Hope for Haiti

Cameron,
Last week the island nation of Haiti was hit by a terribly destructive earthquake, measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale. As an already poverty-stricken nation, their buildings and homes were not made to withstand that kind of damage, so the most recent estimates say that 2 million people were left homeless and over 75,000 people died. To make matters worse, they were still experiencing major aftershocks this week, further shifting the rubble and debris while rescue crews are still searching for survivors.

I have been hesitant to write about this on your blog, mostly filled with happy photos and funny stories. But the reality is that this event has dominated my thoughts for the past week. I read stories and see horrifying pictures in the news, and my heart just breaks for the people in Haiti. I even have a dear friend, Crystal, who is living in Haiti while her husband works for the Embassy. I know they are safe and have even been forwarded a few emails that she was able to send her family, letting them know that she was desperately working at the Embassy to try and help with people's paperwork, food, sleeping situations, and eventual evacuation efforts. She said she was happy to help with some adoptions of Haitian children to go to American parents, which may be one of the only bright spots of this disaster. At least some children are being allowed to join their new families in an expedited manner now that so many buildings and documents have certainly been destroyed.

What I want you most to know about this situation is that God still loves the people of Haiti and is watching over them. When bad things happen, it is so easy for us to question God's motives, to think that he has abandoned us in our most difficult moments. But we as Christians are called to be his hands and feet to the people around us, so these moments are a reminder for us to spring into action. For us to share the hope of Jesus Christ with someone who has lost all other hope. To a mother who has lost her children, some clothes and a blanket may comfort her temporarily. A meal will fill her up for a little while. But the truth of the gospel will change her life for all eternity and help her see that our short lives on this earth are only the beginning if we know Jesus.

We have not watched all these events unfold and sat by idly. We chose to make a donation to an aid organization that we knew already had a presence working in Haiti. But mostly, the thing we can never give enough of is prayer. There are an endless list of needs, broken hearts over losses, frantic cries of panic from lost children. We pray that we will not forget their needs, which most certainly will take many years to help with. Even the presidential palace, hospitals and the lone airport control tower were destroyed.

Today and I am grateful for the health of our family, for our comfortable home and overflowing possessions. We have more than we could ever need. Lord, help me to be thankful for all the things you have blessed me with, and to be good steward of your gifts of money and time. Help me remember that since my life is not my own, I must be willing to follow your leading on where to go, to give, and to serve.