Help Haiti
Haiti, I forgot you. I read Mountains Beyond Mountains and you changed my view of the world. And then, I simply forgot to remember that every time I ate more than one meal a day, I was rich.
And now, you lie in a rubble. Just when things were beginning to improve...as if the poorest of the poor in the world might find solid ground beneath their aching feet...you've been left with nowhere safe to stand.
So Bloomin' Blog readers, what can you and I do? We can give a donation with all our heart—that means more than the check or credit card contribution that might ease your conscience—and support organizations that will quickly send relief to this small country devastated by a 7.0 earthquake yesterday as I...what do you suppose I did as the walls caved in there...answered an email, enjoyed a mid afternoon cup of coffee in the security of my perfectly equipped kitchen?
So please, stop. Think. Read. Look at the heartbreaking images. Then Give.
Here are some ways to channel your support:
Partners in Health is the organization whose growth is chronicled in Mountains Beyond Mountains. To give through PIH Clck Here.
The United Methodist Church has a long standing relationship with the Methodist Church in Haiti. Donations sent via the United Methodist Committee on Relief will go directly to aid Haiti. To give via UMCOR click Here.
In my opinion, Mennonite Disaster Services is one of the best disaster service agencies in the world. You can learn more about them and donate to their efforts by clicking Here.
Whatever you think you lack, you still live abundantly and have enough to share. I know that, because you're reading this.
And whatever your personal journey of faith, you can stop and remember your brothers and sister in Haiti. Call it a prayer. Call it a meditation. Call it a thought cast to the universe. Just please, think of Haiti. I will try not to forget her again.
And now, you lie in a rubble. Just when things were beginning to improve...as if the poorest of the poor in the world might find solid ground beneath their aching feet...you've been left with nowhere safe to stand.
So Bloomin' Blog readers, what can you and I do? We can give a donation with all our heart—that means more than the check or credit card contribution that might ease your conscience—and support organizations that will quickly send relief to this small country devastated by a 7.0 earthquake yesterday as I...what do you suppose I did as the walls caved in there...answered an email, enjoyed a mid afternoon cup of coffee in the security of my perfectly equipped kitchen?
So please, stop. Think. Read. Look at the heartbreaking images. Then Give.
Here are some ways to channel your support:
Partners in Health is the organization whose growth is chronicled in Mountains Beyond Mountains. To give through PIH Clck Here.
The United Methodist Church has a long standing relationship with the Methodist Church in Haiti. Donations sent via the United Methodist Committee on Relief will go directly to aid Haiti. To give via UMCOR click Here.
In my opinion, Mennonite Disaster Services is one of the best disaster service agencies in the world. You can learn more about them and donate to their efforts by clicking Here.
Whatever you think you lack, you still live abundantly and have enough to share. I know that, because you're reading this.
And whatever your personal journey of faith, you can stop and remember your brothers and sister in Haiti. Call it a prayer. Call it a meditation. Call it a thought cast to the universe. Just please, think of Haiti. I will try not to forget her again.
Posted by Mimi Meredith at 1/13/2010 5:04 PM 
Categories: Civility,Mimi's Musing
Tags: Mennonite Disaster Services United Methodist Committee on Relief Haitian Earthquake Philanthropy Haiti Partners in Health
Categories: Civility,Mimi's Musing
Tags: Mennonite Disaster Services United Methodist Committee on Relief Haitian Earthquake Philanthropy Haiti Partners in Health
Oh, Mimi, me too! I read that book too and also failed to take action. I'm glad to have your list of organizations to share with others. The news is horrific.
For any Episcopalians out there, I've just learned that the Diocese of Haiti is the largest diocese in the Episcopal Church, USA. Haiti's Episcopal cathedral was destroyed in the earthquake, along with the bishop's house. The earthquake also claimed the life the Roman Catholic Archbishop and damaged their cathedral as well.
The Episcopal Relief and Development Fund has a special Haiti fund on their site. You can donate online www.er-d.org or over the telephone (800.334.7626 ext 5129) or through the mails:
Episcopal Relief and Development
P.O. Box 7058
Merrifield,VA 22116-7058
I've just sent them a donation, but I plan to send something to at least one of the others you mentioned too. And pray, pray, pray...
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Thank you so much for this information, Elizabeth! Let's keep this conversation going and see how many ways we can generate to help!
M
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Thank you for this entry, dear Mimi. Thanks to Paul Farmer's work (and Tracy Kidder's book), many of us know more about Haiti than we once did. And as you emphasized, that knowledge enables us all to know how important relief efforts, and our contributions to them, are. The United Methodist Committee On Relief site link should be www.umcor.org. You accidentally omitted the o in umcor. Thanks for posting all the links.
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Thank you, Margaret! I will fix that error. My prayers and yours are all wrapped up together tonight!
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Mimi, Thanks for making it so easy to donate to good relief efforts. I read Mountains Beyond Mountains when a coaching client listed Paul Farmer as one of the people he admires (sharing books and inspirations is one of the things I love about coaching and this particular client provided lots to work with). I was very moved by his story and passion for his work. It's hard to imagine such devastation.
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Debra, what a neat way to find out more about the interests and tastes of your coaching clients! And how awesome that you then took the time to read the book! Sorry, I know the comment is about Haiti, but I have to say that sincere gestures (a genuine interest in what I like/read/listen to, etc) followed up with meaningful action (learning about what I like) is one of the most genuine ways to build relationships that change the world. And it is something we hardly ever take the time to do. So thank you for that aside that has inspired me to learn something about another at a little deeper level today!
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