You’ve seen the pictures.

You’ve watched the broadcasts.

You’ve already donated.

But don’t STOP there.

Before the earthquake, Haiti was a country steeped in extreme poverty.

Life expectancy was short. Diseases were widespread. Living conditions were unimaginable.

Now this…

Over 100,00 dead…(possibly 500,000 when the final total is taken)

shortage of food and water…

little or no medical care…

typhoid and tetnus spreading…

many orphaned children…

no shelter, lack of tents…

fear of mudslides…

What more can we do?????

We need to give more to UMCOR for Haiti Relief.

As we enter the season of Lent the believer traditionally makes a sacrifice to mentally and spiritually prepare for Easter. Why don’t we (who live in a nation of plenty) “give up and give forth?”Maybe in the process we can teach our children the value of sacrifice and giving.

 Here’s my idea:

Put a money jar in a central location of your home.

Each time someone forgoes a simple  pleasure, put an equivalent amount of money in the jar.

Examples:

• Mom and Dad cancel their monthly dinner and a movie date…$40.00 in the jar
• Billy decides he can do without that new CD…$12.99 in the jar
• Susie begs for an ice cream after school but you convince her to put the $2.00 in the jar so a child in Haiti can be fed.
• Instead of eating out for lunch daily, take your lunch. Then guesstimate what you would have spent and put in the jar.
• Don’t feed quarters into that drink machine! Take water from home.

At the end of Lent have the family sit down and empty the money jar. Discuss the sacrifices that were made and why.Then give that money to UMCOR.

Maybe HFUMC can make a difference. We have many times before. We can again.