Love Modesto

So today is Love Modesto day! When I first saw signs for it, I thought it was some kind of sentimental gimmick to get people to do unrealistic recreational activities like community softball and group picnics. But that's not what it turned out to be at all! Today is a day of community participation in service projects (totally neat, right?) Several churches in the area partnered with community leaders and organizations to kick-start this soon-to-be-annual event. About 1200 people gathered at Big Valley Grace Community Church this morning for a little worship and prayer for the day before splitting into the groups they had signed up for. Habitat for Humanity, the Gospel Mission, World Vision, Second Hand Harvest Food Bank, Delta Blood Bank, and Teen Challenge Ranch were among the the organizations participating in the Love Modesto service day. My home church committed to partner with World Vision in creating relief kits for certified caregivers in Haiti. The United States gave immensely to the Haitians after the earthquake that devastated their nation. But we know all too well that once the disaster lost its hype on the news, we forgot that Haiti still was still in need. World Vision has been in Haiti for 30 years. Much of their mission now is focused on relief efforts. Today we put together 170 relief kits to be distributed to caregivers in Haiti. The drawstring bags were filled with items including latex gloves, soap, washcloths, acetaminophen, bandages, vaseline, bags of cotton balls, and personally written notes of encouragement to the recipient of the package. The items will be distributed by caregivers to others in need. Putting these kits together went so quickly and smoothly that the reps from World Vision agreed to do another event like this, but double (if not triple) the amount of supplies and bags! The kits we put together will be shipped on Monday- wah hoo!

Please continue to pray for Haiti and for the individuals and organizations that are focusing their energy and finances on this country :)