theme of their summer mission, ‘No one can stop us: we’re on a mission from God.?
Returning to the northwest side of Detroit, where the group has worked the past five summers, the teens were able to bring some hope and life back into this depressed area of the city.
In an area where it’s common for children to live and play amongst abandoned and fire destroyed homes, it was a strange sight to see a group of teens working hour-after-hour and day-after-day to remove the blight.
Neighbors from the area shared with the teens through the week their appreciation for helping to restore hope to their community.
The work week always begins at the Motor City Blight Busters building where founder and CEO John George introduces the participants to the vision of Blight Busters. The organization’s plan to revitalize the City of Detroit is a multi-layered strategy that includes removing blight, rebuilding, education and community empowerment.
The teen’s workweek began with preparing the downtown Redford area for inspection by the secretary of HUD. Cleaning litter, pulling weeds and painting murals kept the workers busy through rain and humidity Monday and Tuesday.
‘I’m so glad that I was here this week to participate,? Miriam Wisnewski said. ‘Going into Detroit and helping Blight Busters is such a rewarding feeling even if it’s just weeding a parking lot or cleaning up an abandoned house.
‘When we gutted the burnt house, my eyes teared up seeing the clothes, shoes and dishes and food left behind. Doing these projects is fun, but it also makes me aware that not everyone is as lucky as I am.
The summer mission is more than just a service project — teens are encouraged to meet people in the community and build lasting relationships.
Last year, a group of teens met Toya, a young mother who was just getting her feet on the ground, when her ex-husband had the house firebombed out of his own jealousy and unhappiness. The house was destroyed.
The teens were able to help paint and clean the rooms of this little house and help Toya get her house back in order.
In October, the teens of Christ the Redeemer were able to help make this an even more special event by giving Toya and her children a housewarming party.
This year the group enjoyed seeing Toya again in her home now renovated and living happily with her children.
‘During this trip I learned so many things…In Detroit I met this man who was very appreciative of our work. He and his son were telling us how he has lived in the neighborhood for the last 20 years,? Lauren Barber.
‘He said that when he moved here, the area was a nice neighborhood and that over the past years it has become a drug dealer area and he hates that his son has to walk through this each day.
‘He was grateful we were cleaning it up. This story made me feel we were really affecting lives.?
The group met its biggest challenge on Wednesday when they gutted two houses and tore down an abandoned barn
Thursday and Friday were spent finishing up the demolition work. The tedious work of carrying every piece of debris, removing garbage, sweeping the street and grooming the ground seems never ending, but at the end of the day a new green space is created for this neighborhood.
At the end of it, the teen enjoyed a weekend with their friends as they camped and canoed on the Pere Marquette River in Baldwin.
Adults supporting the teens were Debbie Anderson, Martha Arce, Lisa Andridge, Ken Andridge, Dave Budnick, Kristin Barber, Liz Brown, Chris Fogg, Lisa Hock, Bill Huff, John Jarvis, Elaine Jezewski and Mary Johnson
Also: Barb Kish, Gary Kish, Fr. Ken Mazur, Helen Oliveri, Lisa Pratt, Mark Schlunz, Kristi Shorkey, JoAnn Sweesy, Martha Tracy, Byron Travis, Therese Wixnewski and Delpina Wirsu.
Mission participants included: Amy Abramczyk, Blake Anderson, Jeremy Anderson, Patrick Anderson, Diana Arce, Frank Arce, Lauren Barber, Sarah Brown, Eric Budnick, Brandon Choinski, Evan Choinski, Katie Fosmoen, Lauren Fosmoen, Bryan Goodwill, Kevin Gurski, Allie Hock, Jimmy Jezewski, Scott Johnson, Amy Kish, Chris Lambertson, Derek Linville, Mitch Miller, Kevin O’Keefe, and Matt Oliveri.
Also: Katelyn Pavlik, John Potocki, Laura Potcoki, Maggie Pratt, Katie Schlunz, Melinda Schlunz, Lindsey Slavich, Randy Szuch, Alexandra Tracy, Michelle Tracy, Meaghan Walters, Tony Wirsu, Becca Wisnewski, Miriam Wisnewski and Eric Zielinski.