Let's help Lahaina on Maui! I've got a contact
In 2017 Ken and I were sent off to Maui to celebrate Ken’s being pastor at our church for 30 years! A couple who attended our church had a time share there, and said that if the church would pay the $1500 bi-yearly maintenance fee, that we could have their 2 week time slot.
So, the church paid the dues, gave us lots of wonderful spending money for outings and activities, we used our own airline miles to get tickets, and we headed to Maui for a completely restful 2 weeks for us to see all of the Maui there was to see.
Lahaina was the main town of tourist trade, and our closest neighbor, as we were staying at the Kaanapali Alii Resort.
Since we were staying over two Sundays we figured we’d get the chance to get to visit with some of the people there. So, with the help of google reviews and some good ole common sense, we settled on visiting Grace Baptist Church in Lahaina on our first Sunday. There was one other church that sounded like we might enjoy it, but figured we’d try this one first.
When we drove up, we felt right at home. They had chairs similar to ours. We used the same hymnals as “back home” and people spoke to us, too. Things weren’t perfect, and that appealed to me, as things are rarely perfect in our services. If something is too well oiled, it seems like a show, and this was real.
We enjoyed the service, and after standing around a while, we decided to take the pastor and his wife out for dinner. I mean, it was always a very, very special treat if someone took us out, and other than family, it didn’t happen often. So, we thought we’d love to treat them how we’d like to be treated. Plus, we knew they’d know the best places to eat that didn’t cost $100/plate! The second Sunday Ken even went up and sang with the men when asked!
Erlinda with me.
So, we enjoyed a meal of fellowship, food, and stories about the variety of people who came through visiting at a restaurant there in Lahaina.
We also met up with a very special jewelry seller who sold almost exclusively at our hotel. Our hotel/resort, had an outside reception area, unlike anything I’d ever seen before… and Erlinda set up her jewelry right near the bottom of our steps. After attending church there that Sunday, I recognized her at our resort, and we struck a casual friendship.
I found out she had twin daughters, both in college, at Pensacola Christian College. Two instant connections there: Twins and Florida!
After we returned to Florida, Erlinda and I became FB friends, and we’d comment back and forth. I watched her twins graduate from PCC and recently watched weddings.
The area encircled in red is what burned. Erlinda’s home, thankfully, is the yellow circle. Grace Baptist was up near the top of the fire, near the red splotch.
So, you can imagine, when I heard about these horrific fires, I was afraid for their lives. I contacted her, but she and her husband, Leo, were safe in California, when it all went down. I was ever so grateful to hear that their children who were on the island were unharmed, as was the pastor, who had been at a doctor’s visit near the airport on the other side of the island, when the wildfires came in and trapped people, killing lots and destroying homes, livelihoods and just about everything we recognized about Lahaina.
Lahaina was where I had gone Goodwill shopping (in a tiny little hovel of a Goodwill, but I found a brand new Hawaiian shirt for Ken for little money). It was where we went whale watching (the highlight of our trip), and we ate in the upstairs bustling neighborhood of stores, visited a quilt shop in there, and loafed around the beautifully huge banyan tree.
Erlinda and Leo returned home to a burn free home, for which we are incredibly thankful, but their church, Grace Baptist, their small Christian school, (the one shown above), and the senior pastor and assistant pastor’s homes were entirely wiped out by the fire.
The church, school and the senior pastor’s home and the assistant pastor’s homes were all consumed by the wildfire. Nothing but rubble was left. They had only the clothes on their backs.
If you’ve followed the story and watched the news, you’ll know that most of the town was consumed by fire.
Since people had asked if they could use quilts, I thought I’d ask the source, my friend, Erlinda, if she could use them, or if it was silly, to even think that. After all, it is hot in Hawaii, and it is August. But we all know that whether you sleep on top of a quilt or under a quilt that they represent love — Lots and love of precious time, commitment and love.
Erlinda said, “YES. If you trust me, send them to me.”
Erlinda and Leo have opened their home as a drop off point for supplies and a pickup point for the people in town, if they have a need.
Erlinda offered to drive over to the post office over near the airport and pick them up, and she’d be sure that the pastor’s wife got one, as she’s an avid quilter, and of course, lost everything. (Becky said I’m supposed to pick out one of her special ones from my “room”)and earmark it for her, so I’m going to do that!)
If you want to drop some off here at the store, we’ll be happy to ship them on to Maui. BUT, each large quilt will take about $20 in postage, so if you could enclose that, too, we’ll use the money wisely and ship them as economically as we can. Maui and Florida are a long ways apart. Since Hawaii is a part of the USA, we can use the flat rate boxes, and we still have some of the shrink wrap bags left from the #QuiltsforUkraine push.
On Monday, we did ship out our first 3 quilts in one of our large flat rate boxes, so we are testing the waters to see how quickly it’ll get there. They were small items recently donated for “Wherever we can use them.” How sweet is that? So, if you can and would like to send quilts, please send bedding to:
Erlinda Ramelb
876 Kuialua Street
Lahaina-Maui, Hi 96761
Since HI is a part of the USA, please do NOT ship them to us FIRST and then let us ship them on to Hawaii. That would just cost double and the only winner is the post office.
If you have some quilts that aren’t super heavy, go ahead and ship ASAP directly to them there in Lahaina.
Erlinda will go and get them and make sure that they are distributed to those in need.
#QuiltsforLahaina has begun!
We can’t thank you enough!!
Thanks, Rachael, for the contact and for sharing!!!
Be sure to check out what my sis has for you in the store here!
Feel free to browse the site.