We Have No Idea (What It's Like In Haiti)

We Have No Idea (What It's Like In Haiti)

by Marilyn Mackenzie

As I've listened to the reports about Haiti (I keep Fox News on in the other room), it makes my heart cry.

Early this morning, I heard that they now believe that over 200,000 people lost their lives to the earthquake in Haiti.Â So far, only about 70,000 have been buried.

Stop and think about that for just a minute.Â It has been a week since the earthquake hit.Â The temperatures have been in the 80s.

I don't know about you, but I have never even smelled one rotting human body.Â I cannot imagine the stench of so much rotting flesh.Â I watched as one Fox News reporter broke down in tears as he mentioned how horrible is the smell.Â The closest thing I have to relate to that is when a mouse died in our attic many years ago in the Florida heat.Â The entire house reeked of the smell.Â Imagine what it must be like in Haiti.

This morning as I was reading the newspaper, I read an article about the looting being done in Haiti.Â It said that people were using knives and machetes to get to some toothpaste.

Toothpaste?Â These people were probably not concerned about brushing their teeth, were they?Â I hoped they were not using it as a food substance, since ingesting too much fluoride could cause problems.

As I continued reading, I got the answer.Â Toothpaste is a valuable commodity right now.Â People are using it to line their nostrils to mask the stench of death.

We cannot imagine.

********************

I've heard many people say that they cannot afford to give anything.Â I understand that.Â Most of us live day to day ourselves and paycheck to paycheck.

I challenge you to take your change each day and put it in a jar marked "Haiti".Â At the end of the week or at the end of two or three weeks (this tragedy is not going away soon!), find a charity that you trust and give whatever you can.

Imagine wanting to steal toothpaste so you can ward off the smell of death, then tell me again that you cannot afford to give.

Obama has made it so that if you go to the White House web site, you can find a charity there.Â (whitehouse.gov)

Or you can check here for a Christian charity: Christian Relief Groups Vetted by Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

Haiti Earthquake:Â Day Eight

Comments: 19

kokomo *. Jan 19, 2010, 2:51pm UTC

Marilyn, I can personally endorse Food for the Poor. www.foodforthepoor.org They have been serving Haiti for for almost 30 years. I wrote about them on the "other site" a while ago, in saying that I have no problem with donating to Christian charities, because they have all the organization in place to deliver food and other aid to impoverished people. It is indeed horrible because the situation in Haiti was very bad to begin with. I hope everyone gives. I have, and I expect that I will give more....after the first of the month, of course. ;-)

Marilyn M. Jan 19, 2010, 3:01pm UTC

Thanks, Maria. I was reading about another one I'll have to find the link for - that has also been there for a long time and has been regularly feeding 7000 kids each day.

I imagine that the United Methodist group UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) will be taking donations for Haiti. I like UMCOR because when designating giving to that group 100% of the money goes to relief efforts. (Administrative costs are covered elsewhere.) UMCOR was on the scene before the earthquake struck. In fact, we lost the executive director, Rev. Samuel W. Dixon, in the earthquake.

Loquacious Linda Jan 19, 2010, 6:17pm UTC

These are great ideas, ladies, and support these type of organizations. We must know our money is doing something there.
I understand there are millions of orphaned children and a plane full arrived in Pittsburgh this a.m. and will be ready for immediate adoption. GREAT news!

reply to this comment

Danielle P. Jan 19, 2010, 3:03pm UTC

So heartbreaking. I cannot even imagine and am so grateful for that. I don't watch the news it would render me in tears.

Marilyn M. Jan 19, 2010, 3:21pm UTC

I can't watch either, but I have been keeping it on in the background.

reply to this comment

Chuck Larlham Jan 19, 2010, 3:16pm UTC

Imagine having nothing... and then having that AND your children destroyed. Imagine giving up and piling paper and boards over your wife and children and lighting it afire. Imagine going eight days with no food, no safe drinking water, no relief from the unremitting grief and the ever-growing odor.

Imagine...

For me, Red Cross is simplest.

