Haiti

I have been moved to tears so many times this past week.  Thinking of all the devastation and hurt the people in Haiti have been going through.  Pictures have grabbed my heart the most.  Pictures of loss and pain.  It’s almost paralyzing, and easy to sit in despair and hopelessness at the magnitude of the situation and hope for the best.  But as followers of Jesus, we can know :

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28

Even in tragedy, God receives glory.  There have been countless reports of people coming to know Christ through this tragedy.  As a church, we are part of the body of Christ.  A body works together to accomplish what it’s told to do.  As a church, we are the hands and feet of Jesus.  We don’t have to pray asking God if we should do anything to help…we should be begging for the opportunity to help in any way possible.

Monday night the body of Christ gathered together at Lifepoint Midtown.  To praise God for Who He is and to pray for mercy for the people of Haiti.  This was not just Lifepoint Church, but a collection of churches working together under One Name to move the heart of God for the people of Haiti.  The night was covered by the local news and you can see it here or here.

As a church, we have been called to action.  Here are the ways Lifepoint Church is in action:

1)  Pray- don’t think of this as a last ditch effort, prayer moves the heart of God – Luke 11:5-113

2) Give Financially….you can give online at Lifepoint Church.  We are sending these funds to Samaritan’s Purse.  You can donate directly to them here

3) Donate medical supplies.  Here is a list of items needed:

• Medications:

(These items can be purchased over the counter at any local drug store)
Aspirin
Tylenol
Motrin
Children’s and adult multi-vitamin
Benadryl
Neosporin or triple antibiotic
Oral re-hydration salts
Cough medications

• Medical Supplies:

(These items can be purchased over the counter at any local drug store)
Ace bandages
Alcohol pads
Band-aids
Betadine wipes and sticks
Drapes
Gauzes – any size
Gloves – all sizes, sterile/non-sterile
Gowns -surgical and patient (head and shoe covers, goggles, masks)
Pediatric supplies (including powdered milk and formula)
Tape – all types
Thermometers

• Other:

(These items can be purchased through a doctor or physicians’ office)
Zantac
Hypertension medications
Blood pressure medications
Blades – sterile only
Needles – butterfly, angio catheter
Compression stockings
Dressings – sterile and un-sterile (Coban, Tegaderm, Steri-Strip, Surgilast)
IV supplies – tubing in sterile packages only
Scalpels
Sponges – surgical only (includes X-ray detectable)
Surgical towels – cloth/paper
Sutures
Syringes
Tongue depressors

Personally, I have been keeping up with current needs and situations through this blog: Bakers in Haiti.  There are 2 missionary families there at the Baptist Haiti Mission that Jeff and his family personally know.  The Bakers and the Leibs.  Between the 2 families there are 9 kids.  These families have been working with the hospital at the mission and have been transporting supplies and doctors sent with Samaritan’s Purse.  Read the blog for up to date information and stories of how God is working.