FLO MARTIN
This past Saturday, my husband awoke me with a smile on his face and
excitement in his voice. "Flo, there's a group of people who are
painting the house down the street. You've got to go see." I noticed
through the window a true-blue sky and tons of sun. "Yes," I thought
and a song began to play in my head.
"It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood..."
After dressing and grabbing a cup of coffee, I headed out the door
and down the block. "Wait a minute," whispered a secret voice. "Go
get paper, pencil and camera. This might be a Kodak moment." Getting
closer to the house in question, I could make out the words on a huge
white banner: Project Impact. Hmmm, I wonder who that is?
My neighbors, that's who. For the next few minutes, I chatted with
several people milling about on the driveway and in the front yard.
Two fellows, both named John, told me they were part of the annual
Neighbors for Neighbors or Vecinos para Vecinos project sponsored by
the city of Costa Mesa. More music came to mind:
"...A beautiful day for a neighbor.
"Would you be mine?
"Could you be mine?"
Turns out these neighbors are part of an outreach ministry at The
Crossing Church located at Newport Boulevard and Victoria Street.
John explained that The Crossing contacted the city coordinator of
the event and received their assign- ment: the house where we were
all chatting. Turns out, though, these neighbors do a random act of
kindness more than just once a year. Try more like once a month. My
mental song continued:
"It's a neighborly day in this beauty wood, A neighborly day for a
beauty.
"Would you be mine?
"Could you be mine?"
Then Chris came over. He was wearing an official-looking badge.
Chris explained, "This annual event is driven primarily by local
churches and service organizations, such as the Lions' Club."
Even out-of-towners like the UC Irvine chapter of the Circle K
International showed up as a Canyon Park crew.
I turned to three young women and asked, "Why are you here?" Kari
wants to help others in a simple way. She feels that working locally
can make just as much of a difference in her world as going out of
the country on some fancy mission. Julie is giving back to people
what God has given her. Jane, too, likes helping locals.
"There's plenty to do right here," she said.
Turns out that Jane lives just around the corner in her family
home of more than 40 years. "Wow," I thought, "this young College
Park woman antedates even an old fossil like me."
