Light Of The World To Hold Health Fair Today

Correspondent

Margarita Herrera's parents taught her to help others.

And Herrera works tirelessly for her church, Light of the World, at 148 Locust St.

"She helps out wherever she's needed," says Cesia Minemann, wife of the Rev. Josue Jovel, missionary leader of the church.

Herrera recently spent an evening at the church helping to rearrange the offices for employees of the Pennsylvania Department of Health to offer HIV counseling at Light of the World's second annual health fair from noon to 4 p.m. today.

"We want to be known and to help," says member Elizabeth Coto, 19, who will paint Spiderman webs on little boys' faces and flowers on little girls' arms at the fair in the church parking lot. The first block of Locust Street will be closed to traffic.

Other nonprofits with booths at the fair and the services they will provide include:

SouthEast Health Clinic, blood pressure and glucose testing and women's health information.

Spanish American Civic Association Clinic, substance abuse information.

SACA Technical Center, job training information.

Pathways Center for Grief and Loss, information on its one-day camp for grieving families.

Women, Infants and Children, child nutrition information.

Reach out and Read, a reading corner with free books.

Domestic Violence Services, domestic violence abuse information.

Project Access Lancaster County, information about health care for people who don't qualify for health insurance.

The Department of Health also will offer cervical cancer immunizations.

A pharmacist from Rite Aid will consult with people about their medications and nutrition, and there will be free samples of Mexican fruit juices in four flavors: hibiscus, tamarind, pineapple and rice and milk. Free food will include nachos, snow cones and hot dogs.

Member Belen Osuna, 15, has planted vegetable and herb seeds to give away as prizes at the fair. The seedlings include chili, tomatoes, cucumbers, cilantro and mint. Belen's cousin, Pablo Osuna, will help Coto with face painting.

"We want to strengthen the integrity of the family in every aspect: emotional, physical and spiritual," says Minemann, an attorney.

Light of the World has 68 members, including one nurse, and each one of them has a role in the fair, Minemann says.

"Our faith is shown through our work, and every member is demonstrating that in some small way," she says. "Everything we're doing is guided through faith and a demonstration of faith."

Minemann, who is expecting her second son in June, described the local church, established in 1999, as a congregation of mostly young families, with nine infants and about 20 children and 10 youth. Members hale from Colombia, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Mexico and America. A number of people from the Dominican Republic have attended for many years.

The full name of the church is Iglesia del Dios Vivo, Columna Y Apoyo de la Verdad, La Luz del Mundo (Church of the Living God, Column and Ground of the Truth, The Light of the World).

It is affiliated with the international La Luz del Mundo, with about 8 million members in 43 countries around the world, headquartered in the Beautiful Province in Guadalajarco, Jelisco, Mexico.

The congregation worships in bilingual services at 5 a.m., 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday to Friday; at 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Saturday; and at 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. Sunday, with hymn services for adults at 4 p.m. Sunday; for youth at 6:45 p.m. Thursday and for children at 6:45 p.m. Saturday.