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:

Week 1

Week 2 – 15 Ideas

Linking with Jesus lovers here: #chasingcommunity, #heartencouragementThursday, #faithonfire

Have you ever been a new mom? Maybe you know one? Perhaps your church even has a few.

During Tony’s Navy tenure, I found myself wearing the role of “new mom” three times. Joel arrived first followed by Rebekah a couple of years later. Caleb, baby of the family, tidied our family with a boy bow shortly after.

Each time I found myself laboring and delivering these blessings in a location hundreds of miles from family. And when the Navy beckoned, Tony was gone 10 hours after delivering Joel and me home. A handful of years later he found himself halfway around the world as Caleb arrived.

That’s when friends from church wrapped their arms and time around us.

Helping this new mom became their ministry.

Thank goodness because it’s scary, bringing new life into this world without family near. They drove with me to the hospital, waited alongside as my body labored, and even stood in the operating room as baby #3 made his grand appearance.

Those folks became family. They continue to hold a special spot in my heart – and always will.

Does your church reach out to new moms? It’s a ministry ripe for the taking. And goodness, it doesn’t have to be a fancy, organized ministry. One-on-one works well, too.

Would you help spread the word? Take a peek at this slideshow I prepared for iBelieve.com. Feel free to share 10 Ways Your Church Can Help New Moms on social media, with friends, and certainly among folks at your church.

New moms will thank you. I certainly do.

xo

Linking with other Jesus writers and lovers here: #purposefulfaith, #tellhisstory,#chasingcommunity

Hi there! It’s #ScriptureBank2016, a verse memorization help.

Have you wanted to hide God’s word in your heart for some time, but it simply isn’t coming together? You’re welcome to join us here at #ScriptureBank2016. Jump in anytime throughout the year.

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the ins and outs of #ScriptureBank2016 here. 

But most importantly? Welcome to a place where we grow deeper in faith, walking deeper with God, together.