It's taken me a couple of days to really catch up on what has happened in Haiti. After church today I finally took the opportunity to watch some footage and my heart is heavy, and my mind is racing.
I also read my friend Andrea's blog, and I want to echo some of her thoughts. She is living with her husband in Kenya right now and has had some similar experiences to what I have had in Africa. As I watched the footage of Haiti my mind drifted to the townships I lived in South Africa and the villiages of Zambia, where although not suffering from earthquake at this time, the images of homeless, starving children are burned in my mind. That same feeling of helplessness I felt daily while working in orphanges encompasses me. That same desire to do something, anything at all is there. Even having seen those images in person, everyday for months I can never truely grasp what the people of Haiti are going through. I have been hungry, but never starving. I have never slept on dirt in the street. I have never had a broken bone. I have never wanted for water, or wondered where my family was or if they are alive. I have not experienced earthquake or poverty or disease. I have never wondered if God had forsaken me.
I don't even know really what I want to say with this post except there are a few things I know to be true when things like this happen in the world.
-When we experience or watch others experience tradgedy it leads us to count our blessings. I am truely grateful for my mattress and the water bottle sitting on my night stand. I am grateful to have a family, and to know that they are safe, well and thriving. I am grateful for my health.
-God Loves Us. And He knows of every individual on the Planet because He created and added details to every individual on the earth. He has not forgotton the people of Haiti and he will take care of them, in His own way. He knew of this earthquake, and He knows what each of us is supposed to be taught by it. Our choice is to recognize the blessing of compassion, or the desire to be compassionate.
=I am grateful for The Plan of Salvation. As the death toll rises in Haiti I realize that I am lucky to know exactly what would happen to me if I were among the dying. I am privelages to know of "The Plan" and that I can live with my loved ones forever in Eternity.
-The meek and the humble shall inherit the earth. I can not tell you how many times this ran through my mind when I would see children without clothing, or hear that some of the orphans I was taking care of in Africa were rescued from garbage cans and sricken with AIDS. This statement offers comfort and leaves me no opportunity to let my pride get in the way.
Anyway, just a few thoughts. I am pretty sure this post and what I have learned is more for me than my readers, but I wanted to share. My heart and prayers go out to Haiti, and all of those there trying to lift the burdons of those people.
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12 comments:
Hols, that is so sincere, and definitly heartfelt! i understand what you are saying, Yesterday we watched 'tears of the sun' living in africa you do hear about all that happens, but its another to actually see it like that, i think i cried majority of the movie. It pulls at your heart and you feel so helpless and useless as an aid to those people.
Love you Hols X
Holly, you are amazing. Just this weekend I was thinking about you and your capacity to love and care for others. The condition of your heart is a continual inspiration to me. Thanks for sharing your great thoughts in this post...
This was a terrible thing that so many people were affected by it certainly their, and all over the world. We have been warned that these things are to happen-but we catch our breath every time it does. Our prayers are with those souls that are suffering.
Great post, and great thoughts. Thank you for sharing and for sparking some great perspective in my own mind. Hope you are doing great.
Holly you are never going to believe how I found this blog. Well I guess first of all I should tell you who I am. It's Jessica Van Tassell, your old Wilshire pal !
You know when you are wasting time aimlessly on the internet and you press the "next blog" button just to see what you will find. Well I did just that and your blog come up. I was SO shocked b/c what are the odds ? Anyway... good to find you and see what you are up to. What do you do in New York ?
I loved the great insights that you shared on your blog. You have a gift for loving and serving others! I can only imagine what the people in Haiti are going through, but I'm glad there are people like you throughout the world who care and are reaching out in any way possible to do something about it.
love the thoughts. keep in touch. oh and the boyfriend...waiting on the scoop. FILL ME IN!
awww, that's nice
It is useful to try everything in practice anyway and I like that here it's always possible to find something new. :)
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