By now you’ve surely heard the news that Haiti has suffered a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake.  Many buildings have crumbled and several thousand have died.  Port-au-Prince, the capital city which was nearest the epicenter and with some of the greatest destruction, and the area around it is without electricity and water and many people are in great need of medicine and other medical help.

We, the people of Hope, are talking about ways we can be of assistance now.  But we encourage you to pray for the people there, for the residents, for those who were killed, families of those who died, for those who will travel there in the next days, months, and years to help, and for those travelers who were already there.  Pray for their safety, health, and for the rebuilding efforts.

We also encourage you, in the midst of prayer, to consider donating to the relief efforts.  You can do that through Lutheran World Relief: http://lwr.org/emergencies/updates/011310/

If you text, you can send a text to donate through your cell phone bill.

Text either “LWR” to 40579 to donate $10 to Lutheran World Relief or “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross.  Both will ask you for a confirmation before the $10 is credited to your next cell phone bill.

In this time we hope, pray, and trust in the God who sustains the weary and gives hope to the downtrodden.

And we remember…

God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the

mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and

foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.

Psalm 46: 1-3

Photo courtesy of XOZ