Marilyn M. Jan 19, 2010, 3:22pm UTC

I cannot imagine. The Red Cross is a good choice, Chuck. Thanks.

Loquacious Linda Jan 19, 2010, 6:18pm UTC

I refuse to give to the Red Cross.

Marilyn M. Jan 19, 2010, 6:26pm UTC

Well, I don't either. But for those who don't give to Christian charities....

kokomo *. Jan 19, 2010, 6:32pm UTC

I understand why people don't give to the Red Cross after the scandal they had some years ago. Now I can't remember exactly which disaster it was, maybe it was 9/11, but they used the incoming donations to go elsewhere and it was an embarrassment and the Red Cross offered to refund the donations, and the director had to resign.

Marilyn I also do not agree with donating money to the United Way. Not because they fund things that Christians do not approve of, but because of the way they bully companies into getting all their employees to donate. And because if there is some charity that you would prefer you should donate directly to them and not have to get some money "skimmed off" by the United Way!

I was once bullied into being part of the "100% participation" of the United Way. I agreed to donate 50 cents every two weeks. LOL

Marilyn M. Jan 19, 2010, 10:08pm UTC

Yeah. I also know someone who was on a local United Way board and she was appalled to discover that they had millions in a savings account waiting for a "disaster", and yet had lots of small things they could have funded in the meantime. They kept saying "no" to the small stuff waiting for something big. I doubt that's what people expect when they donate.

kokomo *. Jan 20, 2010, 12:57am UTC

Marilyn it isn't a bad thing that they have the money in savings. At least they aren't taking it to Vegas....or investing in something like Bernie Madoff!

It's just an extra layer of administrative costs (which include of course, nice fat salaries for the people in charge!).

Marilyn M. Jan 22, 2010, 11:38am UTC

Having some money in savings can be a good thing, yes. But this person - after attending 5 monthly meetings where every request was denied just so they could keep putting more and more money in savings - finally quit being on the board. And she started advising people not to give to them.

reply to this comment

Deb J. Jan 19, 2010, 10:18pm UTC

It is just horrible!!! We have it so good!

Marilyn M. Jan 19, 2010, 11:31pm UTC

We do. Even the least of us have more than people in Haiti usually do. And they're only about 2 hours away from Florida.

reply to this comment

Nora D. Jan 19, 2010, 10:28pm UTC

My family and I were over in Haiti just three weeks prior to the earthquake......we took a family cruise for a Christmas family gift and spent a day in Haiti...........it is a terribly, terribly poor country......the few people who do have a job make under $2.00 a day.....we have NO idea what real poverty is..........we were able to see some of the very simple homes the people lived in and got to visit with some Haitian people.............this all has been so heart wrenching for our family, as we have, indeed, been over there in person prior to the earthquake.....I have sat in front of the t.v. watching.....just crying and crying.
I have, indeed, donated $$$.....but NOT to the Red Cross, as my dad and husband had very bad experiences with them years ago when they were in the military, so I cannot, in good conscience, give to them.
One very excellent organization is Samaritan's Purse............run by Billy Graham's son, Franklin. I know that very, very little money is taken out for "administrative expenses," and about 99% used for what people want their money to go for.

Marilyn M. Jan 19, 2010, 11:33pm UTC

It must hit home to you more since you were just there. Bless your heart. I agree. Samaritan's Purse is a good one. It's one of the ones that the ECFA has on their web site as having low administrative costs.

reply to this comment

Monica C. Jan 20, 2010, 2:51am UTC

Excellent post Marilyn...that is the first thing I thought of as the bodies began to pile up, the stench of dead. Oh my, God rest their souls and all the family members who have lost their loved ones.

I praise God all the time for the things I have. I mean, we really have no idea what it is like to live on $300 annually...$2 a week...

We, in America, are very, very blessed...

Marilyn M. Jan 21, 2010, 10:04am UTC

I did too, Monica. What a horrible thing for them all to experience.

We are very blessed.

reply to this comment

We Have No Idea (What It's Like In Haiti)

4 people recommend this post

Comments: 19

Join the Conversation