During my recent trip to California, Arizona and Nevada I made the tongue-in-cheek comment that I would like to experience a small earthquake just to see what it felt like. After seeing the devastation in Haiti, I will not joke about something as potentially serious as this. I was aware of my initial emotional disconnection from this event as I hurried to complete my mundane tasks yesterday. News came in the afternoon about the death of Yvonne Martin, a nurse from our community who died in the earthquake. She arrived in Haiti with a medical team 90 minutes before the quake and perished when their guest house collapsed. I know two of her nieces, and the family as well her church congregation are grieving. I have no patience with those who presume to know that God has judged Haiti with this disaster. It is impossible for us to understand the suffering of the people in this impoverished country but we do have an opportunity to share our abundance with them.Thursday, January 14, 2010
Relief for Haiti
During my recent trip to California, Arizona and Nevada I made the tongue-in-cheek comment that I would like to experience a small earthquake just to see what it felt like. After seeing the devastation in Haiti, I will not joke about something as potentially serious as this. I was aware of my initial emotional disconnection from this event as I hurried to complete my mundane tasks yesterday. News came in the afternoon about the death of Yvonne Martin, a nurse from our community who died in the earthquake. She arrived in Haiti with a medical team 90 minutes before the quake and perished when their guest house collapsed. I know two of her nieces, and the family as well her church congregation are grieving. I have no patience with those who presume to know that God has judged Haiti with this disaster. It is impossible for us to understand the suffering of the people in this impoverished country but we do have an opportunity to share our abundance with them.
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An absolute tragic event. My heart goes out to Haiti. Prayers and help for each and every person is needed as they try to rebuild their lives.
ReplyDeleteI had heard on the news of a local nurse who was one of the unfortuate ones. So sad. I will be praying for this country and all the loved ones that have been hurt by this horrible earthquake.
Thank you for this post. Makes us realize how fortunate we really are.
How sad for all the dead and injured and their loved ones and particularly so for the local nurse. We have always given as much as we can to Doctors Without Borders. We will make an additional donation for the work in Haiti.
ReplyDeleteOh no, Ruth. How sad and ironic.
ReplyDeleteI am sure that as we learn who perished there will be many names of people who were in Haiti to help.
Watching the news I find it almost unimaginable--how rudimentary things were before, and now even that is gone.
I too have to patience for those who presume God judged the people of Haiti (or any disaster) it is as if they have completely forgotten that the Christian faith is about love and compassion.
ReplyDeleteWe are far enough from Seattle here to avoid larger quakes but we have miniquakes from time to time, they are most unnerving. I can only imagine how frightening it must have been for Haiti. Medicine Sans Frontieres is another really fantastic charity.
What a sad, sad story, Ruth. I pray that God's comfort will wrap Yvonne Martin's family. I'm certain she leaves a legacy of caring and service. I loved the picture that went with the news story to which you linked.
ReplyDeleteRuth,
ReplyDeleteIn either 1985 or 1986, Michelle and I were living in an apartment building. I had worked the night shift and she had gone on to school. About 10 am, a shaking of the building woke me. I got up and tried to make my way down the hall. I had to hold onto the walls.
It was a very mild tremor. Less than 2.0 on the Reichter Scale. I wouldn't want to be in anything that was worse. It was downright scary.
Did you know that southern Ontario is on a fault line. That's scary.
Praying for all those in Haiti.
Blessings,
Mary
So very sorry to hear about your community's loss Ruth. The images are just so overwhelming. I hope everyone will help as much as they can.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
ReplyDeleteBelieve me you don't want to have the experience of an earthquake.
I lost my best friend eleven years ago of the earthquake of Parnitha. She was only 29 years old.
So sad. Those poor people. No one deserves to perish in an earthquake. I am so sorry for your friend.
ReplyDeleteI've lived in So. California my whole life and have been through many earthquakes.
ReplyDeleteThe one in Haiti is just another warning to those of us who live in the Los Angeles area that we need to be prepared for the 'BIG ONE'
God bless you, Ron