Another blog post about Haiti

Man, the blogosphere is littered with blogs about Haiti recently, and with good reason. This is a country that has been absolutely decimated by a natural disaster. I'll be honest, as soon as I heard about the terrible situation, saw the footage of mass graves, read the reports of orphans coming to the US for adoption, and the stories of looters getting killed by those just trying to protect what little they have, I to felt compelled to get on a plane and go down to help. Interestingly, me going at this time is just not practical. I do not have the skills to treat someone with even the simplest of injuries. I have never been to Haiti, so don't really know what to expect. But I still want to help......

What I can do is give to organizations like the Red Cross, One Vision International, Samaritans purse, and a slew of many others. These organizations have the ability, equipment, and personnel to get things done much more efficiently than I would. Let me just say that probably the most ingenious way of raising money is the one by the Red Cross, with text Haiti to 90999 campaign. This is a very quick and easy way to donate $10 to a really good cause. Also, I am quite certain that me going down would somehow hamper search and rescue efforts. The last thing that these organizations need is to have to stop what they are presently doing to rescue people getting themselves into trouble with very good intentions.

I ate dinner with a good friend of mine last week, who is a family physician. He is actually in Haiti right now with a group that is sponsored by One Vision International. In his own words, he told me how he had to turn the news off, because it was "killing him that he wasn't doing anything." He likened it to driving past a car wreck on the interstate, and just slowing down and looking. It was eating him alive inside. When he initially contacted the group that he is with, the airport in Porte Prince was stilled closed. The group was actually considering dropping the doctors by parachute into Haiti! Think about that a minute: There are international groups that were trying so hard to get help to Haiti that they were looking at parachuting in doctors there. I think that says a lot for the compassion, ingenuity, and resources that these groups have. Fortunately, the airports began to open in the country as well as in the Dominican Republic.

I guess my point in all this is that we should do our part where we can make the most impact. I can give some money presently to organizations that have the resources to use the money appropriately. My friend can go to Haiti now, because he has the skills and training to help those that are hurting. Don't get me wrong: I truly feel I will be in Haiti in the future. There will come a time when the rebuilding phase of Haiti will come. When that time comes, I am almost certain that I will go down to help out where I can.