Tag: earthquake

Correspondence from a Haitian friend

A fellow student of mine is Haitian. Though he lives in Pennsylvania, his whole  family lives in Haiti. I contacted him directly to see if he had any ideas about how to help. Below is my initial email, followed by his response. His confidence in God is awing. Stay tuned for future posts on how to help Haiti, in ways that make a real difference. (Leave feedback, if you’d like.)

(from me)

Greetings Brother,

We’ve had a few classes together, and Ellis mentioned that you may be  

one to ask about how some of us, or ETS could be of assistance during  

this time of calamity in Haiti. Your family, and your country are in  

our prayers. I hope we might be a blessing in a tangible way to those  

who are suffering.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Thank you.

Lisa DeLay

(from Chezaire)     

Dear Brothers and sisters,

Thank you for your emails, I truly appreciate them and they give a sense of comfort that my familiy and I are in your prayers.  My brother works at the epicenter of the earthquake, was he at work that day is still unkown?  The area where he lives with his family is completely crumbled, and another brother was visiting, and I don’t know if he was in town or left that day. I have over a dozen of cousins in that city with their families, only one is acounted for with a broken leg.  I am still praying and hoping some sorts of good news to come my way. I was in contact with that cousin’s mother, and encouraged her to give God praise for that son with a broken leg because as bad are things in Haiti, it could have been worse.

In time like this, we need to keep our heads in place, and keep our emotions in check while we have the desires to help.  

Several people have asked me how to help.  For now I can’t tell, I don’t really know my people’s needs except for being rescued, having medical care, water and food.  I beleive in the power of the Holy Spirit, continue to pray, I am sure He will dictate us what to do.


In His name,

Chezaire     

Prayer for Haiti / photos

100,000 are feared dead in Haiti. Let us reflect on this prayer by St Francis, and seek to aid the people of this country with care and compassion.

Prayer Of St. Francis

Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is discord, union;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that we may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)

Leave your prayers for Haiti here.

Concrete Ways to help Victims in Haiti

 

You can help Haiti.

 

The earthquake in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, will cause the death of so many. Estimates are now calculated at over 100,000. All major government buildings are down, the schools, the hospitals, the jails–just rubble. It makes the Katrina disaster look like a picnic by the sea.

Even before this earthquake some Haitians kill hunger pains by eating mud cakes, or mixing dirt in with cornmeal to make in last longer.

BUT! Don’t feel too overwhelmed to help.

Efforts are mobilizing: Here is a link to what is being done.

Here are a few simple ways to start helping right away:

World Relief is responding immediately –Donate now  to help the most vulnerable – families and children – in the immediate aftermath.  Emergency kits will be distributed that will include items such as ready-to-eat food, water and a blanket.  Time is critical. You can respond with any amount you are able to give. 

• Doctors Without Borders is asking for donations to help the emergency response teams in Haiti. Donate with a debit or credit card at https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org.

• The Red Cross is taking donations via text messages. Text the word HAITI to the number 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts. It’ll show up on your phone bill. Or donate online atRedCross.org.

• Operation Helping Hands, a joint community project of The Miami Herald and United Way-Miami, will be collecting donations to support the relief effort in Haiti.

To make a contribution, go to www.iwant2help.org

Checking on relatives in Haiti:

• Mercy Corps established a Haiti Earthquake Fund, PO Box 2669,Portland, OR 97208,www.mercycorps.org, 1-888-256-1900

On Twitter: 
Donate $5 by texting YELE to 501501 or at www.yele.org

I will update this page, as more opportunities become known.

Leave comments if you have information or news that would be helpful. Thank you.

Please pray for the people and aid workers in this decimated country.