Our minds are bombarded with current events today. So much so that events that occurred even a year ago seem miles away in our memories: tragedies such as the earthquake in China that devastated their Sichuan province. Luckily, Habitat for Humanity is at work with a long-term and sustained rebuilding effort.

On May 12, 2008, an earthquake destroyed China’s central Sichuan province. Official figures indicate that over 69,000 people died, over 374,000 were injured and 18,000 were missing.

A month later, a Habitat assessment team and CEO Jonathan Reckford visited some of the affected areas.

"Rebuilding safe, permanent homes after such destructive natural disasters takes time, patience and careful planning," said Rick Hathaway, Asia Pacific vice president for Habitat for Humanity International. "We are now seeing the first results of that patience and planning."

About half of the 800 houses Habitat plans to build are currently underway. These houses were designed by an architectural college in the province and incorporate safety features to help the structures withstand future earthquakes.

CEO Jonathan Reckford said, "The devastation is some of the worst I have seen. The stories of lost family members, neighbors and classmates are heartbreaking, but I was struck by the resilience of the people."

Let’s take a moment today to remember the tragedies that have come before us, sending hope and love to the efforts of people who’ve been affected by these events.