While in Haiti, my eyes saw poverty, despair, neglect, suffering, hopelessness and uncertainty. The earthquake left an estimated 1.3 million people homeless. That's the estimated population of New Hampshire. Imagine. That's the whole state of New Hampshire living in tent cities.
Life happens in these tents just as life happens in our own secure homes. Meals are cooked...clothes are washed...children are put to bed. There are millions of people living it everyday. Each meal a struggle. Clothes a luxury. Shelter an uncertainty. Torrential rain. Disease. Hunger. Death
As I look back at the pictures that I took and process the magnitude of the devastation, many questions flood my mind.
When was the last time they had a meal?
When was the last time they drank clean water?
When was the last time they were truly able to smile?
When was the last time they slept comfortably?
When was the last time they were free from worry?
When was the last time they didn't have to worry about their immediate needs?
When was the last time you had to think about the above?
When was the last time you had to think about the above and prepare for a Hurricane?
I can't help but pull up the weather report and watch the predicted path of Tropical Depression Tomas. I can't help but think of all 1.3 million mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, cousins, grandmothers, grandfathers, who call their tent their home, ride out the storm.
We've all seen the destruction on the news about the earthquake. We've all seen the pictures. We've all seen the faces of those whose lives will never be the same. "Now that WE have seen, WE are responsible".
God doesn't call us to sit on the sidelines and wait for someone to esle to come along and help. We've seen with our own eyes, now we are responsible, we are accountable.
Then the King will say to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I need clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."
Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?"
The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
You might think that just because you are thousands of miles away and you aren't directly impacted by the storm, that you don't have to worry or help those. You can help by praying.
Pray that the storm will not make landfall. We have the authority to tell the storm to stop; to stop from destroying thousands of homes and millions of peoples lives.
You can give. Give to those who are in need. Thirst No More, a non profit organization, is currently operating in Haiti. TNM was in Haiti 24 hours after the EQ to help provide basic necessities and medical care for all the victims. They are still operating and are reaching the Haitian people by building earthquake resistant bricks to rebuild churchs, homes and shcools. They also minister to orphans. Visit their website at: http://www.thirstnomore.org/ to learn more how you can help those in Haiti.
Regardless of the tropical storm, thousands of Haitians are battling diseases, poverty, hunger, rape. They need our help and for us to get off the sidelines and help.
James 2:17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
FAITH IN ACTION
::Jessica
