Help Those in Haiti

When disasters strike, do you feel helpless?  I do.  I wish I could run out and get in the trenches and help.  I know that I can't.  I become envious of those who can. 

Oh, what wrong thinking that is!  There are so many ways I can help right from home!

1. Pray.  Prayer can do more than any number of humans or supplies can.  Pray for direction on how to proceed.
   
2. Listen.  Through prayer, God may reveal specific things He wants us to do to help - if only we stop talking long enough to listen for Him.  Maybe He wants us to donate to a specific cause or to a specific person who is better equipped to help.  We won't know until we listen.
3. Pay Attention.  Communities all over the world are organizing ways to send aid.  Maybe your community is having a clothing drive or blood drive.  Maybe they are preparing  a small group to go help.  Pay attention to the local news and conversations around town.  How can you help?
4. Give.  There are so many agencies that are well equipped to help at a moments notice.  These agencies can only help if they receive the financial support needed to do their work.

Here are some organizations that can and are providing aid at the moment.  Are you being led to give?  Look into these and others and pray for where to give.  Pray that those funds would be multiplied.  Pray that those funds would do great things.

• World Vision.  Here is their current statement about this earthquake.  Here is a link to donate to the Haiti relief directly. Here is the general disaster relief fund link.  Here is a link with many ways to donate to many causes World Vision aids.
• American Red Cross.  Here is a link where you can choose where your donation goes.  Here is the main page which has a lot of information and updates.   
• UNICEF.  Click here to donate to their emergency relief fund.

As you plan to give, make sure the organization where you donate is legitimate.  It is sad to say that many people set up false websites and con others out of their donation money.  The websites listed above are ones that I have successfully used in the past.