Haiti

"I tell you that this poor widow put in more than all the others." Luke 21:3

January 12, 2010, Port-au-Prince, Haiti experienced a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. And by January 24^th fifty-two 4.5 or greater aftershocks had been recorded. February 12^th brought the estimation that over three million people were affected by the quake and most likely 230,000 are dead, 300,000 are injured and over 1,000,000 are homeless.

The book of Romans says that “for those who love God all things work together for good.” I thought to myself “in the midst of all this tragedy God, where is the good? Where is your hand in all this? Show me where you are working.”

Economically, times have been tough. It just isn’t a US phenomenon, it is everywhere – travel to India and hear about it, travel to Africa and hear about it, travel to Canada and hear about it. Financial strain is world-wide.

Unfortunately, when finances tighten giving stops; stops cold. People start to hoard and stock and store – preparing for their future and caring only for themselves and/or their immediate loved ones. Caring for the needy, the less fortunate, the poor, the widow and the orphan goes out the window.

This isn’t God’s model. God is a giver, a lavisher, a generous benefactor, a benevolent backer – and he works through us to make it happen. But, if greed, materialism, gluttony, self-indulgence, hording enter stage left generosity is killed and dismissed from the scene.

But, fortunately for the world, Haiti happened. And giving started. The US, European Union, Brazil, UK, France, Canada, United Nations all gave funds toward the relief efforts. Italy forgave Haiti a $55.7 million dollar debt. Senegal has offered the Haitians free land if they want to move. Countess relief agencies have flooded into Haiti – most working endless hours to bring medical aid, food, build shelter, and provide care and clothing for the senselessly rocked native Haitians.

The world is in economic crisis and yet it responds not in hording, but in giving. This is God’s model.

God’s model also battles fear. Fear of not having enough for tomorrow. Fear of failing to provide for your family. Fear of falling short when you need more. Fear. Fear. Fear. God’s word says what you sow you reap…sow fear, reap fear – conversely, sow generosity in times of want and reap generously in times of want.

Are you a giver or a hoarder? Are you generous or greedy? Do you tithe 10% back to God? Check your credit card statement – how much is spent on you vs. on others? How much of your income is “discretional” and is given where God wants it to go?

What is the Haiti in your city? What is the disaster your giving could help? Where can your time, talents, money, and creativity be invested? Where are you philanthropic?

Updates:

Living – We hit a bit of a snag in the final closing of the condo…construction is about a month behind due to weather delays and other unforeseen schedule delays. Good news, the buyer is staying with the sale even though we broke the contract delivery date. I am hoping to be “done” by mid-June

Work – The Big Weekend – went really, really, really well. It was the smoothest I have ever experienced – but I did sleep for 12 hours after I got home!

Requests:

Living – that construction on the building will finish by the end of May and the buyer’s financing can be solidified without delay.

Work – for all our upcoming travel…Seattle, Kala Lumpur, Chennai, Kochi, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Lagos, Connecticut, LA, Texas are just a few of the places we are heading!

Fundraising – if this blog or any of the past entries have touched your heart please donate toward my upcoming trip to Africa. Visit http://gdop.inst.net to find out what I’ll be doing while in Cape Town. To contribute, please go to http://repurposing.biz/contribute for details.