What Can We Do about Haiti?

HAITI: What Can We Do?

Lately, I’ve sat at home on a couch with a warm fleece watching world news. I see and hear about the gut wrenching tragedy. With a lump in my throat I ask: What can I do?

Millions of people in Haiti have been left impoverished, injured, wounded, dead, or homeless. The 7.0 earthquake, was the worst in the region for more than 200 years, and left the country in shambles. Near Haiti’s capital, fires burned along the shoreline. The electricity was out, telephones were not working and relief workers have struggled to make their way through streets blocked by rubble.

Just a few days ago, on Jan. 20, and eight days later as relief efforts were in full swing another 6.1 earthquake hit. This second occurrence came amid rising frustration from aid groups about the delay in getting lifesaving supplies into Haiti. Many are spending another day without food and shelter in the ruined capital. One agency estimates 20,000 people are dying every day who could be saved by surgery. Doctors, nurses, firemen, airplane pilots flying carriers, food personnel, and many other everyday citizens compelled by compassion have rushed to the scene.

People all over the world are making difficult decisions to travel from far away lands to help. Airplane tickets are bought with personal savings dollars without a thought. Rescuers are ordinary people like you and I. But what if you can’t go? What if you don’t have the money? What if you have life commitments that you just can’t break? What if you have kids to care for? What about a boss who will fire you? What if you just can’t go? Frustrated we ask: What can I do? I’ve come to two conclusions

First we can give. You can text the word HAITI to 90999 and $10.00 will be charged to your phone bill. Or you can call 1-800- Red Cross. Your dollars will work to save lives. We can all do it. We should all do it. It will bring in millions to Haiti for relief. It is legit and you can entrust these dollars to the Red Cross.

On their website the Red Cross explains how dollars are being spent:

“The Red Cross is contributing an initial $1 million from the International Response Fund to support the relief operation, and has opened its warehouse in Panama to provide tarps, mosquito nets and cooking sets for approximately 5,000 families.

In addition to Red Cross staff already in Haiti, six disaster management specialists are being deployed to the disaster zone to help coordinate relief efforts. At this time, the American Red Cross is only deploying volunteers specially trained to manage international emergency operations (www.redcross.org).”

It says in the Bible, Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).

Four reasons to give to this effort in Haiti:

1. Others need us to give for their survival.

2. Selfishly, it all comes back to bless us one way or another.

3. It brings a smile to the face of God.

4. It just plain feels good to give to others in need.

Second, we can pray. Do you believe prayer works? Does God hear and respond? It depends on who God is to you. Hears the quick conclusion from the Scriptures: Believing prayer works. That means prayer backed in faith by believing God will do it according to his will works. Let’s break that down more.

With out faith it’s impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; (James 1:5-7).

Jesus healed when a person believed. To the sick woman who touched his cloak. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment (Matthew 9:22). He says to the blind man, “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road (Mark 10:52).

Daniel prayed and was rescued from the lions den. Elijah prayed and fire came down. King Hezekiah prayed and the nation of Israel was rescued from the Assyrian army. We could go on and on. But it comes down to: Do you believe in prayer? Moreover, do you believe God will act because of your prayer?

We need to pray according to God’s will. We don’t ask for a million dollars because God most likely does not want us to have 1 million bucks. But we can pray for those able, to become willing to help others. God wants that. We can ask God to give wisdom to leaders of the relief efforts. We can pray for the funds for the right people to go over. We ask him to save moms, dads, sons, and daughters still trapped. We can pray strength for specific groups involved – physical and emotional.

What can we do? WE CAN GIVE, AND WE CAN PRAY.

Text “Haiti” to 90999 today. And as you watch the news, pray intelligently. Prayer works.

I realize there are much bigger theological questions we could deal with concerning the Haiti earthquake, but right now we need to act. What will you do?

Please email questions or comments to Jamie@genesiswired.com.