• Jesus told us to love our neighbor as ourself. Our neighbors in Haiti are really hurting right now. So many people I know are heartbroken for Haiti. They want to help, but for some it’s been hard to find a way to help. There’s several organizations out there that are doing GREAT work right now, but it seems like you have to follow 40 different twitters and 40 different facebook pages to find out what’s going on and how to help. Hopefully, this post will help! As I’ve monitored the Haiti situation, here are some organizations/ministries that you can TRUST with your prayers and resources to help the people of Haiti:
• American Red Cross: I’m sure you’re familiar with the Red Cross. They have a very easy way to donate to the relief effort. Simply text HAITI to 90999 from your cell phone, and a $10 donation will appear on your cell phone bill.
• Baptist Haiti Mission: These folks have had an ongoing partnership/ministry with Haiti since 1943. They have and are currently helping the Haitians with their spiritual needs, educational needs, medical needs, etc. You can make a donation to them on their website, which is http://www.bhm.org.
• Samaritans Purse: This is one of my favorite organizations. If you’re unsure where to give, Samaritan’s Purse is an EXCELLENT choice. Samaritan’s Purse is a non-denominational Christian relief organization, led by Franklin Graham (s0n of evangelist Billy Graham). Samaritan’s Purse (SP from here on out) is offering several ways to get involved:

1. If you’re a trained medical professional and want to volunteer your time to go help the victims, CLICK HERE. It will take you to a special page on SP’s website with all the instructions.
2. If you want to make a donation, you can donate $10 easily through your phone much like the Red Cross. Text SP to 85944 to make a donation.
3. If you would like to make a larger contribution, please visit http://www.samaritanspurse.org. A gift of $45 will allow SP to supply a family with a survival kit that includes a small stove, utensils for cooking, blankets, hygiene items, etc. A gift of $100 will SP to supply a homeless family with the plastic and framework to build a temporary shelter. For you heavy hitters, a $9000 donation will allow SP to install a water filtration system that will serve up to 500 families (a cost of just $18 per family!). Gifts of any amount will help over the costs of the airlifts. Typically, for $150, SP ccan ship $3,000 worth of donated medicine or hospital supplies.
4. If you have medical equipment you can donate, please email this address: SReichenbach@samaritan.org. Former Senator and MD Bill Frist has been working with Samaritans Purse, and this is the list of supplies they need:

The hospitals need:

• IV Fluid – Normal Saline [NS] and Lactated Ringers [LR])

• IV supplies – catheters, butterflies, tubing, etc

• Medications

• Tetanus

• Antibiotics – IV and PO (1st and 2nd generation cephalosporins, Gentatmycin)

• Pain meds

• Anesthetic agents

• Ketamine

• Small Fragment Set x 15. (3.5 mm screws)

• Large Fragment Set x 15. (4.5mm screws)

• External Fixators – large size, enough for 150 patients (rods, metal connectors, and Shantz screws)

• Crutches – pediatric and adult

• Casting supplies – casting tape and padding

• Dressings – cling/bandages/4×4

• Sutures

• Spinal needles

• Syringes and needles

• Scrubs

• Gowns

• Surgical drapes

• LMA

• Pulse oximeters

• Portable x-ray

• Digital oral thermometers

• Ultrasound

• Oxygen concentrators

• Anesthesia machine

The 2 largest companies who make these are Zimmer and Synthes.

If you know of places that have even old, outdated sets, please let us know.

• Also, one of the most effective things you can do is to PRAY. James 5:16 tells us that the prayer of a righteous person is effective. By virtue of following many ministries online throughout the disaster, here are five ways you can pray:

1. Pray for the people of Haiti.
2. Pray for the children of Haiti.
3. Pray for doctors and supplies to arrive.
4. Pray for basic needs like food, water, and shelter.
5. Pray for quick arrival of supplies. Time is of the essence.

• If you attend the contemporary service at FBC, we’re going to spend some time during the service Sunday praying fofr Haiti. It will be special. Please be here!