over the last week i have sat with a group of students during morning devotions and watched their hearts break over haiti. as the week went on, their understanding grew, as did their compassion. the morning after the first earthquake these students had no idea what had happened. In their world Haiti did not register, and they did not understand the what the 7.0 meant. as we talked about the conditions before the earthquake, i could see their disbelief grow. how could people live like this? how is there a world that allows this, what would it be like. . . then to increase this disbelief with reality of life after the earthquake.
then again, an aftershock for a country and a nation. as I stood in front of these students and say: “haiti had another earthquake last night” i could see their face grieve and yet not be able to comprehend what might be left.
while many of these students donated money through their cell phones, and churches, and other organizations there is a greater response stir in them. One of gratitude for the little things: a bed, shoes, clean forks, water fountains, snacks, a chair, for the unneeded things: ipods, cell phones, jewelry,fancy purses, make-up and recognition of the big things: breath, solid ground, their families, safety, and love.
I often wonder in the light of tragedy like haiti, what can i do. After this week i believe sometimes it is not about me leaving the place i am to help, but helping in the place i have been put by God. For me helping my students understand the depth of the need and the at the same time calling them to a heart of gratitude has been a powerful response.
So rarely are students called outside of their comfort zones, but watching them freely move out of it to both a place of grief and gratitude has been confirmed to me that this time my proper response was to stay.
please continue to pray for haiti and for the teens who a struggling with the reality of depravity in their own lives.
