Haiti

In a video clip I was recommended to, I watched footage from the camera of a U.N. peacekeeper soldier standing on a street in Port-au-Prince taken only moments after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck last week. The lens gives a 360-degree view before centering on what was a cathedral, and while the dust is still thick, shows bewildered pedestrians on their knees, arms outstretched to the only thing still standing in this destroyed place of worship – a ceiling high crucifix.

With the picture from this video in my mind I have been reading the hourly updates posted on CNN. I was overwhelmed today reading the reports: 10:37 p.m. -- Two children were pulled alive, 8:40 p.m. -- woman in her 70s who was rescued from rubble, 12:53 p.m. -- A 2-year-old girl named Carla rescued from rubble, and on the clips go. Most one at a time, sometimes two, but always just a few. While the searchers keep searching, but we… we can keep praying, and keep giving.

Soon there may be teams that we can join to go, but right now we can give. You know may know someone (Laura Van Aken in our church community has contacts), and ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency). ADRA is our faith community’s rapid-deployment emergency response organization, and with the monumental need for food, clothing and water in Haiti, our contributions are essential. Giving is simple, go to www.ADRA.org and click on the “Donate Now” icon.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church as an organization, has already given to the immediate and committed to hundreds of thousands of dollars more to help rebuild the Adventist community there (There are - 335,000 members, 473 churches, one hospital, one university, and two grade schools) rebuild so they can begin to reach out and serve the rest of their communities.

We can’t give up, shut up, or let up for the cause of Christ. Keep searching, keep giving, keep praying… in Haiti and in our community.