From Detroit To Baltimore

        Hello, my name is TaJuanda Carter. I’m the youngest of 10 and my siblings and I are all by the same parents. My parents also took in 2 boys after I was born that I was instructed to assist in caring for by my parents. With that, learning to mature quickly, live amongst a diverse group of people and consider the needs of others impacts how I relate to others until this day. My parents have become my friends and have influenced my faith in God growing up. Family investments, values and experiences still remain a priority to me although I am not married with children. Finally, I do hope to start a family of my own one day.

       I was born and raised in Detroit, MI. When describing where Detroit is located, I like to clearly indicate the location by holding up my hand, shaping it into a mitten, and pointing towards the bottom of my thumb to help people understand where Detroit is located on the state's “map”. Because it’s also known as “motor city” where major car manufacturers were headquartered there, my family were already well adversed about the value of driving and started teaching me how to drive at 14 years old. This early travel experience encouraged me to venture out of rural inner city Detroit and later appreciate missions in other countries.

       Detroit borders Canada so getting to travel there in like 30 minutes by car growing up made it easy to learn what Canada had to offer that Detroit didn’t. It helped me appreciate more awareness of what it’s like to be in another country that is close to the United States. Enjoying food such as poutine which is French fries topped with gravy, and mozzarella cheese is a popular food item that is served at the theaters. In northern Canada people speak French so it’s common to see travel signs in French. Since French is part of my heritage, I always thought learning to speak French could be a good asset. Niagara Falls is a tourist attraction which has become one of my favorite places to visit to date. 

       Growing up in Detroit is where I quickly recognized the need to be careful about who I could spend time with. My Dad had this saying, “Watch your company. I can’t pick your friends for you.” As I got close to people, I learned to discern their kindness, heart to serve and be willing to agree to similar ideas for planning or unity purposes. We would collectively decide on a safe place to go to. However, there were times when we had to run for safety due to gun violence breaking out after we decided on where to meet. Finally, this part of my upbringing challenged me to understand the need to read reviews online by locals regarding new places I like to visit but at the same time not give up on traveling later on in life.

       This Summer I am living in Baltimore, Maryland. One thing I have noticed so far about being in Baltimore is that it reminds me of Detroit. Specifically because it’s an inner city with local businesses to serve the community, and has neighborhoods with crime related incidents where people should be cautious about going at night. Finally, there are nearby suburban areas where people can visit gardens, quiet communities, go hiking, biking and tubing in the river which makes being here more interesting. 

       One thing I have found of special interest that has helped me enjoy being in Baltimore are the families who I have met who understand how to welcome others into their families. I have been attending Greater Grace World Outreach for church here and just getting the chance to get close to these families have helped me feel more welcomed to Baltimore. Some families have hosted me and others over for dinner, we have done some picnics together, they have held Bible studies, we have gone on camping trips together and played some outdoor sport activities together. This has helped me in turn appreciate and learn more about how to host foreigners at my home who travel to Baltimore and want to make the best of their time here.

       Another thing I found to be of special interest is the food. Baltimore is known for crabs and on a number of occasions people have hosted crab feasts. This includes someone buying a bag of crabs, smothered in old bay seasoning and has melted butter to dip them in. The host lays them out on brown ripped paper bags. Everyone gathers around the table, eats crabs and spends time together. One of the hosts taught me how to deshell a crab by placing it on its back, using a knife to crack open the white shell on the belly of the crab and pulling out the white meat. I was told the “mustard” which is the hepatopancreas, a main component of the crab's digestive system, shouldn't be eaten. I just scrape out and discard that part.

       Another special thing I have appreciated about being in Baltimore is that I met a friend named Lisa while here. I will go into more about her life in one of my essays. Lisa and I got the chance to fellowship together at the cafe in church, we went to this missionary tea, and shared interests in Bible college. She doesn’t live in Baltimore but we both have learned to appreciate being connected spiritually and understanding each other for where we are at in this season in our lives. 

       Finally, one thing I enjoyed doing this Summer is help the elders at Greater Grace World Outreach lead a young teen girls group in Bel Air Edison. We like to host Bible studies, sing worship songs, make crafts and provide snacks to the young people. I’m so thankful for God’s grace to be committed to this because it encourages me to value a labor that has an eternal purpose.