a deep committment

There are things that come and go. Things that just are blips. There are lots of blips. I read something about a speedskater at the Olympics that made the most costly error anyone in his sport could make. Its like a 10million dollar mistake. He'll run the highlight reel for another week or so but really, he's a blip. And its been 6 weeks and so I'm hoping there are things that aren't blips to you. I'm praying this doesn't become a blip for you. HAITI STILL NEEDS YOU. For real. They need you.

My good friends over at Compassion have put together a concert. I know. That's so been done, right? Yes, sort of. Hollywood can put that stuff together overnight but they had funding. Compassion has it worked out as non-for-profit as it comes. They've also been kind of busy. Finding kids, parents, schools, churches, water, food, safety. For people. But I just recieved email about this concert. Do you live in Nashville? Do you live in the greater Nashville area? And by "greater Nashville area", I mean, the United States of America. Because that's close, comparatively. You should go to Nashville 27 February to see Help Haiti Live. What I like about this line up is that its people who can write lyrics. I'm a sucker for good lyrics. They could play it on a washboard (which I don't think they are) but if its strong lyrically, I'm in love. You should go. Or you could watch online. That's what I'm going to do. I'm going to scrapbook and watch Help Haiti Live and dig out my bank information.

Haiti isn't a blip for Compassion. They've been there for 40 years. That's longer than I've been on the planet. They help to care for 60,000 kids. 60,000. That's 3 times the size of my hometown. They had projects ongoing and they have projects rebuilding. There in it for the long haul. They're committed. They don't do blips. They're using their power as people to make a difference. You have that power.

And you don't want blips in your life.

Haiti

I've begun to understand a bit more about earthquakes in the last few years. We moved to earthquake country and by and large they don't ruffle too many people here. Understand that folks are still effected and traumatized. People mobilize to help and give whereever they can but its not something that is really surprising. People don't say "How could that happen? We've never had an earthquake before." Rather, on the contrary, people tend to compare notes from past earthquakes. I suspect its a little like Gulf Coast and Florida residents when it comes to hurricanes.

I think that is what gets me about an 7.0 Earthquake in Haiti. They haven't had an earthquake of any real magnitude in over 200 years. That's crazy. Jonathan and I were talking about it and really earthquakes are something. You can't prevent them. Its difficult to guard against there effects (even earthquake proof buildings give at some point and condition). You can't predict them. It really is a little like a bus falling out of the sky.

You'll notice at the top of the page in the sidebar is a widget for Relief Aid to Haiti. Let me assure you, if I give you a link its something I've already done. I take giving very seriously. I want you to also. If you have ability to give of your time, of your things, of your money. Please do so. Giving should be part of everyday life and not reserved for diasters and crisis. If you have a organization you already give to, Congratulations! You're already experiencing joy. If you do not, please let me suggest Compassion International. Compassion has been present in Haiti since 1968. Partnering with churches to provide for the basic needs of food, health care and education for children and their families. They have a million children in their sponsoring system worldwide and have consistently recieved top marks for accountablity with finances. That's important folks. Compassion is ready on the ground to aid the people of Haiti.

If you are giving through another organization, I encourage you to check their financial information. Really if you ever give money, check the financial information. 501(c)(3) is a tax designation for charitable/ non for profit organizations. If you are giving to a 501(c)(3), you should know that you can deduct the gift on your yearly tax returns- that maybe something you are interested in. But beyond the tax status, do a little homework. Know where the money is going and how much is going. Certainly a percentage may go toward a central office or other types of overhead, but if you are giving to the people of Haiti, you should know how much of that money is getting to the people of Haiti. Ask the who, what, when, where, why, how and how much. Get some answers to that before you write a check. That's not stingy, that's wise.

Some organizations I would recommend and I have given to:

World Vision- In Haiti for 30 years working in child sponsorship.


International Disaster Emergency Services - providing food and financial support to work worldwide. If you are interested in being a physical help, go to the IDES website. They have a food packing site for relief work. They don't put too many limits on the size of groups to come and pack food. Anyone thinking roadtrip to Indiana?

mother nature and natural disasters

Many have emailed and been checking in at our blog following recent developments from mother nature. We're fine. We're pretty far away from the action. What's funny, odd more than funny, is that in this part of the world it doesn't take a huge development to effect 4 or 5 countries. The 2004 Tsunami effected this region, I don't know how many countries were effected/ devestated but certainly it was more than 3. I think its hard in the US to understand what the word "country" means. It has nothing to do with size. The US happens to be a big country, both in physical size and actual number. India is a large country but the size of it is disproportionate to the number of people. Russia is physically huge, but doesn't have a comparable population. I beginning to believe that Australia may be huge in terms of land area but because of their crazy geography (the middle of Australia has nothing in it) they don't really have that many people. I don't mean to be a geography smarty pants but I was just mulling this over as I was reading some of our thoughtful emails.

I have more to say about this. Mother Nature is really something and we learn that more all of the time. I'll save it for another post though. Suffice it to say, we are fine.

If you need me, I'll be standing under the door frame.

I grew up in the midwestern US and what that teaches you is that mother nature can be a fickle girl. You grow up with freak snow in March and hot january days followed by ice. Tornado watches and warnings are all the talk depending on the time of year. Indiana enjoys the only state in the union that can boast a tornado in every month of the year (that was true a few years ago, I don't know if it still is). Anyway talk of earthquakes and tsunamis are very other worldly. We don't tend to understand tidal changes and after shocks. All of that to say, I'm pretty ignorant and have some pretty illogical assumptions.

We've recently moved and now we are supposed to pay attention to things like earthquakes and the potential that has to set off volcanoes and tsunamis. I can't really get my head around it. At some point I've made the decision that volcanoes can only go off in the summer. Earthquakes don't really happen, people just think they feel them. And that whole wave thing is unpredictable. The nice people of the Solomon Island probably would beg to differ. They aren't talking about volcanoes but 10 feet of water from an earthquake driven wave? That sounds crazy but apparently happens.

We're all fine and unphased. I was just thinking that I don't know what to do for sure in an earthquake. I'm pretty sure the answer isn't to go in the basement or the bathtub. I hope that isn't the answer because I have neither. That whole stand in the doorframes thing sounds silly but that is all I know to do. Question is, which one?