It’s been quite a year – with hurricanes, riots, forest fires and, of course, the virus.
Fortunately, many in Naperville have not been affected as much as those in other places. Yet, can there be any good news with such dire events? Well, yes, including one close to my heart.
The harbor blast in Beirut in August, left 204 dead, 6,500 injured, $15 billion in property damage, and an estimated 300,000 people homeless. It wasn’t caused by war, but negligence. What I didn’t know until later was that three shipping containers arrived six days before the blast with 3,500 school kits, 19,500 personal care kits, 2,250 baby care kits and 22,500 mission quilts, assembled and shipped by Lutheran World Relief.
This meant something to me because I make mission quilts with the ladies at my church, so it was possible that something I made was in those containers.
The miracle: More than six weeks after the blast, those containers were found in a concrete storage area near ground zero – intact and with no chemical contamination. A fourth container which had been diverted to another port joined the three in Beirut, adding to the relief supplies.
The contents of all four containers have been transferred to a warehouse and are being distributed to families displaced by the explosion and to refugees living in Lebanon, principally Syrians and Palestinians.
“It’s been a roller coaster for all of us, and especially our quilters and kit-makers,” said Melanie Gibbons of LWR. “First, grief over the loss of items so lovingly made and prayed over, followed by determination to keep quilting and making kits. Then joy over the news that the items not only survived but are able to be distributed! “
It’s an incredible blessing that now these items are in exactly the right place at the right time. If you want to make quilts or other relief supplies, please respond to this article.
Check out the size of the containers.
