give with liberality - romans 12:8

this generation of americans has been hailed the entertainment generation. the longest commercial we've had to endure probably lasted an entire minute. (and for that, we had to change the channel.) it's no wonder, with the millisecond flashes of information we've been bombarded with on our television sets that we also have the greatest prevalence of ADD ever.

last week, when i told people i had lived in haiti, they couldn't find it on the map.

since tuesday, all focus has been on the devastated island. you cannot turn on the tv, computer or radio without hearing about the earthquake, to say nothing of texting, tweeting, and newspapers.

but sometime in the next month, the word "haiti" will go away. and when that happens, when matt lauer starts talking about a suicide bomber instead, i want you to remember this face:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43701062@N05/4277220078/

when anderson cooper returns to the states and people stop following troy livesay's tweets, don't forget that this woman is still crying.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9183672/4277115470/

when the city of port au prince becomes passé in today's media remember that they are still living without food, clean water or shelter. they are living with INCREDIBLE risk of disease.

the people of haiti have always needed our help. not having clean drinking water has always been a problem. they have also always suffered from a severe lack of food. it took a catastrophe for the world to notice them. but i fear it won't take much for the world to forget. to move on.

people are very inclined to give right now. they want to feel good, feel as though they did something important. i want to tell you EVERY DOLLAR YOU GIVE IS NECESSARY AND IMPORTANT. you have done well. but next month, when america has moved on, when we turn our attention back to a deceitful healthcare bill, haiti will still need you. so make a commitment right now to give monthly. give out of every pay check. because the Lord said that whatever you do for the least among you, you have done for Him. you don't have to wait to feel "called" to give. we've already been commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves. as we spend on ourselves, so we should spend in aid.

go ahead. change his world.

ezayi bazile (isaiah - in english)

here are four reliable organizations. every penny you send will go directly to helping the people of haiti and will not be taken out for "administrative fees" or any other scam.

www.hcfonline.com

www.threeangelshaiti.org

www.heartlineministries.org

www.boskohaiti.com

please pass this along.

help for haiti

**if you look at the picture above, the one in my header, you can begin to speculate how devastating an earthquake is to haïti.**

(PLEASE NOTE - THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN FOUR YEARS AGO BEFORE ANY EARTHQUAKE!)

the Lord our God is gracious. He is mighty to save! while images and reports flash across our tv and computer screens, we wait. we beg God for mercy. and He delivered last night. we learned that although the building of Three Angles is damaged, all the children and the volunteer abbie are safe! how mighty is our God?

the questions have started: how can we help?

below i will list ways you can donate, but first i want to ask that EVERYONE who reads this join me in praying specifically that in light of this disaster, all officials will be lenient and allow the children who are currently in the process of being adopted to COME HOME immediately. that the Lord will open doors to allow the children to get on planes and into the arms of their waiting families. i know this is an impossible feat according to everything we know but so was saving ALL OF OUR CHILDREN!

the Lord can accomplish this. let's pray together.


for donations, consider the following organizations:
(i personally vouch for all of these organizations, knowing that your entire donation will go directly to the people of haiti, the relief and aid efforts there.)

www.threeangelshaiti.org (where i lived)

www.hcfonline.com (where i was in august)

www.heartlineministries.org (where megan works)

www.boskohaiti.com (don brown's organization)

i would also appreciate your prayers for the many, many people from whom we have not yet heard. they include: judah's dad - jean bernard and my dear friend nicole. i have not spoken with judah's dad in many months (by choice) and he does not have a telephone so i am unable to contact him now. i have attempted to call nicole, but reached someone else at her number who did not know her. i appreciate all your prayers in this regard. thank you all for your emails, phone calls, and more importantly PRAYERS!

shallow

oh this is a post about nothing at all.

loyal followers may remember that a year ago i posted about my new shoes.

as it happens, these have been perfectly comfortable, supportive shoes for me this last year. but how i miss my chucks. to top that, i have some pants that fit me and i don't have to cuff them. so now i'm out there wearing pumas and uncuffed pants. if you pass me on the street (ha ha ha) and don't recognize me i will not blame you at all. i will, however, suggest you start looking up.

twenty ten

i once heard about a girl who took a picture of herself every morning when she woke up. no matter where she was or what she was doing. it was an intriguing idea.

for absolutely no reason, i started doing it on the first of this year. will i do it the whole year? i think i might. maybe we'll find that judah moves out of my bed and into her own.

surely, we'll see a haircut; hopefully in the next couple of months

(*fingers crossed).

now i don't intend to post them all here. or anywhere, for that matter. no, i don't wash my face, so you'll possibly see traces of mascara. i also don't love waking up, so i might not be my glowing self. but they will be an accurate portrayal of our mornings.

so, here's to twenty ten and fun picture journeys:

(she sneezed)