[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5f7BNiEe9s&w=480&h=360]

Tomorrow, Saturday, March 3rd at 4 pm, the 8th Annual “Fill the Ark” concert will be presented by the youth of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu. This is no ordinary children’s music recital — it represents some of the finest playing you’ll hear anywhere. You will be amazed at the number of gifted children we have at LCH! The proceeds will benefit Heifer International, an organization which seeks to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth. Instead of giving people in impoverished countries a cash gift, the organization gives them livestock and training.

As their website says, though, “We refer to the animals as “living loans” because in exchange for their livestock and training, families agree to give one of its animal’s offspring to another family in need. It’s called Passing on the Gift – a cornerstone of our mission that creates an ever-expanding network of hope and peace.”

It was 8 years ago that young Mitchell G. dreamed up the idea of kids giving a concert to benefit this organization. And every year the performances get better and better. Tomorrow you’ll hear the children  play on the piano, the violin, the cello, and the organ. There will be dramatic readings and hula and always — surprises!

But in this yearly benefit concert, I can’t help but think that we at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu are also passing on the gift to our children — the gift of music, the gift of service, and the gift of generosity. This is a concert not to be missed! What’s even more amazing is that each year the children have raised $5,000 for an Ark of Animals — that means that $35,000 has been raised in the last seven years. Wow!