When 9/11 struck, I felt so lost. My dad was overseas in the Navy and I knew a war would ensue quickly and he would have to deploy. I just started my first Bible study the day before and learned about this verse:
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." -John 16:33
How fitting it was back then. So it is again. Seeing all the photos of the Haiti has brought back memories of my own earthquake experience in the Philippines. A 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit northern Luzon in 1990. I was in 5th grade and sitting with friends on the second story terrace of our school. I felt dizzy as I got up and saw the roof of the guard house shaking. Then I knew an earthquake hit and not a headache.
The teachers gathered us in the courtyard. Everyone was crying around me but somehow I felt peace. School quickly dismissed. All the buses were inoperable as the roads were turned up and cracked by the quake. So, a few of us walked home together. We walked for at least two hours looking up at the buildings with cracked walls and smashed windowpanes, broken glass everywhere.
I didn't know how far-reaching earthquakes were at 11 years old. It surprised me that my own street, miles away, had so much damage. Thankfully, our building was okay and so was my mom. But not so in the northern region of Baguio where just a few years we had our first family vacation. This beautiful area was now littered with buildings that had fallen down. They looked like smashed loaves of sliced bread to me. I can never forget that experience.
Like many of you, I am praying for the people of Haiti, especially the children. I feel like their minds are too young to be exposed to all this destruction. But as I experienced then, they too can feel God's peace. He will cradle their spirit.
It's not much, but we're making a donation to Compassion International. And I am so thankful to this blog community for all the bloggers who are personally donating money for every link-up to their blog. Crystal at MSM is donating $10 to Compassion's Haiti outreach for every link posted. It will surely make our small contribution grow with just a little effort on my part to link-up. (It took about an hour to leave a link to about 60 blogs.) Just linking to the first 25 adds up to $70 extra donations. (Yes, I counted.)
If you can help, I urge you to do so. And prayer is not the least you can do. Your prayers will reach the ears of God and help more than you think.
It is nice to be able to help a little. God bless those who are suffering. My blog is particiapting too. Please link up!
ReplyDeletehttp://pugetsoundprudence.blogspot.com/2010/01/giving-back-challenge.html
We'll be donating through Compassion as well!
ReplyDeleteIt is hard when you don't have much to give, but when you consider what Crystal said about the bucket of water being filled with drops, it is encouraging! Keep praying!
My blog is giving away a pound of Starbucks coffee to a winning link/comment for what they are doing to help. Please visit at :
http://cupcakesprinklesinlife.blogspot.com
Thanks for doing your part to help Haitian earthquake victims by taking time to link up with other blogs.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to making donations, I'm giving $10 eCOUPONs to my online gift store Gifts For One Gifts For All (www.giftsforonegiftsforall.com) to those that have donated to organizations helping the Haitian earthquake victims. When the eCOUPON is redeemed, 10% of the purchase will also be donated to organizations helping Haiti. Read my blog for more details at http:/bit.ly/DONATE2HAITI on how you can receive your eCOUPON for donating.
For bloggers raising awareness or making donations for comments or links made and you want to thank those that have contributed to your blog, contact me at info@giftsforonegiftsforall.com to a eCOUPON you can give those that have help you give.
Don't forget to contact me to receive your eCOUPON for doing your part to help Haitian earthquake victims.