Wow! Where to start?
The people of Haiti are just like you and me; they have a house, a family, and basic needs such as food, clothing, and water. The difference is they are struggling DAILY to have these needs met. They can barely survive and can barely afford anything. Some are late on rent, some are starving, and some are searching through trash and rubble just to find something that they think they might need. Rice and beans are a daily ONE time meal; not like the three huge course meals we get every single day (plus more). Clean water is scarce throughout Port au Prince, so seeing people trying to feel up buckets in the dirtiest rivers is normal. Some kids go to school, if they can afford it, while others are already working on the streets at the age of four. Almost every family had a member die in the earthquake and most of those people were the males that supplied the money and support, while other men just left their families, not wanting anything to do with them.
While I was in Haiti I was able to work with places that prepared children for adoption, an orphanage that deals with sick and dying babies, a church that delivers water filters to people in need of clean water, and build strong, Godly relationships with people that will last a lifetime.
I was so stuck in my American bubble, so comfortable in being who I was that is blows my mind to realizing how blind I was to what the world really looks like. God has so graciously opened my eyes to seeing things I only thought I knew about. My heart is broken and I am just in shock that our brothers and sisters in Christ are suffering as much as they are. If I feel this way I can only imagine how our Father God feels.
Christ has called us in James 1:27 to “visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” The word visit means to go to and stay with (a person or family) or at (a place) for a short time for different reasons. God wants us to just give our time and our love to these people, whether it’s overseas or in your back yard. God has placed those people around you for a purpose. My prayer for you and me is to first of all, seek Gods word and see what He says about the poor, the needy, the orphan, and the widowed. Next, to pray over what He wants you to do about it and to then take that next step of faith by getting out of your comfort zone and completely entrusting Christ with your life because ,after all, we are all called to “deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Him daily.” (Matthew 16:24)
Once again, thank you. I cannot say enough how much I appreciate your help, whether it was financially or with prayers. God is so good and has an amazing plan for our lives. Don’t run from it, but embrace it.
With all praise and glory to God,
Amanda Woodruff
