A few years back, a joke danced around our house, “I’ve got island fever. I gotta get out of here.”
With that, we’d hop in the van, and head up and over the concrete bridge, traveling straight toward Aloha Stadium. The large brown structure, a multi-purpose facility used for a long list of activities including a flea market, the NFL Pro Bowl, and various football games, became our stately welcome to Honolulu and the island of O`ahu.
O`ahu – an island – became our island fever escape from Ford Island.
Sounds odd, doesn’t it?
We left tiny Ford Island, a small blob of land protruding from the middle of Pearl Harbor, due to a get-away itch. Locals call it Island Fever. I’ve determined it’s real. But leaving one island for another isn’t much of a solution.
We laughed anyway. And enjoyed every drop O`ahu offered.
But life runs differently on an island.
Call it a slower pace, one with less structure and certainly less infrastructure. A person simply can’t hop in their car and drive over to the next big city. They can’t order furniture and find it on their doorstep later that day or the next. Items arrive by air or boat. If the “thing” isn’t native, prepare for a lesson in patience and waiting as it hops a semi somewhere in the US then lands on a plane or ship. Seven days seems a breeze, fast even. Two to three weeks remains typical, sometimes even four or more.
So when Puerto Rico was hit by a recent hurricane, I cringed. If Puerto Rico is anything like Hawai`i, it’ll likely take time and then some to recover.
They’re an island – standing tall in a sea of water all by themselves. And at the same time, distance makes no difference.
The people of Puerto Rico – they are our neighbors.
I don’t know much about Puerto Rico. I’ve never been there. But one of its own, a young FFA (Future Farmers of America) man digging hard to garner his degree and continue the family farm, has befriended my own American childhood friend and her family – also farmers and FFAers. They’ve met, interacted, and known each other for a handful of years now.
The young man relayed a rather desolate scene. I can only imagine.
My husband, kids and I rode through a hurricane in Virginia Beach and lived on an island. Both tossed normalcy out the window. But I’ve never experienced the two together. I can’t imagine, Puerto Rico, life for you, even several weeks post-hurricane.
Here’s our opportunity, friends. It’s a chance to reach out to an individual family that will, in turn, share with neighbors.
Neighboring with Puerto Rico just got real. Here’s an opportunity to be a “Good Samaritan.”
We’re sending boxes. Simple, US flat rate versions travel nicely. And here’s a needs list, fresh from our Puerto Rican FFAer.
The Need List:
Flashlights
Soap
Wet wipes
Hand sanitizer
Deodorant
Water
Snacks
Canned food (consider the type with pop tops)
Cat food
Anything to help when power remains off.
Items. If you’re interested in helping, email me at Kristi@KristiWoods.net. We’ll connect concerning a mailing address. If you’re in the US, consider Postal Service flat rate boxes – $15-$20ish.
Cash? Consider Samaritin’s Purse or any other organization with which you’re comfortable and familiar for cash donations.
Ready to #loveyourneighbor in #PuertoRico ? Join us. A list of ideas and action here. Click To Tweet
Thanks, neighbor, and praise the Lord.
Read more about the #loveyourneghbor series here:
Linking with Jesus lovers here: #chasingcommunity, #heartencouragementThursday, #faithonfire
Thank you! Someday I hope you can meet Lauce he has a faith for a 21 year old that mazes me. When you see someone going through so much and they say to you “I’m blessed to have gone through this , I have my family. Things have changed but we are ok.” My heart and prayers are with him and his country everyday, he will have to Dinah his swnior year of college elsewhere but Joem is PR and his faith is strong!!
How wonderful it would be to meet him. Thanks for sharing about his need, kindness, and wonderful outlook. May the Lord bless Lauce and his family. And may our boxes bless his neighborhood well. Thanks, Jennifer!
I love how you’re using your space to get the word out. There are so many opportunities out there right now to show love and compassion and generosity. One is bound to fit us to a T.
Thanks for caring, Kristi …
YOU, my dear Linda, are the sweetest encouragement. And yes, thank God for many opportunities to find that fit. My family and I went through several before finding a good fit with serving b’fast at Salvation Army.
What a beautiful way to be a Good Samaritan, Kristi! I know you will be a blessing to so many through your act of kindness. Jeff and I rode out Hurricane Iniki 25 years ago on the island of Kauai. It was quite an adventure that we’ve never forgotten (it was our honeymoon!). Fortunately for us we could sail away from the mess (after a few days) but for those who lived there, it was a completely different story. Every bit of help counts to those who are being helped!
Oh.my.goodness. Lisa, I cannot fathom a honeymoon like that. Guess you could say you two have definitely “weather the storm.”
Love! We’d love an address to send to. Thanks for sharing the opportunity with us, friend. Such a devastating time for them — so much loss. 🙁
Am msging it to you on fb, Brenda. <3 Thank you, my friend.
Great idea. Going to do this. Can you send an address?
Just sent you an email, Debbie. You’re a blessing. Thank you!
How in the world have I missed that you live in Hawaii? What a unique experience. I’ve only ever visited the islands off the coast of Maine, and realize that island living does have its challenges.
Thanks for this heads up about the need in Puerto Rico.
Hi Michele! It was a wonderful experience – living in Hawai`i. I’ll be islands off the coast of Maine are simply beautiful. I’ve yet to visit there but hope to at some point.
Kristi, I as well missed that you lived in Hawaii. Can you send me an address? Grateful to have stopped here this morning. Thank you for sharing about this opportunity to be a neighbor!
Address sent to your email. Thanks, Joanne. You’re a blessing.