by Kaity Kopeski
Online Editor
“The situation in Haiti is very complicated,” writes Rev. Rodne Romeus on Jan. 25, two weeks after the 7.0 earthquake hit his country.
Romeus is the pastor of the Haitian church in Grand Bassin, where a Break for Change (BFC) team went last spring. The church runs a hospital and a school that feeds hundreds of children every day–often the only meal they receive.
After the quake hit “a lot of fear was put inside me,” said junior Seth Flores, member of the Haiti BFC team.
Flores recalls a sense of relief after hearing that “Pastor Rodne and company” were alive.
Although the people of Grand Bassin weren’t physically injured, they were emotionally hurt, said senior Elizabeth Yates, another member of the Haiti team.
Many members of the church had family and friends who were directly affected by the earthquake.
“It’s not just one area that was affected,” Yates said. “All areas were affected.”
This is part of why the situation is so complicated. Although Grand Bassin wasn’t directly affected, many resources were only available in Port-au-Prince and currently, Port-au-Prince has ceased all exports.
Yates and Flores encouraged students to donate money through an already established ministry in Haiti, such as Chattanooga-based AMG international.
The Spiritual Life Formation Department sent out an e-mail last week, which included a link to the AMG website where students can donate to Haiti relief and encouraged students to donate plasma with LifeBlood.
LifeBlood ran a special Saturday trip for Haiti relief, transporting students to Chattanooga where they donated plasma. All the proceeds from the donated plasma went toward Haiti relief–about $130, according to LifeBlood leader Natalie McGehee, a junior.
LifeBlood’s second Saturday trip was canceled due to bad weather but is being rescheduled. Currently five students are lined up to donate, but McGehee said the group can take more returning donors.
For college students who have “limited pocketbooks,” LifeBlood is a great opportunity to help, McGehee said; “The gift is our time.”
In addition to LifeBlood, students are creating ways to become more involved. Sophomore Trevor Haught, along with the PCI group Students Stopping the Trafficking of People (SSTOP), is throwing a benefit concert called “Help Haiti.”
Harmony House is hosting the concert on Thursday, Feb. 11, at 8 p.m., with music by local musicians Lon Eldridge and George Young.
Haught said this idea came to him in calculus class when he was wondering how he could help. Haught shared his idea with SSTOP President Andrew McPeak, a junior. McPeak said that SSTOP was already planning a benefit concert for human trafficking but decided to switch the focus to Haiti after hearing Haught’s idea.
“We decided we could all help each other,” McPeak said.
To raise money there will be a $1 or $2 cover charge at the door. A portion of the sales from the coffee sold and from Eldridge’s merchandise will go toward the relief efforts. Boxes will be set around campus where students can donate loose change.
In addition, Haught said a team is asking for donations from local businesses. The money raised will go to Hope Alive Clinics and AMG.
Haught said raising money isn’t the only goal; another goal is to change the students’ perspectives.
“It’s more than a benefit concert,” Haught said. “It’s about creating more awareness and sensitivity toward Haiti.”
To create more awareness the music will be broken up with Scripture readings, a possible speaker and a time of silent prayer.
Another vital way to be involved is to “educate yourself for prayer,” according to Ben Norquist, director of PCI (Practical Christian Involvement).
Norquist suggests diving into what’s happening by reading the news and by reading “Following Jesus through the Eye of the Needle,” by Kent Annon.
Norquist admits that many students haven’t “captured the scale” of this disaster. He hopes students will realize the massiveness of the situation and respond.
“Remember that God has empowered us to be involved and to make a difference,” he said.