Men ride inside and atop of a tap-tap down the road in Haiti. Photo: Adrienne C. Wilson
If God is love or if he ever knew love, it wouldn’t seem so for many of us based off the way he repeatedly torments Haiti. Trust though that there are people so devastated and bewildered by the recent quakes that God’s love and prayer are the only two things they have left. So for us out here watching on CNN, BBC, and various other broadcast networks, I don’t think they would want us to stop our prayer or hope for relief. However, prayer with action is extremely powerful and if your heart moves you, take action.
I recently rallied everyone to vote for a travel piece I wrote on Trazzler about Haiti. With just a few clicks from friends, friends-of-friends and strangers, I was able to win the contest. I wrote my piece on Haiti hoping to give others a glimpse at the country as a desirable travel destination. When I heard this news, I couldn’t even watch it on TV. I didn’t want to imagine it; that the poorest country in the western hemisphere had been hit by a 7.0 earthquake. (Pause) Now, I’m asking you to join me in taking action for something bigger. Don’t just join a fan page on some social network. Don’t just say “poor Haiti.” You can do something even if it is small.
1. If donating money isn’t an option for you at this time try putting a care package together. Look in your closet for clothing to donate or assemble hygiene kits. Imagine the things you’d NEED if you’d lost everything in an earthquake and were homeless.
2. If donating money is an option for you (even if it is as small as $5) do it! Many of us are weary about forking over money to agencies. (Myself included.) There will be many accepting your funds to help Haiti. Do your research if needed and commit to giving something. Yele, Habitat for Humanity, and the Fuller Center for Housing are three organizations, I will be watching personally and collaborating with if possible. Note: The links above take you to relief projects specifically for Haiti.
3. Spread the word. Post ways of getting involved or donating on your Myspace, Facebook, Twitter feed or write a blog.
4. Hope, pray and continue to keep Haiti in your thoughts over the coming weeks when the next big news story wipes it off the headlines. Oh, and take action.
God is love.
on Jan 13th, 2010 at 11:20 pm
Thank you! It seems unreal with what Haiti has been through already.
on Jan 13th, 2010 at 11:34 pm
It is unreal. What is more tragic is how the media can spin the most ignorant stories into the public eye and have others forget so quickly what this is about.
People-need-help.
on Jan 14th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
A great post and definitely a way to rally people to support anyway they can.
I can’t even begin to fathom what must be going on on the ground.
As for the sentence, “the way he repeatedly torments Haiti.”, we tend to assume that God somehow creates bad things, when indeed the devil is alive, well, and at work all over the place.
Please keep this perspective in mind.
on Jan 14th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
@Lola I agree very much with you and do keep that perspective in mind. However, in looking at natural disasters alone, I think more of God’s hand. And Haiti has had its fair share of hurricane damage, flooding, mud-slides, etc.