I pulled this from my friend Jeff Goins’ blog because I agree with it…and I, too, am a non-expert. Please read and watch the video!
After blogger Anne Jackson shared on her blog that she was going to Haiti,
she got a myriad of responses, some of which criticized her as a
“non-expert” going into a place where she wasn’t currently needed.
she got a myriad of responses, some of which criticized her as a
“non-expert” going into a place where she wasn’t currently needed.
One person shared a quote from Shaun King,
a pastor who has been on the ground in Haiti since the earthquake,
sharing what he’s seen and experienced via Twitter: “The experts were
wrong. What is missing in Haiti is passionate, hard-working…
non-experts.” (For the rest of the string of quotes, click here.)
a pastor who has been on the ground in Haiti since the earthquake,
sharing what he’s seen and experienced via Twitter: “The experts were
wrong. What is missing in Haiti is passionate, hard-working…
non-experts.” (For the rest of the string of quotes, click here.)
I love that.
CNN reporter Anderson Cooper recently shared a report from Haiti,
in which he said, “Each person’s pain deserves to be known… there is
not enough help to be had.” In his reflection from Port-au-Prince, he
describes the violence and chaos and despair in the country: “Most
people are calm; they pick through the rubble and save what they can.
They sweep up their past and find solutions to live.”
in which he said, “Each person’s pain deserves to be known… there is
not enough help to be had.” In his reflection from Port-au-Prince, he
describes the violence and chaos and despair in the country: “Most
people are calm; they pick through the rubble and save what they can.
They sweep up their past and find solutions to live.”
Undoubtedly, Anne has experienced the first of what will be many
criticisms of short-term Christian workers to go into Haiti and respond
with compassion. Certainly, not all objections to this kind of response
are unfounded, but it does raise the question: What does Haiti need?
criticisms of short-term Christian workers to go into Haiti and respond
with compassion. Certainly, not all objections to this kind of response
are unfounded, but it does raise the question: What does Haiti need?
My coworker Ashley Musick
shared yesterday how her team was helping a church that was so
overwhelmed by the need that they simply did not have time to clean or
organize. Yesterday, another AIM worker Marcia Borg shared how her team was making a difference, as well as heart-breaking situations like the following:
shared yesterday how her team was helping a church that was so
overwhelmed by the need that they simply did not have time to clean or
organize. Yesterday, another AIM worker Marcia Borg shared how her team was making a difference, as well as heart-breaking situations like the following:
One girl we helped last night was crying out in pain and holding her
stomach. She was just sitting on the sidewalk outside of the hospital
along with her sister and some family. It seemed to get worse as we
talked and became unbearable for her. She had told us that her father
had died in the quake and that she hadn’t eaten all day.
Marcia goes on to say that they brought the woman into a hospital,
but, she refused treatment. Scared and confused, she returned to the
sidewalk to wait for a bus out of Haiti.
but, she refused treatment. Scared and confused, she returned to the
sidewalk to wait for a bus out of Haiti.
Yes, the skeptics will say that sending in “non-experts” is a
mistake, that Haiti needs medical workers and nurses and people who can
speak Creole. And that’s certainly true.
mistake, that Haiti needs medical workers and nurses and people who can
speak Creole. And that’s certainly true.
But despairing Haitians also need to know that they have not been
forgotten, that life will get better, and that there is reason to live
another day. When you consider stories like the above, how could you not want to send compassionate workers to help overwhelmed and understaffed relief organizations? How could you not want to bring dignity to those who so desperately need it?
Haiti needs more than handouts or medical assistance.
Haiti needs hope.
If that resonates with you, please consider sharing the following video. ( http://vimeo.com/8941583 )
And please comment with your own opinion:
What do you think Haiti needs?
