Friday, January 29, 2010

Has Your Veil Been Lifted?

The following status update on Facebook has affected me like no other status update I've ever read.  Here are the words being posted by some Facebook users (I'm ashamed to post the following words on my blog):

"Shame on you America: the only country where we have homeless without shelter, children going to bed without eating, elderly going without needed meds, and mentally ill without treatment - yet we have a benefit for the people of Haiti on 12 TV stations. 99% of people won't have the guts to copy and repost this. I'm NOT afraid !!!!!"

Wanna see homeless without shelter?

Thousands of Haitians (elderly and infants included) are sleeping outside on the ground. 
They've made "tent cities" as they have no homes or steady structures to take shelter in. 
Haven't seen a tent city in America (unless it was a campout to buy front row seats to a concert)!!!

Wanna see children going to bed without eating?

This is a child brought to a rescue center on 1/28/10 in Haiti who is severely malnourished.
Unfortunately, there are thousands more just like him in Haiti.
Not the typical look of a "hungry" American.


Wanna see elderly without needed meds?

I think this elderly Haitian woman has gone without needed meds far too long.
Visit The Livesay Blog for many more photos of Haitians undergoing amputations without anesthesia, maggots eating the flesh of living people, children being sewn up without "needed" meds.
Don't see that happening in the US.  Nope.

Wanna see mentally ill without treatment?
Haitian boy (from Buckner gallery) thrilled to be alive, flies and all, without treatment.
Probably the same as in America though.


What does Jesus say about all of this?

Jesus is our Rock.  Our Foundation.  All other ground is sinking sand.
Statue of Jesus on the cross in Haiti remains strong and steady while everything around it crumbles. (Photo from Buckner Gallery.)

Matthew 25:34-36, "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

Matthew 25:40, "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

Praying God will remove the veil from ALL of our eyes.
"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is within the power of your hand to do so."  Proverbs 3:27

Praising God for all the veils He's already lifted.
"Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, famine and injustice in the world when He could so something about it...but I'm afraid He might ask me the same question." ~Anonymous

Thanking all those who have responded to the Haitian tragedy with joyful, selfless obedience, serving the least of these with your love, your prayers, your time, talent and treasure.
"Do unto others as you would have them do to you." Luke 6:31

Asking what YOU are doing to help those in need...both in America and around the world?!?
"A friend loves at all times."  Proverbs 17:17


Port-au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) — Two weeks after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti, the numbers have mounted. The numbers tell stories of death and destruction, as well as a global outpouring of aid.

CNN has compiled the latest, most reliable figures available as the devastation continues to unfold:

THE TOLL
150,000: Latest estimate of the death toll, from the Haitian Health Ministry. The European Union and the Pan American Health Organization, which are coordinating the health-sector response, have estimated the quake killed 200,000 people.
194,000: Number of injured
134: Estimated number of people rescued by international search teams since the quake

THE EFFECT
9 million: Population of Haiti
3 million: Estimated number of people affected by the quake
1 million: Estimated number of displaced people
800,000 to 1 million: People who need temporary shelter
235,000: People who have left Port-au-Prince using free transportation provided by the government. The number who left by private means is undetermined.
At least 50: Aftershocks of magnitude 4.5 or higher that have hit Haiti since the January 12 quake

THE CHILDREN
300,000: Children younger than 2 who need nutritional support
90: Percentage of schools in Port-au-Prince that have been destroyed
363: Haitian orphans who have been evacuated

THE RESPONSE IN DOLLARS
$1.12 billion: International aid pledges
$783 million: Funds received as of Tuesday
$317 million: U.S. assistance as of Monday

THE RESPONSE IN MANPOWER
17,000: U.S. military personnel in and around Haiti
8 million: Meals the World Food Programme has delivered to nearly 400,000 people
300: Aid distribution sites that are up and running
130 to 150: Flights arriving every day at the single-runway Port-au-Prince airport with aid

EFFECT ON FOREIGNERS
12,000: U.N. workers in the country at the time of the quake
53: U.N. workers still missing
At least 82: U.N. workers dead
27: U.N. workers injured or hospitalized
11,500: Americans and family members who have been evacuated
4,800: Americans unaccounted for

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/26/haiti.by.the.numbers/index.html?hpt=T2

9 comments:

The Mac's House said...

I know that comment was posted by my nephew in Iraq and honestly it annoys me that he put that up there. I have been so upset over his disregard for human life.

I've debate on commenting on his post and have opted to take it person with him and not start a family feud online.

I donate both here in the US and abroad whenever possible.

Personally, I'm very proud of the Americans who have stepped up to help out this country that is so desperate in need for help.

I know that there are some that feel that it is not our responsibility, I understand that, some will think that my views are too liberal, I get that, but what I can't put my head around is that of those posting this on their facebook pages, etc. have they ? do they? will they? do something in the US to change the situation here????

I think that the American citizens learned a valuable lesson with Katrina that you cannot and should not depend on your government to step in that it must take all of us. Hopefully that we will set an example of how international help can and should help others in a time of crisis.

I do agree that the US is in crisis here in the US with the homeless and starving children.

You don't have to publish this comment if you don't want to, I completely understand. This is a very sensitive subject for a lot of people I'm sure.

I'm just glad to see that someone else had taken offense to the posting going around.

Anonymous said...

THANK YOU! I saw that on fb, as well, and it infuriated me! I'm so glad someone else is on the same page!

jodes said...

You are AMAZING for addressing this!! I too, saw it on Facebook and was appalled. We've never met, but i recently started following your blog. Anyway, i just wanted to say THANK YOU for saying something about this. You are a beautiful person.

StressedBlessed Mom in GA said...

Thank you! I've linked to your post on my site, not that I have a lot of traffic, but I wanted to do my part, too.

Thank you also for a great site! I'm praying for the homograft being a match for Chrissie!

God bless you and your family.

Unknown said...

Thank you for posting this. I just recently started following your blog - found it through another blog. I agree with you 100%. Christ didn't just call us to care for Americans. He called us to go to the ends of the earth!

Megan said...

Lorraine,

We attend a Spanish church on Sunday evenings and our pastor there is from the Dominican Republic. Last night one of his associate pastors came here to give a report and to tell how they have been helping and how our church can help support their church's efforts in the Dominican Republic. They have been sending doctors, nurses, food, and tents since two days after the quake and will continue to send teams every two weeks. What they said is that the devastation is far, far worse than we see or hear on the news. Our hearts need to be broken for this destruction and for these people. Our hearts need to be softened to move, to go and give and do on behalf of the cause of Christ regardless of the location of the need. It is so easy to fall into the trap of selfishness. On Sunday morning our pastor said, "Since when did America become the 'Kingdom'?" God desires to draw all people to Himself and we are so selfish to demand that we only serve Americans or serve Americans first. God calls us to serve the LEAST and there is no arguing where that need lies right now.

Melissa said...

I want to link to this on my blog as well, if that's ok? I have been thinking about this since the first time I saw it on someone's FB status and it just disgusts me. And like TMH said, I can't help but wonder if those posting it are doing anything to help those here in America who need the help.

Grizzly Bear said...

I wanted to vomit when I saw that post on my of my friends on fb I responded oh yes I did. It started a conversation and noone else posted that disgraceful status again.

It made me sick and so sad. We are suppose to help our neighbors and this a catastrophic disaster.

I was so imflamed that I asked what have they done here, do they volunteer, donate money, adopt a child in foster care.. yep here in the US --nope not one person that posted it had a response.

I volunteer my time and give money.

I will continue to support the Haitian people and the US.

Grissell

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