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“Our son Nick and his wife Beth have been in Lahaina for about 8 years now, and they lost everything,” Mary shared with the group.
As the fires spread towards their apartment complex, the couple fled on foot to safety. (You can read about their experience in their blog post here.)
“They were good people to lose things because they basically live out of their backpacks. They lived in a furnished apartment they were renting… but the apartment is gone, the car they were going to buy is gone, both of the dive shops they worked at are gone and all of the dive boats.
“They don’t have jobs and they don’t have stuff, but they don’t really care about that.
“They care about being a part of that community. They really feel that Lahaina has become home. They have realized that most of the people who live in Lahaina are the ones who do the work on Maui - the ones who serve all the tourists and fix things and teach the kids. They want to be part of that community and help them as much as they can through all of this.”
The couple was given a hotel room by their insurance company, but they gave it to someone else in need, and are staying with friends on different parts of the island. Since the fire, they have jumped in to help in the relief process, helping with tarps and gas, and they make supply runs for the community.
We were blessed to be able to hear a personal story about the people who are the recipients of the shipment that was sent off.
We don’t know if Mark and Mary’s son and daughter-in-law will receive our Hygiene Kits or Bed Packs, or maybe they will be assisting in the distribution of the supplies. But, we do know that needed resources will reach the people of Lahaina, because we serve a good God who is present in the midst of disasters.
May the supplies and the love that was sent with them bring hope in the midst of the crisis, and peace in the chaos.
Please be praying for everyone affected, and specifically for Nick and Beth as they seek to serve their community, even within their own devastation.
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