Great Forest Ministry gives thanks to all the generous donors in California who chartered a private jet loaded with desperately needed supplies for residents stranded on Maui’s west side after the fires. Members of our local community came together to take delivery, package the supplies, and truck them out to a variety of temporary camps and aid stations that have arisen to supply residents who’ve been without water or power for days. Provisions included food, water, ice, toilet paper, toiletries and sanitary supplies, diapers, baby formula, batteries, chargers, and a wide variety of other much needed supplies. Volunteers included a huge group of loving people from across the island of Maui including the Maui Fire Department, Great Forest Ministry, Maui Prep Academy, employees of West Maui Construction, and young adults from New Hope church.

It was such a beautiful experience to see the community come together and help each other. All of the aid stations where supplies were delivered had sprouted up organically with no official direction or plan, just loving people serving God’s will whether they knew it or not. Without needing to be told, some delivered supplies, some organized those supplies, and others received the much needed supplies to provide for their basic needs and the little things that are usually taken for granted - changing diapers, brushing teeth, washing dishes. Even though the stated purpose of the day was to provide for basic survival of those impacted by the fire, the most important thing that happened was sharing love. As man does not live on bread alone, we also distributed Bibles, prayed with people, and listened to their heartache. The personal connections formed as a result were the most valuable thing in the world.