Haitian Relief

In between news of whether Conan O’Brian or Jay Leno will be given the slot of the Tonight Show, many of us have seen images of a devastated Haiti, because of a 7.0 earthquake that hit it on January 12th 2010. Perhaps like me, to you the tragedy seems distant, and a little unreal. Perhaps like me, you are overwhelmed by a sense of uselessness. Perhaps like me you wish you could form part of the relief, helping heal or find victims, but the truth is there’s nothing you can do. I’ve read two article so far, that ask about God’s role in this. One is due to the message by a prominent Christian leader in the US who has blamed Haitians for this devastation, due to a “pact with the Devil” and God’s retaliation. Another simply questioned why some people still look to God in the streets of Haiti, whom has been absent at best and retaliatory at worst.

When Gideon is encountered by the Angel of God, he asks him the same question many in Haiti and around the World are asking. “Where is God?” I am always fascinated by the response of the Angel to the horrible situation that the people of Israel are living. “Go in this your strength. Am I not sending you?” In other words, the answer that the Angel gives Gideon to the question of “Where is God?” is “I am working in and through you.”

So today I wondered how I could help with the tragedy, and I did what felt like the most useless action I could do. I went to the internet and looked up an organization that I could donate to, and sent a donation. My donation was giving what I could afford. It’s not much, but it’s something. If its equivalent is spent in 10 seconds on the ground in Haiti I would be surprised. But then I thought, there is one more thing that I can do. I can motivate and encourage people to give. Google has a couple of sites, where you can donate.

http://www.google.com/relief/haitiearthquake/#utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-ha-na-us-sk&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=haiti%20donations

Personally having been struck by the news of 800 missing doctors with Doctors without Borders, I chose to give there.

http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/donate/

Perhaps you may want to contact the Red Cross where you are located. Here’s a way you can give if you are in the US
The following organizations are accepting SMS donations in the US only:
• SMS text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts
• SMS text "YELE" to 501501 to Donate $5 to Yele Haiti’s Earthquake Relief efforts

Where is God? Maybe some of you can pack up and go serve in Haiti, at this time of need. God will be working through your hands, feet, mouths. The reality for most of us, is that we can only observe at a distance. Let God work through our pockets. Give what you can.

And of course, PRAY for the people of Haiti.

Marco Perez
Global MBA, Executive Director, and Business Consultant

blog.perezincr.com